Douglas Fir vs Balsam Fir - TreeTime.ca

Douglas Fir vs Balsam Fir

Abies balsamea

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Balsam Fir
Douglas Fir

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.

Douglas Fir is a large coniferous tree with a pyramidal shaped crown.

This attractive feature tree, with its distinctive drooping cones, is perfect for any grower who has lots of space and lives in a warm enough region. Douglas Firs make exceptional Christmas trees.

It is not suitable to all growing environments. Do some research and make sure this tree is right for you.

Our seed source is typically from the interior of BC and rocky mountain areas. We do not produce coastal seed source Douglas Fir as it is better suited to its native range and some taxonomists believe the two seed sources might be distinct.

Balsam Fir Quick Facts

Douglas Fir Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 61 m (200 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 8 m (26 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Fall colour: green
Bark: thin, smooth, gray on young trees. Thick and corky on older trees
Cones: orange-brown cones with seed wing visible sticking out of the bracts
Seeds: winged seed within cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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