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| |genus=Abies | | |genus=Abies |
| |species=balsamea | | |species=balsamea |
− | |common_name=Balsam fir | + | |common_name=Balsam fir, Dwarf balsam fir |
| + | |name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| |habit=tree | | |habit=tree |
− | |Min ht metric=cm | + | |habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| |Max ht box=15 | | |Max ht box=15 |
| |Max ht metric=m | | |Max ht metric=m |
− | |Max wd box=5 | + | |height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| + | |Max wd box=4.5 |
| |Max wd metric=m | | |Max wd metric=m |
| + | |width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| |origin=C & E Canada, NE US | | |origin=C & E Canada, NE US |
| |lifespan=perennial | | |lifespan=perennial |
| + | |life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| + | |exposure=sun |
| + | |sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| |water=moist | | |water=moist |
| |features=fragrance | | |features=fragrance |
| |Temp Metric=°F | | |Temp Metric=°F |
| |min_zone=3 | | |min_zone=3 |
− | |max_zone=6 | + | |usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia |
| + | |max_zone=8 |
| |sunset_zones=3-7, 15-17, 36-38, 42-44 | | |sunset_zones=3-7, 15-17, 36-38, 42-44 |
| |image=Abies balsamea.jpg | | |image=Abies balsamea.jpg |
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| }} | | }} |
| Abies balsamea - Balsam Fir. Pyramidal tree up to 50ft tall with dark green needles. Doesn't thrive in hot-summer climates. Has legendary fragrance, making it popular for wreaths and Christmas trees. | | Abies balsamea - Balsam Fir. Pyramidal tree up to 50ft tall with dark green needles. Doesn't thrive in hot-summer climates. Has legendary fragrance, making it popular for wreaths and Christmas trees. |
| + | |
| + | The '''balsam fir''' (''Abies balsamea'') is a [[North America]]n [[fir]], native to most of eastern and central [[Canada]] ([[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]] west to central [[Alberta]]) and the northeastern [[United States]] ([[Minnesota]] east to [[Maine]], and south in the [[Appalachian Mountains]] to [[West Virginia]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ABBA |title=PLANTS Profile for Abies balsamea (balsam fir) | USDA PLANTS |accessdate=2007-07-17 |format= |work=}}</ref> |
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| + | It is a small to medium-size [[evergreen]] [[tree]] typically {{convert|14|-|20|m}} tall, rarely to {{convert|27|m}} tall, with a narrow conic crown. The [[bark]] on young trees is smooth, grey, and with [[resin]] blisters (which tend to spray when ruptured), becoming rough and fissured or scaly on old trees. The [[leaf|leaves]] are flat needle-like, 15 to 30 millimetres (½–1 in) long, dark green above often with a small patch of [[stomata]] near the tip, and two white stomatal bands below, and a slightly notched tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but with the leaf bases twisted to appear in two more-or-less horizontal rows. The [[conifer cone|cones]] are erect, 40 to 80 millimetres (1½–3 in) long, dark purple, ripening brown and disintegrating to release the winged [[seed]]s in September.<br clear = left> |
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| {{Inc| | | {{Inc| |
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| ==Cultivation== | | ==Cultivation== |
− | {{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| ===Propagation=== | | ===Propagation=== |
− | {{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| ===Pests and diseases=== | | ===Pests and diseases=== |
− | {{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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| ==Varieties== | | ==Varieties== |
− | * Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis - Bracted Balsam Fir | + | There are two varieties: |
| + | *''Abies balsamea'' var. ''balsamea'' (balsam fir) - bracts subtending seed scales short, not visible on the closed cones. Most of the species' range. |
| + | *''Abies balsamea'' var. ''phanerolepis'' (bracted balsam fir or Canaan fir) - bracts subtending seed scales longer, visible on the closed cone. The southeast of the species' range, from southernmost [[Quebec]] to [[West Virginia]]. The name 'Canaan Fir' derives from one of its native localities, the [[Canaan Valley, West Virginia|Canaan Valley]] in West Virginia. Some botanists regard this variety as a natural hybrid between balsam fir and [[Fraser fir]] (''Abies fraseri''), which occurs further south in the Appalachian mountains. |
| + | |
| + | From other sources: |
| *'Nana' is a dwarf variety good in rock gardens and containers. | | *'Nana' is a dwarf variety good in rock gardens and containers. |
− | *Var. columnaris. Branches very short, turned upward at the ends.
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− | *Var. hudsdnia, Engelm. (syn. A. hudsdnica), is a dwarf form.
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− | *Var. lutoscens. Lvs. white, yellow or straw-colored when exposed to the sun.
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
− | {{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery -->
| + | <gallery perrow=5> |
− | | |
− | <gallery> | |
| File:Abies balsamea branch.jpg | | File:Abies balsamea branch.jpg |
| Image:Upload.png| photo 1 | | Image:Upload.png| photo 1 |
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
| + | <references/> |
| <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> | | <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> |
| <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> | | <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> |