Taxonomy
| Clade | gymnosperm |
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| Family | Pinaceae |
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| Genus | Abies |
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| Species | balsamea |
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| Common Name | balsam fir |
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| iTree Code | ABBA |
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Plant Form
| Form | Tree: pyramidal crown |
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| Height | 70 feet |
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| Spread | 25 feet |
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| Deciduous | Yes |
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Identification Description
| Foliage | green upper, with gray/white stomatal lines under; ~1" long, flat; attached to twig with a "suction cup" like base |
Leaf Type
 |
Needle |
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| Needles | 1 |
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| Bark | gray/green, resin blisters typically cover the trunk; breaking into irregular plates with age |
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| Bud | small, ovoid, resinous |
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| Twig | smooth with small gray hairs |
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| Pollen Cone | yellow, beneath needles, appearance similar to catkins; male and female on same tree (monoecious) |
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| Seed Cone | purple, then gray/brown; upright on the branch; deciduous cone scales, leaving a persist peg on the branch |
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| Fall Color | green |
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Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance |
| Min | 2a |
Min | 4.0 |
Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 5a |
Max | 6.5 |
Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
| Tolerant |
Intolerant |
Unknown |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
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| U.S. Native |
|
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| Region of Origin | United States, Canada |
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| More Information | Visit External Site |
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