Balsam Fir Facts: Curious Details On Its Uses And Growth Revealed

Balsam fir or 'Abies balsamea' belongs to the conifer family and is prominently found in the hilly mountains of Canada and the United States.

More precisely, the presence of the balsam fir trees can be witnessed from Newfoundland, Canada, and all the way to Alberta, US. First described in 1768, these medium-sized evergreen needle-like conifers are considered one of the desirable landscapes due to their beautiful features.

In ideal conditions, these conical trees can grow up to a foot annually and can easily reach a height of about 100 feet at their peak maturity. From uses in medicines to emergency food, the applications of the balsam fir tree extend beyond the usual Christmas tree decorations.

Balsam Fir Classification

Balsam firs are considered as coniferous trees with symmetrically beautiful conifers that love cooler climates. As a member of the pine and conifer family, balsam firs have many varieties that share more differences than similarities.

Canaan firs are also called bracted balsam firs and are mainly found in the mountains of New York and West Virginia. They are very tolerant to poor soil and drainage conditions and can grow even in poor drainage soil and soil with high moisture content.

Typically resembling that of a globe-shaped shrub than the classical pyramidal tree shape, dwarf balsam fir or nana is mostly found in cooler summer regions. These trees are also perfect for rock gardens due to their aromatic features and relative compactness.

Hudson fir balsam trees are dwarf firs that look very similar to nana and grow well in regions with partial sunlight.

Under ideal moisture conditions., their mound can grow up to around 0.78 in (2 cm) long. They do not produce any cones and thus, require no pruning.

They have a shallow root system.

Features Of Balsam Firs

There are many species of coniferous trees around the world. So how do you identify the Balsam Fir from other conifers? Well, the key lies in inspecting its features carefully.

Balsam firs share many similarities with spruce trees. However, you can easily spot these differences between the two by examining their cones. Unlike black spruce trees, balsam firs cone stand straight up on the branches.

Balsam fir cones are very pointy, and when the seeds of trees ripen, they often break up into small pieces. This is the reason you will hardly witness any balsam fir cone on the ground.

Balsam firs have a relatively dense, pyramidal crown that is usually dark green in color. These crowns have a slender tip once the seeds ripen and mature.

Their pine cones are dark purple in color and are barrel-shaped, which hold an upright position until they break.

The leaves of these trees are arranged spirally with a slightly notched tip. The leaf bases are twisted in a way that they appear to be in horizontal rows.

They are known to have a smoothy and waxy texture, with their inner bark featuring a greyish complexion when young. The bark later turns brownish as these firs turn into old trees.

The lower branches needles of young trees are around 1.5 in (4 cm) long, while the older branches are shorter and curved upward.

Even though the needles are dark green in color in young trees, two white or silvery bands can be spotted on the lower surface of the needles.

Balsam firs carry both male and female flowers on the same tree. These flowers tend to grow between the months of May and June.

Once mature, the cones can be around 3.5 in (9 cm) long and have bracts shorter than scales, unlike the Fraser firs that have longer bracts.

If you want to take care of this tree, trim often, give enough water, and keep it away from heat.

Lifespan And Size Of Balsam Fir

Also known as blister fir or balm fir, various species of balsam fir are common throughout some parts of Canada and America. They are in fact, one of the wide-ranging tree landscapes of Canada and, fortunately, live for many years.

These trees tend to have an average lifespan of about 80 years. However, there are some balsam trees, which are known to have lived for around 150 years.

Balsam firs are usually tall and narrow in size. Their trunks typically have a diameter of about 27.55 in (70 cm), while the height can go up to as high as 1968.5 in (5000 cm).

This evergreen tree is suitable to grow in soils of Northern forests of eastern and central regions of Canada.

Their suitable habitat involves other tees, including maples, birches, and beeches.

While some varieties of balsam fir can grow in any soil and temperature, there are others that are very specific about their soil and sunlight requirements. Mostly their specific habitats are wetlands, terrestrial, and swamps.

The wood derived from these trees can also be used in lumber and furniture-making.

Uses Of Balsam Fir

Whether used for decorative or medicinal purposes, the uses of balsam fir are multiple. Here are the most common uses of balsam fir.

Since these conifers smell pleasant and their pointy needles remain upright days after being cut, balsam firs are often used as decorative trees. At Christmas, people often decorate their balsam fir's Christmas tree as a festive cultural gesture.

The saps produced from the wood of the balsam fir trees are mainly used in the manufacturing of various natural products, such as natural candles, soaps, and even glues.

Balsam fir is also used as traditional medicine as the fragrant balsam fir resin or sap of this tree has been found to be extremely effective in healing cuts, wounds, and burns. Sometimes, its leaves are used to make medicinal tea, which works well to treat colds and coughs.

Balsam fir oil is made from balsam fir bark and carries various medicinal properties that can alleviate muscle pain.

Balsam fir boughs are a good insulator and can be used for insulating the cold ground.

Balsam fir provides a natural habitat for various species of small mammals, including birds and animals. Various animals, such as moose and deer, rely on balsam fir trees for food and shelter.

For instance, deer and songbirds feed on the twigs and needles of balsam fir to satiate their hunger during winters. Some songbirds use young conifers to make their shelter.

Did You Know...

The awesome facts about Balsam Fir don't end. Here are some more random balsam fir facts for you to know.

Since the bark of the balsam fir trees has resinous blisters, they are scientifically called 'Abies Balsamea.'

Similarly, balsam trees live, on average, for more than a century. This is why the term 'Abies' is used in its scientific name 'Abies Balsamea.' Abies means long-lived.

Since its young bark is mostly noticed to be covered with pitch blisters, these trees are called balsam trees. They can be eaten.

Canada balsam is very different from the American balsam fir. Balsam firs sometimes produce a lot of cones and sometimes hardly any. Their cone cycles rotate every two to four years.

Balsam firs are highly vulnerable to root rots, resin blisters, and bark blisters. Thus, National Forest Service recommends ensuring minimal dryness in areas where balsam firs are planted.

Trees that are already affected by root rot can be treated with borax to avoid further spread.

Likewise, they are also susceptible to spider mites, which can lead to developing needle rust and twig blight.

Hudson fir has received an award for the best ornamental tree. This beautiful pine tree is also an official logo of New Brunswick in Canada.