South West USA to North Mexico. Narrowly conical, evergreen, light grey bark, blue-grey or grey-green foliage. Very attractive. Tolerates drought, Used as a Christmas tree in USA. Seedlings grown from this 'bluest' of all conifers. Parent has pale whitish blue needles up to 5 cm long and arching upwards. Erect cones are dark blue and break up when ripe.

Mexico, Guatamala in the mountains. Conical evergreen, dark green needles, silvery beneath. Erect 10-15cm cones, blue when young. Frost tender in first winter, tolerated -9C later. Fastest growing Silver fir, to 75cm in 2nd year.

Europe and south west Asia. Broadly columnar, deciduous. Vigorous grower. Tolerates harsh conditions. Can seed prolifically and provide fodder for grazing animals. In Central Otago it gives good yellow autumn colour.

Albania and Nth Greece. Broadly conical, deciduous. Large palmate compound leaves produce a dense shade. Large creamy white flowers, then prickly oval fruits, enclosing polished conkers prized by schoolboys in the UK. Best in fertile soils.