Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.

Balsam Fir

Conical tree to 15 m or so tall in nature but generally cultivated in south-eastern Australia as low ground-cover cultivars. Shoots with short, dark hairs. Buds reddish brown, ovoid or rounded, resinous. Leaves pointing slightly forward, spreading below. 15-30 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, shining dark green above with rows of white spots, 2 whitish bands below. Cone 5-9 cm long, 2-3 cm wide.

Grows naturally in a range of habitats from low swamps to hillsides and mountains.

E North America.

Resinous buds; young shoots slightly hairy.

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Pinaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Distribution map

Abies balsamea 'Hudsonia'

Dwarf, flattened globose, needles surrounding half the branchlet, dark green above, bluish below, possibly best treated as a group name. Origin unknown, possibly a clone of f. hudsonia Jaques.

Abies balsamea 'Nana'

Dwarf, globose with spreading branches, needles all around the shoots with 2 white bands below, pale green margins and midrib. Origin a clone of f. hudsonia Jaques.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Pinopsida
order     Pinales
family      Pinaceae
genus       Abies Mill.