NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Abies fraseri

Scientific Name:	Abies fraseri
Genus:	Abies
Species Epithet:	fraseri
Common Name:	Fraser Fir, Southern Balsam, She Balsam
Plant Type	Tree
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Invasive Status:	^(*Key)
Size:	36-72 ft.
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains
Habitat Description:	High elevation forests, from 1500 to 2037 m. Rare in NC mountains.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Suitable for home landscapes
State Rank:	S2: Imperiled ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G2 - Imperiled ^(*Key)
State Status:	W5: Watch List: Rare because of Severe Decline to Population or Habitat ^(*Key)
Mount Mitchell State Park, Yancey County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Female cones and needles Transylvania County, NC Larry Mellichamp
Notice fir cones are upright, while spruce cones hang down. Roan Mtn, Mitchell County, NC Larry Mellichamp
Fir has soft flat needles, while spruce has sharp needles (f for flat, s for sharp). Roan Mountain, Mitchell County, NC Larry Mellichamp
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/abies-fraseri/ Vascular Flora of North Carolina