Abies balsamea 'Piccolo'

RHS Plant Profile
balsam fir 'Piccolo'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Abies balsamea 'Piccolo'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Conifers Alpine Rockery
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A dwarf, compact, uniform cultivar, reaching a height of 30cm and width of 40cm after 10 years. Numerous short branches are densely, radiately covered with short, dark green needles, rounded at the tip. This cultivar is more compact, in comparison with cultivar 'Nana'. Conspicuous brown vegetative buds add a seasonal interest in spring.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or 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

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Pinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
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
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in deep, slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soils in cooler climates. See conifer cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by grafting.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • 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