Abies balsamea 'Piccolo' is a tiny, uniform balsam fir cultivar with dark-green needles that radiate around its many short branches, hugging the stems. It is smaller and finer than A. balsamea 'Nana' and its branches tend to grow with a bit of a twist. This improved selection displays prominent brown buds for seasonal interest. The dense, very dwarf globe is ideal for rock gardens, containers and small landscapes. In ten years, a mature specimen will stand 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 16 inches (40 cm) wide, an annual growth rate of 1 inch (2.5 cm).
This cultivar originated as a witch's broom found in 1982 on a specimen of A. balsamea 'Nana,' found and introduced to the nursery trade by Erwin Carstens Nursery, Varel, Germany.
