One of the tallest true firs, with narrow, pointed crown of stout, curved, and slightly drooping branches. Height: 100-200 ft (30-61 m). Diameter: 1.5-3.5 ft (0.5-1 m).
Valleys and mountain slopes in cool, humid climate; in coniferous forests.
Southern British Columbia south along coast to California; also south in Rocky Mountain region to central Idaho; to 1,500 ft (457 m) along coast; to 6,000 ft (1,829 m) inland.
Common and scientific names refer to the large size; the champion in Olympic National Park, Washington, is 231 ft (70.4 m) tall with a circumference of 20.7 ft (6.3 m).
"There are several species of Fir in this neighbourhood which I shall describe as well as my botanicle skill will will enable me.... No. 1, a species which grows to an emence size; verry commonly 27 feet [8 meters] in surcumferonce at 6 feet [1.8 meters] above the surface of the earth, and in several instances we have found them as much a[s] 36 feet [11 meters] in the girth, or 12 feet [3.7 meters] Diameter perfectly solid & entire. they frequently rise to the hight of 230 feet [70 meters]; and 120 or 130 [36.6 or 40 meters] of that hight without a limb."
