Balsam Fir vs Wayfaring Tree - TreeTime.ca

Balsam Fir vs Wayfaring Tree

Abies balsamea

Viburnum lantana

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Balsam Fir
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Balsam Fir - best known as a "Christmas tree" - doesn't just look great in living rooms; it's a terrific tree for your yard too!

This fir grows tall and narrow. Balsam Fir is cold hardy, shade tolerant, and will thrive in most soil types and moisture levels.

Wayfaring Tree is an adaptable and reliable shrub. It is prized for its ornamental berries that can range in color from red to yellow to black. Consider getting two trees as fruiting is maximized when another Wayfaring Tree is present.

This species has a variety of uses ranging from naturalization, mass planting, borders, and privacy screens.

Balsam Fir Quick Facts

Wayfaring Tree Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Other Names: balm of gilead, blister fir, canada balsam, eastern fir, fir-balsam