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(Abies balsamea)
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)
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Cephas
CC BY-SA 3.0
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Cephas
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 3.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Cephas | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Cephas | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Abies_balsamea_cones_Niapiskau_02.jpg | Notes: '''Abies magnifica''' * '''Description:''' Shasta Red Fir, [[''Abies magnifica'']] subsp. shastensis, foliage * '''Viewpoint location:''' Soda Mountain Road about 1.3 km east northeast of Soda Mountain. * '''Lat/Long:''' 42.0683°N, 122.4660°W (WGS84/NAD |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Abies balsamea, commonly known as Balsam Fir, is an evergreen tree native to cool, moist, northern forests, particularly boreal forests and mountainous regions in the Northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and Southern Canada. It can grow to a height of 45-75 feet (14-23 meters) and a width of 15-25 feet (5-8 meters), with a narrow, symmetrical pyramid shape. The needles are dark green, and the tree is well known for its fragrant balsam scent. Balsam Fir has smooth, gray bark when young, becoming rough and resinous with age. The tree produces small, purple cones that stand upright on the branches. It flowers in late spring to early summer.
Balsam Fir is valued for its cold hardiness and is often used as a Christmas tree due to its pleasant fragrance and needle retention. It is suitable for use in naturalized areas, as a screen, or as a specimen tree in larger landscapes. It prefers cool climates and does well in full sun to part shade, requiring medium amounts of water and adaptable to various soil types, though it thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Balsam Fir can be susceptible to pests such as balsam woolly adelgid and spruce budworm.CC BY-SA 4.0
Balsam Fir is valued for its cold hardiness and is often used as a Christmas tree due to its pleasant fragrance and needle retention. It is suitable for use in naturalized areas, as a screen, or as a specimen tree in larger landscapes. It prefers cool climates and does well in full sun to part shade, requiring medium amounts of water and adaptable to various soil types, though it thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soils. Balsam Fir can be susceptible to pests such as balsam woolly adelgid and spruce budworm.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Tree
- Height: 45-75 feet
- Width: 15-25 feet
- Growth Rate: Slow
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bird Garden, Border Plant, Deer Resistant, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden
Natural Habitat
Cool, moist, northern forests, particularly boreal forests and mountainous regions
Other Names
Common Names: Dwarf Balsam Fir , Canada Balsam , Balm Of Gilead Fir , Canadian Fir , Eastern Fir , Balsam , Fir Balsam , Fir Pine , Balsam-Tanne , Balsamtanne
Scientific Names: Abies balsamea , Abies balsamea var. nana , Abies balsamea f. balsamea , Abies balsamea f. nana , Abies balsamea var. longifolia , Abies balsamea var. macrocarpa , Abies fraseri var. nana , Abies minor , Peuce balsamea , Picea balsamea var. nana
GBIF Accepted Name: Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.