Balsam Fir Data Sheet

• Common name: Balsam fir

• Latin name: Abies Balsamea

• Genus: Abies

• Height: 20 m (66 ft)

• Type: Evergreen

• Hardiness: Zone 3–6

• Conservation status: Least concern

Abies balsamea, commonly known as the Balsam fir, is a fir native to North America. Its range extends across most of eastern and central Canada (Newfoundland west to central British Columbia) and the northeastern United States (Minnesota east to Maine, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia).

Balsam fir is a medium-sized tree, 20 m (66 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter up to 1 m (40 in). The bark is ash-grey, thin, and smooth, except for numerous blisters on young trees. The leaves/needles are flat, 20-30 mm long, and dark green. The cones are conical, 5–8 cm long, stand erect on the branches, bright purple at first, ripening to brown.

It can live up to 100 years.

The Balsam fir is closely related to the Fraser fir, which shares many of its characteristics.

It is a popular Christmas tree type. The resin is used to make turpentine, and the oil can be used as a rodent repellent. The wood is used for timber and paper.

It tends to grow in cool climates. 

This tree will serve you well as part of a screen of windbreak.

Pre Germination

These seeds need some pretreatment and stratification before sowing. Fill a zip lock bag with a little light seed compost and mix in the seeds. The bag mix should be moist but not wet. Place in a refrigerator for 6 weeks between 2 and 6°C. Check weekly for signs of germination; remove any germinating seed and pot using compost not soil. For the remaining seeds, fill trays or pots with quality compost and firm down gently. Spread seeds across the surface; around 25 in a 10 cm pot is ideal. Cover with 3 mm of compost and gently firm down.

Keep compost damp, not soaking wet or dried out. Place pots or trays on a warm windowsill or in a warm conservatory. Germination should occur at 4–10 weeks.

Post Germination

When seedlings appear, keep them in a bright, well-ventilated area to avoid damping off disease. Ensure seedlings never dry out. Water logging should also be avoided; young trees hate wet feet. These seedlings are large and robust and will give you little hassle. They can be separated into 4" pots at 15–20 weeks; by this stage they are frost hardy and can stay outside. Fertilization is not required up to this point. During spring and summer we advise using an NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer every 4 weeks.

CAUTION: Slugs and snails love juicy young seedlings.

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