Is Dwarf Balsam Fir deer resistant?
Abies balsamea 'Nana'
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 3–7LightPart shade
Mature height480–840 in
MaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range18 US states
About Dwarf Balsam Fir
A slow dense cushion form of the balsam fir, and the foliage carries the classic Christmas tree scent. Wants cool moist acid soil and struggles south of zone 6.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 35 to 47 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
Tolerances and uses
- Evergreen
Similar to Dwarf Balsam Fir
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Antelope BitterbrushPurshia tridentataSeldom damaged
- Anthony Waterer SpireaSpiraea x bumaldaZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Apache PlumeFallugia paradoxaZones 6–10Seldom damaged
- Armstrong JuniperJuniperus chinensis 'Armstrongii'Zones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn OliveElaeagnus umbellataZones 4–9Seldom damaged
- Autumn SageSalvia greggiiZones 6–9Seldom damaged
Where Dwarf Balsam Fir grows
Hardy across most of these 48 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinois
- Minnesotanative
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delaware
- West Virginianative
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbia
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 18 US states in total.
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Every list Dwarf Balsam Fir belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Dwarf Balsam Fir
- Is Dwarf Balsam Fir deer resistant?
- Dwarf Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea 'Nana') is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Dwarf Balsam Fir grow in?
- Dwarf Balsam Fir is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Dwarf Balsam Fir grow in shade?
- Yes. Dwarf Balsam Fir tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Dwarf Balsam Fir get?
- Mature height is roughly 480–840 in. Growth rate is slow.