Foliage
Bark
Bud
Twig
Video
Taxonomy
| Family | Pinaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Abies |
| Species | balsamea |
| Common Name | balsam fir |
| iTree Code | ABBA |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: pyramidal crown |
|---|---|
| Height | 70 feet |
| Spread | 25 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 1 | ||
| Bark | gray/green, resin blisters typically cover the trunk; breaking into irregular plates with age | ||
| Bud | small, ovoid, resinous | Bud Arrangement
|
None |
| Twig | smooth with small gray hairs | ||
| Flower | yellow, beneath needles, appearance similar to catkins; male and female on same tree (monoecious) | ||
| Fruit | purple, then gray/brown; upright on the branch; deciduous cone scales, leaving a persist peg on the branch | ||
| Fall Color | green | ||
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 | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States, Canada |
| More Information | Visit External Site |