Balsam fir 'Nana'

Synonyms: Abies balsamea f. hudsonia

Balsam fir 'Nana' (Abies balsamea Nana) – a cultivar of balsam fir of the genus Abies, family Pinaceae. It is an old American cultivar, first described by David Nelson in 1866.

It is a dwarf tree with a cushion-shaped or conical rounded crown 2-2.5 m in diameter and up to 1 m in height. Branches are spreading, densely arranged, compact, and grow horizontally. The bark is blackish-gray, smooth when young, later becoming scaly.

The needles are dark green, flattened, glossy, 1.5-2.5 cm long, blunt, with whitish bands on the underside, arranged comb-like.

Cones are ovoid-cylindrical, 5-10 in length and 2-2.5 in diameter, at first purple, later light brown.

Hardiness zone: 3a (-40°C).

Exposure: shade-tolerant, but grows better in well-lit locations. Needs protection from gusty winds.

Soil: prefers moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil, does not tolerate soil compaction. Does not grow on sandy soil.

Planting: planting is carried out from March to November. It is preferable to buy the plant in a pot, since planting does not damage the root system of such a plant.

Care: in hot, dry summers, watering is recommended to maintain its decorative appearance.

Pests and diseases: practically not affected.

Use: looks good in rockeries, mixed borders, conifer-heather gardens and Japanese gardens. Used in single and group plantings, suitable for rock gardens, alpine rockeries, container growing, green roofs, small gardens, and slope decoration.