[Abies balsamea var phanerolepis]
[a.k.a. West Virginia Balsam Fir]
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Canaan Fir are very similar to the Balsam Fir and the Fraser Fir in appearance, grow zones and other characteristics. That makes this species a very desirable landscape ornamental and a perfect Christmas tree.
DISCONTINUED in this size, see Canaan Fir plug seedlings
This ecotype [or variation] of Balsam Fir likes richer, darker soils with ample water. It stands out from the often troublesome Fraser Fir in that the Canaan Fir can handle wetter soils and is less affected by root disease. Canaan Fir is naturally Phytophthora resistant, whereas Fraser is not. This species is therefore an excellent substitute for Fraser Fir in problematic environments such as poorly draining areas.
The Canaan Fir is naturally found in isolated populations at higher elevations. It is slower to break bud than Fraser Fir or Balsam Fir, making it less prone to damage from a late frost. If you’ve been watching the weather since 2010, this alone is a valuable characteristic to have. Gorgeous trees damaged by frost freezes are not gorgeous trees. This species will reach heights of up to 50ft with a nice pyramidal shape under normal circumstances. It provides excellent privacy and wind protection due to its dense growth.
Canaan Fir are named for the Canaan Valley in West Virginia. If you have tried Balsam Fir and Fraser Fir but have experienced poor results, this species is an excellent alternative.
PLANT THESE PLUG TRANSPLANTS IN RECORD TIME:
Watch how to plant evergreen plug transplants fast and with less effort than any “bare root” evergreen transplant of a similar size. With just a cordless drill and our plug transplant bulb auger, you can realistically plant 50 to 100 trees per hour without breaking your back. You can buy this auger on the cheap with tree purchase, but with any order of 50 plug transplants or more [pls read that again, this offer is not for plug seedlings] we’ll include the auger for FREE!
Canaan Fir: characteristics and info
• prefers hardiness zones 3-7
• does ok in full sun but prefers partial shade
• mature height and spread: up to 50 ft high, 15-20 ft spread
• prefers dark rich soils, swampy soils, wet loamy soils, low areas and around ponds and streams
• Penn State Ag Extension info on Abies balsamea var phanerolepis
• Canaan Fir Sizes and Availability:
--- Canaan Fir transplants [FOR SALE]
--- Canaan Fir plug seedlings [FOR SALE]
• Comparable alternative species: Balsam Fir, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir and Noble Fir. Confused about species? Check out our Evergreen Tree Buyers Guide