Abies fraseri

Common Names

Fraser Fir, Southern Balsam Fir, She-Balsam, Mountain Balsam Fir, Fraser's Balsam Fir, Frasier Fir, Frazer Fir, Frazier Fir

Summary

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is a North American evergreen conifer native to the high elevations of the southern Appalachian Mountains, ranging from southwestern Virginia through western North Carolina to eastern Tennessee at about 1,200 to 2,050 m. It forms a narrow, pyramidal tree typically 30 to 50 ft tall with a slender crown and smooth gray bark on young plants that becomes fissured with age. Dense, flattened dark green needles show two white bands beneath and emit a turpentine like fragrance; seed cones are upright and purple when young, maturing brown with conspicuously protruding bracts. Monoecious and wind pollinated, growth is slow to moderate. In cultivation Fraser fir prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well drained acidic soils, with a pH around 4.7 to 5.5; it tolerates well drained loam or sandy loam and dislikes heavy clay or heat. Very shallow roots require keeping the soil under the dripline free of competing plants; propagation is by seed or grafting. Uses include Christmas trees and ornamental plantings for fragrance, needle retention, and a refined form; maintenance includes regular watering to maintain soil moisture and monitoring for balsam woolly adelgid and Phytophthora root rot, with attention to heat stress, drought, and drainage issues.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

30-50 feet

Spread

120-300 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun, tolerates Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic loamy soil (pH about 4.7–6.0); heavy clay soils not ideal

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

4.7-5.5

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (flowers receptive May–June; cone buds open mid-May to early June).

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface, with silvery-white undersides.

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen needle

Growth Rate

6–12 inches per year (15–30 cm per year), slow to moderate growth

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds and Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds