Common Name: Balsam Fir
Latin Name: Abies Balsamea
French Name: Sapin baumier
Branch arrangement: Spiral
What does Balsam Fir need to thrive? Balsam Firs will tolerate shade and sunlight, along with different moisture levels and a variety of soils. This allows them to adapt to most climates.
Does this tree grow better around some plants than others? It grows often around yellow birch, red maple, black spruce, and red spruce.
What animals use this tree for food/habitat? A lot of animals rely on Balsam Fir for food. Grouse will eat the seeds and buds, squirrels will carche away the cones, and porcupines will eat the bark. Like many other trees, balsam firs offer shelter for squirrels, birds and chipmunks. Beavers will sometimes use them for building their dams.
Is this tree native to North America? Balsam Firs are native to Eastern Canada and Northern United States.
How big does this species grow? Balsam fir can grow up to 30 meters tall and 65 centimeters in diameter.
How long do Balsam Fir live? Balsam Fir trees can live up to 300 years.
Does Balsam Fir have any traditional uses in indigenous cultures? For thousands of years, Native Americans have used Balsam fir for its healing properties. The tree's needles are eaten by animals and humans. The sticky resin in the blisters can be used to heal cuts and scrapes.
The Balsam fir has flat, dark green needles, around ⅝ - 1” in length with two white or grey lines running along the underside of the needle. The tips of the needle are either blunt or rounded.
The cones start out dark purple and turn grey-brown as they get older. They stick upright on the tree branch. When the cones are ready, their scales fall off and leave only a cone about 2-4” in length. These trees develop cones at 2-4 year intervals.
The young trees have smooth grey-brown bark with blisters of fragrant, sticky, and clear resin all over the bark. Older Balsam fir trees have scalier bark but keep the grey-brown colour and resin blisters.