This is a conifer with a narrow, pyramidal shape that grows more slowly than most other Abies species. When young, the tree is somewhat irregularly shaped, but later it grows into a very uniform pyramid. The branches and needles grow closely together, and are yellowish grey in colour. They have small buds with profuse sap. It is a lovely all year long thanks to the bluish white colour on the underside of the needles. The upright cylindrical cones are 4-7cm long and about 2.5cm wide, already when the tree is still young. At first, they are green, but later they take on a violet colour.