Trees to 57m; trunk to 2. diam.; crown narrowly conic. Bark grayish, thin, with age thickening and becoming deeply furrowed with ridges being often 4 times wider than furrows, plates reddish. Branches ascending in upper crown, descending in lower crown; twigs opposite to whorled, light yellow to ± tan, reddish pubescent for 1--2 years. Buds hidden by leaves or exposed, usually dark brown, ovoid, small, not resinous or with resin drop near tip, apex rounded; basal scales short, broad, equilaterally triangular, densely pubescent, not resinous, margins entire to crenate, apex sharp-pointed. Leaves 2--3. ´ 2mm, mostly 1-ranked, flexible, the proximal portion often appressed to twig for 2-- (best seen on abaxial surface of twig), distal portion divergent; cross section flat, with or without weak groove adaxially toward leaf base, or cross section 3--4-sided on fertile branches; odor camphorlike; abaxial surface with 2 glaucous bands, each band with 4--5 stomatal rows; adaxial surface blue-green to silvery blue, with single glaucous band that may divide into 2 toward leaf base, band with (8--)10(--13) stomatal rows at midleaf; apex rounded or, on fertile branches, somewhat pointed; resin canals small, near margins and abaxial epidermal layer. Pollen cones at pollination ± purple or reddish brown. Seed cones oblong-cylindric, 15--20 ´ 7--10cm, purple at first but becoming yellowish brown or greenish brown, sessile, apex round; scales ca. 3 ´ 4cm, pubescent; bracts included to exserted and reflexed (Shasta red fir) over scales. Seeds 15 ´ 6mm, body dark reddish brown; wing about as long as body, rose; cotyledons 7--8. 2 n =24.
Montane forests on dry slopes and ridges; at elevations from 1,500-2,700 metres. The best specimens are found in well-drained gravelly-loam soils on northern or eastern exposures with moist cool air.
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