balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

Balsam Fir

Description:

Native to the northern third of Wisconsin, this icon evergreen of the north woods has soft flat needles arranged in a spiral around the branch. However, the needle blade turn horizontal to capture the sun. This makes them appear to be arranged along more or two rows along the shoot. Balsam fir trees are short to medium height (46–66 feet). They prefer soil with consistent moisture, but can be found from swamps to hilltops. Cones are are erect (1 ¹⁄₂ to 3 ¹⁄₄ inches) and dark purple; ripen to brown and disintegrating to release the winged seeds in September.

balsam fir

USDA Symbol:	Common Name:	Scientific Name:
ABBA	balsam fir	Abies balsamea

ITIS TSN: 18032

Category: Gymnosperm

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom:

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Coniferophyta

Subdivision:

Class: Pinopsida

SubClass:

Order: Pinales

Family: Pinaceae

Counties: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Dane, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Grant, Iron, Jackson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Pepin, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood

Natural Community: Alder Thicket

Curtis Community: Northern Dry Forest, Northern Dry-mesic Forest, Alder Thicket, Boreal Forest, Bracken-grassland

Coefficient of Conservation: 5

Duration:	Growth Habit:	Native Status:
Perennial	Tree	L48(N)CAN(N)SPM(N)

Active Growth Period: Spring and Summer

After Harvest Regrowth Rate:

Bloat: None

Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio: High

Coppice Potential: No

Conspicuous Fall Color: No

Fire Resistant: No

Flower Color: Yellow

Conspicuous Flower: No

Foliage Color: Green

Foliage Light Porosity Summer: Dense

Foliage Porosity Winter: Dense

Foliage Texture: Medium

Fruit/Seed Color: Brown

Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No

Growth Form: Single Stem

Growth Rate: Slow

Height at Base Age (Max): 18

Height at Maturity: 60

Known Alelopath: No

Leaf Retention: Yes

Lifespan: Short

Low Growing Grass: No

Re-sproutability: No

Shape and Orientation: Conical

Toxicity: None

Height (min):

Height (max):

Root Type:

Leaf Type:

Leaf Arrangement:

Leaf Shape:

Leaf Margin:

Vein Pattern:

Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes

Adapted to Medium Textured Soils: Yes

Adapted to Fine Textured Soils: Yes

Anaerobic Tolerance:

CaCO3 Tolerance: Low

Cold Stratification Required: Yes

Drought Tolerance: Low

Fertility Requirement: Medium

_Fire Tolerance: Low

Frost Free Days, Minimum: 80

Hedge Tolerance: Low

Moisture Use: Medium

pH (Minimum): 4

pH (Maximum): 6

Planting Density per Acre, Minimum: 300

Planting Density per Acre, Maximum: 1200

Precipitation (Minimum): 13

Precipitation (Maximum): 60

Root Depth, Minimum (inches): 20

Salinity Tolerance: None

Shade Tolerance: Tolerant

Temperature, Minimum (°F): -43

Plant Spacing (min):

Plant Spacing (max):

Bloom Period:	Commercial Availability:	Fruit/Seed Abundance:
Mid Summer	Routinely Available	Medium

Fruit/Seed Period Begin:	Fruit/Seed Period End:	Fruit/Seed Persistence:
Fall	Fall	No

Propogated by Bare Root:	Propogated by Bulbs:	Propogated by Container:
Yes	No	Yes

Propogated by Corms:	Propogated by Cuttings:	Propogated by Seed:
No	No	Yes

Propogated by Sod:	Propogated by Sprigs:	Propogated by Tubers:
No	No	No

Seeds per Pound:	Seed Spread Rate:	Seedling Vigor:
59840	Slow	Low

Small Grain:	Vegetative Spread Rate:	Propagation Treatment:
No	None

Days to Stratify:	Direct Sowing Time:

Benefits:

Berry/Nut/Seed Product:	Christmas Tree Product:	Fodder Product:
No	Yes	No

Fuelwood Product:	Lumber Product:	Naval Store Product:
Low	Yes	Yes

Nursery Stock Product:	Palatable Browse Animal:	Palatable Graze Animal:
Yes	Medium	--

Palatable Human:	Post Product:	Protein Potential:
No	No	Low

Pulpwood Product:	Veneer Product:
Yes	Yes

Benefits:	Wildlife Food Value:	Wildlife Cover Value:

References:

Integrated Taxonomic Information System – Abies balsamea
Minnesota Wildflowers – Abies balsamea
North America Plant Atlas (BONAS) – Abies balsamea
UDSA Plants Database – Abies balsamea
USFS FEIS Database –Abies balsamea
WisFlora Database – Abies balsamea