The Tree

Balsam Fir, on the ten firs native to the United States, is a medium-sized and short-lived tree but an important one, nonetheless, in both the United States and Canada. It is a beautiful, symmetrical, heavily-foliaged tree, doubtless the best shaped evergreen, comparable to the Colorado Blue Spruce. Growing to elevations of 5000 to 6000 feet, it is from 30 to 80 feet tall with a diameter of from 10 to 30 inches, with low branches usually occurring on the trunk. It has an unusual bark, which is dull reddish-brown or ash colored and about an inch thick with many thin scales and blisters called “balsam blisters.” On the young trees the branches are thin, smooth and ash colored. The aromatic needles are a deep blue-green, comparatively soft, about one inch long, narrow, glossy on the upper surface and light underneath with blunt ends. They grow spirally on the twig and curve upward. The needles are used in “balsam pillows” because of their softness and pleasing aromatic scent. The cones, which stand erect, are attached close to the twig, are a dark purplish brown and about two to four inches long and contain many seeds. The Balsam Fir is one of the choicest Christmas trees.

Balsam Fir cones

Balsam Fir tree bark

Carter Dome seen from Mt. Hight, NH, with Abies Balsamea

Common Names in Use

• Balsam Fir (N.H., Vt., Mass., N.Y., Pa., W.Va., Wis., Mich., Minn., Nebr., Ohio, Ontario, Eng., and trade)
• Balsam (Vt., N.H., N.Y., and trade)
• Balm-of-Gilead
• Balm-of-Gilead Fir (N.Y., Pa., W. Va.)
• Blister Pine (W. Va.)
• Cho-koh-tung “Blisters” (N.Y., and Indians)
• Canada Balsam (N.C.)
• Eastern Fir (trade)
• Fir tree (Vt.)
• Fir Pine (W. Va.)
• Sapin (Quebec)
• Silver Pine (Hudson Bay)
• Single Spruce (N. Bruns. to Hudson Bay)

Growth Range

The growth range of Balsam Fir extends from Labrador to southwestern Mackenzie, and Alberta in Canada, and southward to the Lake States, and along the Appalachian Mountains to Virginia.

The Wood

Balsam Fir wood is creamy white to pale yellowish tan in color, wide ringed, with the narrow sapwood indistinguishable from the heartwood. It is light in weight, moderately limber, soft, brittle, straight-grained, and of fine texture. It is non-resinous, works easily with tools, and finishes well.

Uses

In Canada there is made from this tree a widely known oleo-resin, Canada Balsam, which is colorless, has the consistency of honey, and is used as a cement for glass in optical work and for mounting microscopic specimens. The tree is an important source of pulpwood, and the lumber is used for boxes, crates, cheese boxes, cooper-age, butter boxes, and for food containers since the wood is odorless and does not impart taste to the food. It is also used for sheathing, planing mill products, sash, doors and blinds.