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Abies balsamea is often confused with:
Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis Form
Abies fraseri Abies fraseri tree
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
x Hesperotropsis leylandii × Cupressocyparis leylandii
Abies balsamea has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers
Abies balsamea has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Abies balsamea

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Pinus balsamea
Phonetic Spelling
AY-bees bal-sam-AY-ah
Description

Balsam Fir is an evergreen conifer in the pine (Pinaceae) family. It is native to Eastern Canada and south to the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia. The common name and specific epithet come from the bark and cones producing a lot of sap or balsam.

Balsam fir will grow 40 to 70 feet tall and 15 to 25 feet wide. Grow it in full sun with moist, well-drained acidic soil. Its form is symmetrical, narrow, pyramidal to conical with a spire-like crown. The tree is not suited for the southeast heat and humidity

Its needles are aromatic when crushed and have two white stomal bands on the undersides. The cones appear upright on branches in the fall. 

It is popular as a Christmas tree because of its handsome shape and long retention of needles. Its evergreen needles provide structure to the landscape and interest in the winter months.  

Insects Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Fairly problem-free. Balsam woolly adelgids, bark beetles, spruce budworms, aphids, bagworms, and scale. Spider mites may occur in hot conditions. Disease problems include cankers, heart rot, root rot, needle rust, and twig blight. Trees are intolerant of urban pollution.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Nana', var. phanerolepis
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#full sun tolerant#needles#temperate#conifer#fragrant leaves#winter interest#children's garden#playground plant#evergreen tree#Christmas trees#heat intolerant#clay soils intolerant#cool summers#part shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Nana', var. phanerolepis
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#full sun tolerant#needles#temperate#conifer#fragrant leaves#winter interest#children's garden#playground plant#evergreen tree#Christmas trees#heat intolerant#clay soils intolerant#cool summers#part shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Abies
    Species:
    balsamea
    Family:
    Pinaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Used by native Americans medicinally.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    Alberta Canada, MN, WI, New England, PA, VA, WV
    Play Value:
    Fragrance
    Pieces Used in Games
    Edibility:
    Needles are edible and can be used to make tea.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Columnar
    Conical
    Erect
    Pyramidal
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Does not produce fruits. Cylindrical, resinous seed cones erect, small, 2.5 to 4 inches long, appear at the crown of tree. They release seeds in early autumn, and scales fall away leaving the bare center of the cone, which may remain on the tree for several years.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Non-flowering, cone producing
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Needles are dense, directed forward and upward, 1 inch long, apex rounded or lightly notched, deep green above, two white, longitudinal bands below. Has a strong balsam fragrance when crushed.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Fissured
    Scaly
    Smooth
    Bark Description:
    Smooth and gray with resin blisters when young but brown-gray, rough, fissured and scaly as it ages
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Sap- or balsam-producing.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree