Abies lasiocarpa attains a height of 30 m and an age of 200 years. Trees have an extremely narrow and dense crown with short branches. Low branches may form an apron and layer. Trees begin producing cones when 20 years old in 3- to 5-year cycles. Squirrels cut cones and cache seeds. In addition, the wind may disperse the seeds up to 30 m from the parent tree. Seeds remain viable for one year, including cached seeds. Seedlings establish in mineral soil, litter, duff, and decaying wood. Plants are tolerant of shade. Individual plants grow on open, glaciated slopes and even ridges, where they take on the krummholz form (Alexander et al. 1990, Uchytil 1991a). A. lasiocarpa is a CNPS list 2.3 plant in California.

Abies lasiocarpa forms extensive stands in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains, but its presence in California was not verified until recently (Sawyer et al. 1970). Earlier reports in floras were based on specimens of A. amabilis collected at English Peak in the Marble Mountains (Haddock 1961). In California, A. lasiocarpa forms small stands along moist meadow edges and riparian stringers in glaciated valleys of the central Klamath Mountains. Stands often are associated with stands of Alnus incana in ecotones between moist and wet meadows or riparian shrubs or mesic Abies x shastensis or Picea engelmannii forests. In addition, stands often develop as apparent clones.

Trees are fire sensitive and die from even low-intensity fires.

The Abies lasiocarpa alliance is at its southwestern range limit in California, and it is a likely indicator of climate change involving expansion or contraction in the Quaternary (Sawyer 2007). Known stands are in designated wilderness.