balsam fir

(Abies balsamea var. balsamea)

Conservation Status
balsam fir
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
Wetland Indicator Status
     
  Great Plains

FAC - Facultative

     
  Midwest

FACW - Facultative wetland

     
  Northcentral & Northeast

FAC - Facultative

     
           
 
Description
 
 

Balsam fir is a slow-growing, intermediate-lived, small to medium sized, coniferous tree. It rises on a single trunk from shallow root system. In Minnesota mature trees are usually 40 to 60 tall and 12 to 18 in diameter at breast height, though individuals can reach over 80 in height. Most trees are harvested for pulp before reaching 55 years in age. Those that are not harvested may live 150 years, the oldest individuals up to 200 years.

The trunk is straight, regularly branched, and distinct to the top of the crown. The crown is slender, symmetrical, pyramid-shaped, and regular, and has a spire-like top. In open areas the crown extends to the ground. In densely wooded areas the lower branches die but remain attached to the trunk for several years. The pyramidal shape is distinctive and a reliable identification feature from a distance, even at 55 miles per hour.

On young trees the bark is thin, smooth, light gray, and shiny, with many raised, resin-filled blisters (pitch pockets) that burst when scraped with a fingernail. On mature trees the bark becomes reddish-brown and breaks into irregular scales.

The branches spread at right angles from the trunk. Lower branches droop somewhat.

The twigs are mostly opposite, stout, pale brown to greenish-brown, and smooth. They are sparsely covered with short, stiff hairs. The leaf scars are circular and flat. Twigs are smooth to the touch after the leaves are shed.

The buds are to ¼ long, broadly egg-shaped, blunt-tipped, and sticky with resin. They are covered with broadly triangular, sharply-pointed, yellowish-brown scales. They are closely grouped at the end of the twig, with no needles between the terminal bud and the closest subterminal bud.

The needle-like leaves are ½ to 1 long, 1 32 to 1 16 wide, linear, flat, two-sided in cross section, and straight or slightly curved upward. They are evergreen, lasting 8 to 13 years. They are blunt or slightly notched at the tip, except near the top of the tree, where they are sharply-pointed. The upper surface is dark green, shiny, and shallowly grooved. It is sometimes slightly covered with a whitish, waxy bloom (glaucous). The underside is silvery-white with a prominent green midrib and margin. There are 4 to 8, usually 6 or 7, rows of white dots on each side of the midrib. Each dot (stomate) is a pore, surrounded by two white guard cells, that allows the exchange of gasses. The needles are borne singly and are attached directly to the twig. They are arranged spirally around the twig, but often appear two-ranked where they twist toward the upper side of the twig. This is especially noticeable near the bottom of the tree. The needles are fragrant when crushed.

Male and female cones are borne on the same tree. Pollen (male) cones appear in dense clusters in leaf axils on the underside of second-year twigs in the middle of the crown, usually within 15 of the top. At pollination they are red, purplish, bluish, greenish, or orange; egg-shaped to oblong; and ¼ to long.

Female cones appear singly or in small groups on the upper side of second-year twigs in the upper 5 of the crown. They are erect, barrel-shaped, 1½ to 3 long, and to 1¼ wide. They are green tinged with purple at first, becoming grayish brown at maturity. The scales are thin, flexible, and fan-shaped, wider than long, especially near the center of the cone.

Pollination occurs mid-May to early June. Female cones mature in the autumn of the first year. They begin breaking apart and shedding seeds in early September. The scales drop off leaving the central core, which may remain on the tree several years.

The seeds are brown, to ¼ long, 1 16 to wide, and resinous. They have a thin, papery, brownish-purple, to ¼ long wing.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

40 to 60

 
     
 

Record

 
 

There are two co-champion balsam firs in Minnesota.

The first is on public property near Tamarack, in Aitkin County. In 2015 it was measured at 85 tall and 72 in circumference (23 in diameter), with a crown spread of 22.

The second is on public property near Ash River, in St. Louis County. In 2018 it was measured at 80 tall and 74 in circumference (23½ in diameter), with a crown spread of 22.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Pull a needle off a twig and roll it between thumb and forefinger. If it rolls smoothly, it is rectangular and the tree is a spruce. If it will not roll, it is flat and the tree is a fir, hemlock, or yew.

Canada yew (Taxus canadensis) is a shrub, not a tree. There is no central trunk. Twigs and buds are green. The needles taper to a long point at the tip and taper to a distinct stalk at the base. There are no rows of white dots on the underside of the needles. Female cones are tiny and inconspicuous when young. They mature into a bright red, fleshy, berry-like structure (aril) that partially envelopes a single seed.

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) bark on young trees is rough and scaly, not smooth. The needles are sharply pointed and shorter, ¼ to ½ long. They are attached to the twig by a thin stem emerging from a small, woody projection (leaf peg) that remains on the twig after the leaf falls, making the twig rough to the touch. Mature seed cones hang downward and are much smaller, no more than 1 long.

Pine (Pinus) needles are borne in bundles (fascicles) in groups in 2, 3, or 5. Cone scales are thick, woody, and rigid.

Spruce (Picae) bark on young trees is rough and scaly, not smooth. The terminal bud is separated from the subterminal buds by a few needles. The needles are firmer, sharply pointed, and rectangular in cross section, not two-sided. They are attached to to the twig by a small, woody projection (leaf peg) that remains on the twig after the leaf falls, making the twig rough to the touch. Mature seed cones hang downward and remain intact even after falling from the tree.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

A wide variety of habitats. Wet to moderate moisture. Shade tolerant.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Pollination

 
 

Mid-May to early June

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana)

 
     
 
Use
 
 

This is the provincial tree of New Brunswick.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 22, 24, 28, 29, 30.

 
  2/17/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Pinopsida (conifers)  
  Subclass Pinidae  
 

Order

Pinales (conifers)  
 

Family

Pinaceae (pines)  
 

Genus

Abies (firs)  
 

Section

Balsamea  
  Species Abies balsamea  
       
 

There are eleven species of fir in North America. This is the only one that occurs in Minnesota.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Pinus balsamea

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

balsam fir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Glaucous

Pale green or bluish gray due to a whitish, powdery or waxy film, as on a plum or a grape.

 

Linear

Long, straight, and narrow, with more or less parallel sides, like a blade of grass.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Luciearl

 
 

As the woods thin out in the fall, I can see what seedlings have survived. Balsam are one of my favorite, but not as plentiful as the reds, whites, and jacks in my woods.

  balsam fir  
           
        balsam fir  
 

Laurie Grimm

 
    balsam fir   balsam fir  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Tree

 
    balsam fir      
           
 

Bark

 
    balsam fir   balsam fir  
           
 

Branchlet

 
    balsam fir   balsam fir  
           
    balsam fir      
           
 

Twig

 
    balsam fir      
           
 

Needles

 
    balsam fir   balsam fir  
           
    balsam fir   balsam fir  
           
 

Pollen Cones

 
    balsam fir      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Abies balsamea
Blake C. Willson
 
  Abies balsamea  
 
About

Balsam Fir

 
  Abies balsamea, balsam fir
Friends of Mount Auburn
 
  Abies balsamea, balsam fir  
 
About

Abies balsamea, balsam fir is familiar as the traditional, fragrant, Christmas tree among many people. The human nose can detect thousands of different odors – a whiff of the ocean, freshly cut grass, vanilla, coffee, lilacs, roses, – but many of us experience distinct emotions, reaching back to childhood memories of Christmas when smelling a balsam fir. To quote Helen Keller (1880-1968), “Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived.”

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  IDENTIFYING THE BALSAM FIR AKA CHRISTMAS TREE FROM THE SPRUCE TREE!
bushcraftbartons
 
   
 
About

Published on Oct 30, 2012

NOTE: I completely forgot this scene. It was suppose to go with the previous video :( Ah well the editing is rough but the info is in...so here goes :) Please visit our website http://bushcraftbartons.com/

   
  Trees with Don Leopold- balsam fir
ESFTV
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 23, 2011

No description available.

   
  Maine Balsam Fir Tips: A Sustainable Harvest
The University of Maine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 24, 2010

University of Maine Cooperative Extension talks about how to properly identify and harvest Maine Balsam Fir tips.

   
  Balsam Fir and Hemlock
MiWilderness
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Aug 14, 2010

How to tell the difference between Balsam Fir and Hemlock. A few other trees too and Balsam Fir sap.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Luciearl
9/9/2019

Location: Cass County

As the woods thin out in the fall, I can see what seedlings have survived. Balsam are one of my favorite, but not as plentiful as the reds, whites, and jacks in my woods.

balsam fir  
  Laurie Grimm
6/26/2014

Location: Hemlock Ravine SNA

balsam fir  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com.com. All rights reserved.