Balm of Gilead Abies balsamea
Other 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'
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
- 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.
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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 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.
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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
- 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
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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
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
