Abies balsamea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pinus balsamea
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-bees bal-sam-AY-ah
- Description
-
Balsam Fir has the widest range of any Abies in North America, from Labrador to Alberta (the only fir native to eastern Canada) and south to Pennsylvania. It is not well-suited to hot humid summers south of zone 5 as it comes from cooler climates. Grow it in full sun with moist, well-drained acidic soil,
Its needles are aromatic when crushed and its bark and cones produce a lot of sap or balsam, hence the common and Latin name. Its form is symmetrical, narrow, pyramidal to conical with a spire-like crown. One feature of firs is that their cones appear upright on branches. 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. It does not tolerate heat or heavy clay soils.
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'
Dwarf
var. phanerolepis
- 'Nana'
- 'Nana', var. phanerolepis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Nana'
Dwarf
var. phanerolepis
- 'Nana'
- 'Nana', var. phanerolepis
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Abies
- Species:
- balsamea
- Family:
- Pinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Alberta Canada, MN, WI, New England, PA, VA
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- 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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering, cone producing
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Green
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Greenish when young but brown gray and scaly as it ages, covered with blisters that ooze sap or balsam producing
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Sap- or balsam-producing.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
