Woody > Abies > Abies balsamea > Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Abies balsamea
'Nana'
Dwarf Balsam Fir
Mike's
Opinion
"
The dwarf balsam fir is a very popular garden conifer because of its size, compact form and its rich dark green colour. A well behaved evergreen suited to a variety of uses.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Pinaceae |
| Genus |
| Abies |
| Species |
| balsamea |
| Cultivar |
| 'Nana' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3a - 8b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 1a - 8a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 - H4 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -40 to -7 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -40 - 20 |
| Height |
| 0.7 - 1.3 m |
| Spread |
| 1.0 - 1.5 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This shrub is used often in small landscape gardens as a small specimen plant. Its fine dark green foliage can make this plant stand out from all the rest. |
| Landscape |
| This shrub is a good specimen in a small residential garden. Can be used as a single specimen or in a group. Very popular because of its low maintenance level and its globe shaped form. |
| Cultivation |
| Grown in full sun to partial-shade in slightly acidic, but well drained soil. |
| Shape |
| Low growing globe-shaped shrub, top may flatten with age. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| Small globe shaped shrub with dark green foliage that is fine in texture. New growth in the spring is light green and grows off the end of shoots in a ball-shaped form, this causes spring interest and makes this shrub a fine specimen. |
| Pests |
| Relatively pest and disease-free, can be prone to winter spruce aphids. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Olive brown colour, usually thin with resin blisters. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Small 3 mm buds located only at the end of each branchlet. Brown in colour and contains an obvious amount of resin. New growth only grows at the end of branches each spring. |
| Leaf Description |
| Abies (Fir) needles are very soft to touch. New growth in the spring is a light green colour and old growth is dark green. These needles are generally about 4-10 mm in length and have a white line down the back center. |
| Flower Description |
| Only mature shrubs will flower. The flower is yellow-red and adds no ornamental value to the shrub. |
| Fruit Description |
| Small brown cone 3 mm in diameter, with winged seeds. Cones grow in an upward motion but are insignificant in ornamental value. |
| Colour Description |
| Old growth is dark green and new growth at the end of a shoot in the spring is light green. |
| Texture Description |
| This shrub has very soft needles and has a fine texture that appears soft. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
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