Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Pinaceae · coniferous tree · native
Last updated
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Height
50–80 ft
Spread
16 ft
Growth Rate
Slow
Site Requirements
Light
Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Drainage
Moist
Soil pH
4.5-8.5
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b
Ornamental Interest
Bloom Time
Non-flowering
Origin
eastern Canada and south to Pennsylvania
Watch for this season
RustHigh
Uredinial Stage (Summer)
Balsam woolly adelgidHigh
First Generation Crawlers
Spring Population Buildup
Armillaria Root RotModerate
Active Below-ground Growth
Diseases: Regionally Documented (15)
Melampsorella caryophyllacearum [VERIFY] Broom Rust Current-season Needle Necrosis Drought Injury Grovesiella punctata Grovesiella Canker Heterobasidion occidentale Otrosina & Garbel Heterobasidion Root Disease Multiple fungi (Rhizosphaera spp., Stigmina spp., Lirula ... Interior Needle Blight Rhabdocline spp. including R Needle Cast Neonectia Canker Delphinella balsameae Purple Needle Eater (Delphinella Shoot Blight) Root Rot, Phytophthora Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Multiple pathogens cause shoot blight on different hosts:... Shoot Blight Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Pucciniastrum spp. Rust (Pucciniastrum) Uredinopsis spp. Rust (Uredinopsis)
Pests: Regionally Documented (8)
Cultivars (2)
'Nana'
Common name: Dwarf Balsam Fir; Mature height: 2 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 3
'Piccolo'
Common name: Piccolo Balsam Fir; Mature height: 2 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.