Abies balsamea 'Nana', Dwarf Balsam Fir
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Coniferous Trees

Abies balsamea 'Nana'

Dwarf Balsam Fir

Pinaceae

Boreal forests of northeastern North America, Newfoundland to Alberta and south through the Great Lakes region; 'Nana' is a dwarf cultivar of garden origin

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitMounding
FoliageEvergreen
Height2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
Width2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
Maturity30 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 6
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Deer Resistant
Fragrant (strong)
Container Friendly
Native to North America
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Abies balsamea 'Nana' is a dwarf, cushion-forming, evergreen coniferous shrub in the family Pinaceae, a compact cultivar of balsam fir native to the boreal forests of northeastern North America from Newfoundland west to Alberta and south through the Great Lakes region. The specific epithet balsamea means 'balsam-bearing,' referring to the aromatic resin blisters in the bark; 'Nana' means 'dwarf.' Plants grow extremely slowly — typically less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) per year — eventually forming a dense, rounded to broadly flat-topped cushion 2–3 feet (60–90 cm) tall and 2–4 feet (60–120 cm) wide after many decades. The flat, soft needles 0.5–1 inch (12–25 mm) long are arranged in two ranks on the branchlets; they are deep glossy green above with two distinctive silvery-white stomatal bands on the underside. STRONGLY AROMATIC — the classic balsam fir fragrance is released when needles are bruised or crushed, one of the most distinctive and pleasant of all conifer scents. Unlike the straight species, 'Nana' rarely produces cones and maintains its dense mounded form without a central leader. Requires cool, moist, acidic conditions. Non-toxic.

Native Range

Species native to boreal forests of northeastern North America from Newfoundland west to Alberta and south through the Great Lakes region to the northeastern United States. 'Nana' is a dwarf cultivar of garden origin.

Suggested Uses

Abies balsamea 'Nana' is planted as a specimen dwarf conifer in rock gardens, alpine collections, dwarf conifer gardens, and containers in cool, moist Pacific Northwest settings. The year-round fragrant, deep-green cushion form and silvery-banded needle undersides provide texture and structure. Combines well with other dwarf conifers and low-growing heathers in acidic-soil plantings.

How to Identify

Abies balsamea 'Nana' is identified as an extremely slow-growing, dense, cushion-forming dwarf conifer. Balsamea = 'balsam-bearing'; 'Nana' = 'dwarf.' STRONGLY AROMATIC BALSAM FRAGRANCE when needles bruised — the most characteristic feature. Flat soft needles 0.5–1 inch in two ranks: deep glossy green above, TWO SILVERY-WHITE STOMATAL BANDS beneath. Dense mounded habit with no central leader — contrasts with pyramidal form of straight species. Rarely produces cones. Growth <1 inch per year. Requires cool, moist, acidic soil.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread2' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 30 years

Colors

Flower Colors

brown

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks
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Spring
Rarely produces cones in the dwarf form. The straight species releases pollen from small male strobili in May, with upright purple-green female cones 1.5–3 inches (4–8 cm) maturing August–September and disintegrating on the tree. 'Nana' is grown entirely for its foliage form and fragrance.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

rarely cones in dwarf form; straight species: upright purple-green cones 1.5–3 inches maturing Aug–Sept, disintegrating on tree

Foliage Description

deep glossy green above; TWO SILVERY-WHITE STOMATAL BANDS beneath; flat soft needles 0.5–1 inch in two ranks; STRONGLY AROMATIC balsam fragrance when bruised; balsamea = 'balsam-bearing'; 'Nana' = 'dwarf'; growth <1 inch/year; rarely produces cones; DATA CORRECTIONS: species null; fixed controlled vocab

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 3-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.5(Acidic)
357912
Soil Types
loampeatsand
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-30 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Abies balsamea 'Nana' requires full sun to partial shade in moist, humus-rich, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5–6.5. Requires cool, consistently moist conditions — does not tolerate heat, drought, or alkaline soils. Mulch to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool. No fertilizer required in organic-rich soils. Extremely slow-growing; no corrective pruning needed. Not suited to hot, dry, or polluted urban environments.

Pruning

No pruning required for natural form — the dense cushion habit is self-maintaining. Remove any dead or damaged shoots in early spring. If an occasional vigorous upright shoot disrupts the mounded form, it can be removed at its base. Firs do not regenerate from bare old wood — avoid cutting into leafless stems.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 5 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic