Abies fraseri

RHS Plant Profile

Fraser fir

RHS

Other common names

Fraser's balsam fir, southern balsam fir

Synonyms

Pinus fraseri

Conifers Trees

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
8 Suppliers

A medium-sized tree, to 15m tall, forming a narrow, conical crown. Flattened, short leaves 1-2cm long are a shining dark green above with two white bands below and are densely borne on resinous stems. Cylindrical cones, 3.5-7cm long, are dark purple when young maturing to brown with conspicuously-protruding bracts that bend downwards hiding the scales

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: more than 50 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Pinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Abies are evergreen conifers, often very tall, with whorled branches bearing flattened, linear leaves, often whitish beneath, and on the upper branches, large cones which break up whilst attached to the tree
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: E United States

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained slightly acidic soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds. See conifer cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to adelgids and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to honey fungus