White Spruce vs Balsam Fir - TreeTime.ca

White Spruce vs Balsam Fir

Abies balsamea

Picea glauca

Balsam Fir
White Spruce

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.

White Spruce is a hardy, long-lived evergreen tree. It can grow in many soil types and moisture levels. And it can even tolerate significant amounts of shade. White spruce requires little maintenance and is well suited for use in shelterbelts, privacy screens, hedges, and as an ornamental in an urban setting.

Balsam Fir Quick Facts

White Spruce Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $3.49 - SAVE UP TO 46%
Lowest Price: $0.99 - SAVE UP TO 78%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 1a
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Height: 25 m (82 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Cones: small cones
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 3 m (10 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: balm of gilead, blister fir, canada balsam, eastern fir, fir-balsam
Other Names: alberta white spruce, canadian spruce, cat spruce, labrador spruce, northern spruce, pasture spruce, porsild spruce, skunk spruce, western white spruce