Woody > Abies > Abies balsamea > Abies balsamea 'Hudsonia'
Abies balsamea
'Hudsonia'
Hudson Fir
Origin: Horticultural origin.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A very nice dwarf conifer with attractive needles and refreshing spring growth. Well suited for rock gardens and containers. This conifer is generally disease free and easy to care for.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Abies |
| Species |
| balsamea |
| Cultivar |
| 'Hudsonia' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 2 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 0 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -46 - (-40) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -50 - (-40) |
| Height |
| 60 cm |
| Spread |
| 1.5 m |
Photographs
Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A slow growing dwarf conifer that only grows a few centimetres a year. Compact and bun-like in shape, this dwarf tends to be broader than it is tall. |
| Landscape |
| Great for rock gardens, gravel gardens and containers. Good for places with limited space. |
| Cultivation |
| Moist, well-drained slightly acidic soil. Protect from cold; plant in full sun. |
| Shape |
| A compact, bun-like shaped dwarf tree that is broader than it is tall. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| A low growing dwarf conifer that is similar in shape to A. balsamea 'Nana'. The needles on 'Hudsonia' are arranged semi-radially, whereas on 'Nana' the needles are arranged radially. By looking down at the branch, the stem will be clearly visible on A. balsamea 'Hudsonia'. |
| Pests |
| Generally disease free but can get aphids and adelgids. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origins |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Brown-grey, smooth and quite thin. Needle scars remain on the bark after needles have fallen. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Buds are ovoid and brown/red in colour and about 50 mm long. New growth is bright yellow-green and adds spring attractiveness. New growth is only about 3 cm per year. |
| Leaf Description |
| Needles are shiny, rounded and dark green with a blue line down the middle ridge. Silvery/blue beneath and roughly 1.25 cm in length. |
| Flower Description |
| A. balsamea 'Hudsonia' does not flower. |
| Fruit Description |
| A. balsamea 'Hudsonia' does not produce cones. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green needles with hints of blue. No autumn colour. New growth is bright yellow/green and adds an attractive feature in spring. |
| Texture Description |
| Smooth. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Dwarf conifer garden at the Arboretum at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Propagation by cuttings or grafting. For grafts, use a side-veneer graft in February and graft onto 2 year old root stocks of A. grandis or A. balsamea. For cuttings, collect cuttings in June, treat with a rooting hormone and root in a propagating case. Bottom heating to 16? C in winter is needed and an automatic misting or irrigation system will help keep the cuttings from drying out. Caution must be taken to not overwater. |
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