someone here will defiantly identify ,,,not me ,,but

it NOT balsam

ron

perfect of set of pics , btw

Those are great pix so someone will ID it. Did you ever see the cones?

tj

No, unfortunately, I have not seen the cones yet.

Concolor fir?

Needles aren't those of concolor fir (concolor means uniform color of the needles -- no striping). Have to wonder why plantkiller doesn't think balsam fir -- that would be my amateur-of-firs guess. Whatever fir it is, it's a fine specimen. Below are actual concolor fir needles at a local junior college:

My other possibility besides concolor was grandis, a close relative with more white stomata bands.

Here too, I'm just an Amateur but I would almost bet my next paycheck it's NOT balsamea.

The only confusion for me is the bark. The needles say balsam to me. Concolor has no stomatal bands and grandis has notched needles.

tj

crushed concolor leaves would smell of grapefruit to many .. and i have crushed a lot of them to show people ... and it doesnt look like concolor to me ... fwiw ...

ken

@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 the crushed needles do smell strongly of grapefruit! But I've also heard that is the case with Balsam.

Maybe it's a geographical deviation but to me, the needles look way too long for A. balsamea. Again, I'm no expert.

And are there no 'buds' forming, out there, at the branch tips yet?

My balsamea has thick, developed buds already.

Underside of branch (A. balsamea).

Second try Abies alba

Where is Resin when you need him?

imo: The branching and needles of A. alba appear to be closer to what the OA posted.

Bumping to see if we can get anything definitive from one of our ID experts.

tj

So there is no sign of cones even in October on a specimen that size?

Wanted to bump this post as i am still wondering the type of tree rhus might be. can any tree experts ID? here is a picture take in april with small cones begining to form.

Update when cones get big

ron

Elie,

Please post close up pictures of buds and cones. And with higher pixel resolution if possible. Minute details of these things can determine differences in the tree type.

Nordmann fir is another possibility, but we need more info. :-)

Cones shown are pollen cones. Pictures of fully developed seed cones are what is needed.

Here's picture of a well matured 'Abies balsamea' (Balsam fir) trunk, taken in an area far north of my place, in person.

Abies b. have smooth bark, with more circular rings around the trunk.
To me this eliminates the possibility of this being the tree in question.

Does anyone have other thoughts on this. I was trying to match it at a local nursery, and their Concolor fir trees are a much bluer color and less dense in terms of needles, but the length of the needles seem around right and so does the smell. The tree looks closer in appearance to balsalm fir at the nursery, but the needles on the tree pictured in this tread are much longer, and the smell is different. But new growth is light green similar to balsalm fir.

Thoughts on it being abies holophylla manchurian fir? or Abies sachalinensis, Abies sibirica?

Here are some pictures of two saplings (one growing in shade and one in sun).

Not abies holophylla manchurian fir, Abies sachalinensis or Abies sibirica'.

I am amazed that after 3 years the wasn't mature (female) cones showing on the tree in the Fall.

A camera with the right zoom could get a shot with enough clarity to identify.

I've even used a ladder and selfie stick to capture one.

I also think Larry Dale was right with Abies alba, but a cone will be the missing peice to the puzzle, a definitive answer.

Abies alba cones are tall and brownish with some green tint, which changes as they mature.

If they're not too high up you may be able to make a visual id in comparison to the picture.

Abies cones disintegrate with age shorlty after they ripen, so you can't wait to long in the Fall or they'll be gone.

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I am usually not around in the fall to take a picture, but this year I will try and get one. After speaking to a local arborist who saw the tree I had settled on it being a concolor, but that does not seem to be the case and I am back in the game.

By looking middle of August, there should be seed cones present (even now). Although not fully mature they may be large enough by mid-august to give the impression if it matches the picture or not.

Picture of cones not fully ripe.

Fir IDing is difficult. as is apparent. And 75 ft tall Nordmann fir at house where I grew up only had a few female cones at the VERY top. So not all firs make alot of female cones.

Hi All,

Just following up with some pictures of the cones that fell off a few weeks ago!

Thanks for your help.

Hi All,

Just following up with some pictures of the cones that fell off a few weeks ago!

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the update/pics! But as a fir non-expert, those cones looks pretty much like any other fir cone. :)

A ripe cone might tell more?