Balsam FirAbies balsamea
Fragrant needles, common Christmas tree, grows along bogs and in shaded forests, natural range is in the northern half of MN. Has an inconspicuous yellow flower.
USDA symbol: ABBA
General Information
| Plant Type | Tree |
|---|---|
| Height | 50 to 60 feet |
| Light Exposure | Part Sun, Shade |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | Red, Brown |

Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | Moderate |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 5 |
| Salt Tolerance | None |
| Stress Tolerance | Acidic Conditions, General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: Medium
| Bloom Months | May to June |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Choristoneura fumiferana, Eucopina tocullionana, Syngrapha rectangula |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Rain Garden |
|---|---|
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Medium |
| Soil Stabilization | Deep |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Absent |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Becker, Beltrami, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Clearwater, Cook, Crow Wing, Dodge, Douglas, Fillmore, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pine, Polk, Roseau, St. Louis, Todd, Wadena, Winona |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |