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ABIES balsamea
Balsamea Fir
Stock: Available
Family: Pinaceae
Characteristics: Small to mediium tree to 12-22 metre
Seeds per packets: Approx 12
A small to medium-size evergreen narrowly conical tree typically growing to 12-22 metres in height.
Dense foliage of dark green needle-like flat leaves 15 -30 mm long.
Male cones around 15mm long during the period of pollination can be red, purplish, bluish, greenish, or orange. Female cone are blue-grey-green or purple, obtuse, cylindrical to broadly ovoid, 4-10 cm long by 1.5-3.75 cm wide maturing to grey-brown or violet-brown.
Makes a stunning ornamental landscaping tree and also the most popular Christmas tree in the USA and Canada.
Prefers a well-drained sandy loam soil, frost, snow, and shade tolerant.
Although seed can be sown most of the year in Australia seed is generally best sown in spring or autumn, avoid the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination is around 18-22°C
Germinates readily without pre-treatment but will generally give improved rates with cold stratification.
Cold stratification is recommended.
Cold treatment may not be critical for germination to occur in colder regions but should give increased germination rates in warmer climates.
This can be replicated by cold stratification in the refrigerator for 30 days. Alternatively over wintering in the garden in cold climates will assist germination.
- Soak in water overnight.
- Sow seed the depth of the seed width.
- Water with fine mist spray to avoid disturbance of the seed.
- Ensure the mix is moist but not water logged.
- Place the container in plastic bag.
- Place the bagged container in the refrigerator for 30 days weeks.
- Germination generally occurs in 14-28 days when moved to warmer temperatures after the period of cold treatment.
General note: Seeds of many species are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.
We now stock a range of Propagation Accessories including the popular Aquamiser Propagation Kits, Pots, Native and Forestry Tubes, Trays, Labels and more.
We can only ship these items to Australian locations, international customers please request shipping quotation prior to purchasing.
