None of the above, Abies concolor and Abies koreana...that is if you have well drained soil.

Thanks whaas. Why these two over my original three? What are their favorable characteristics?

There are a lot of species to discuss here along with your actual site and soil conditions. Generally speaking they handle drought and humidity better.

PM where are you again? What is your soil like?

I might throw Abies lasiocarpa in the mix as well with the koreana and concolor. Depending on where you are, balsam might be doable. But hey, if you really like one of the others you could always try them! How's that for a non-answer?

tj

Thanks! We're located just outside Chicago. The top 4-5" of soil is topsoil, then clay. No sitting water ever in area. The area receives little shade. We really like the greens (not so keen on blues). We like the tradional "Christmas Tree" shape of the douglas/fraser/balsam, but are willing to try anything that has a similiar shape and green in color. Thanks again!

Pm, the counties to my west and to my north are home range for balsam fir. As a generalization, those counties have sandy, acidic soils compared to my area's more neutral, clay-based loam. Yet I see numerous balsam fir here and there in town. I am certain these are transplants from "up north". The tree has never been offered at nurseries to any meaningful extent. These trees seem just fine here-no off-color foliage, no stunting of growth.

So, based on that alone, and based on your preference for the "Christmas tree" look, why not source a balsam fir and give it a try? Or, the similar Fraser. Or, any of the others!

+oM

All mentioned except Douglas fir are doable and you'll have good to better than good results.

Dax

have you gone to rich's foxwillow yet???

do understand.. that all 3 are forest trees.. with the potential to be say ... 50 to 100 feet tall .. and not really suited.. in any manner to any garden short of double digit acreage ...

in most suburban yards.. you need 'named' varieties .. cultivars.. with reduced growth rates ...

there are two types of doug firs.. the ones from this side of the rockies can handle z5 .... as this is the cold side ..

those from the pacific side.. are not as hardy ... and usually .. eventually fail .. in z5 ...

ken

Thanks! We understand that most of the conifers we are looking for grow extremely large. We, like many others, are trying to balance whether we want a tree that grows quicker and provides the screening we want faster (and will out-grow it's location faster), or a tree that grows slower and takes years to create the affect we are looking for. We've come to the conclusion that we will grow a faster-growing tree, and when it out-grows it's spot, we will cut it down, use it as a Christmas tree, and replant.

We have a summer house in northern Wisconsin so we have an unlimited supply of balsams if we need them. In fact we have one growing in the front yard that was transplanted from there 4 years ago or so. It's probably tripled in size since it was planted (now about 5' tall).

Pm, that's one of the few cases where I don't yell at people for digging trees out of the woods! Balsams are really not available in any other fashion, the N. Wisconsin forest truly does produce an excess number of them, and as you've already found out, they transplant with ease.

I don't personally consider most full-grown balsam firs to be large trees BTW. Kind of the runt of the fir group. Sure, now and then you'll see a bigger one, but mostly not.

+oM