Trees of the Adirondacks:
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Trees of the Adirondacks: Balsam Fir is a small to medium-sized conifer found in boreal forests in the Adirondacks. It has aromatic foliage, grayish-brown bark with multiple resin blisters, and short, flat needles which are friendly to the touch. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) at the Silver Lake Bog Preserve (27 September 2019).

The Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) is a small to medium-sized tree widespread in moist woodlands and swamps in boreal forests of the Adirondacks. Within its range it may also be referred to as Balsam, Canadian Balsam, Canada Balsam, Eastern Fir, and Bracted Balsam Fir. It is the provincial tree of New Brunswick. This species is a member of the pine family.

Identification of the Balsam Fir

Trees of the Adirondacks: The bark of young Balsam Fir trees is gray, thin, and smooth, with many resin blisters. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) on the Heart Lake Trail (15 August 2018).

The Balsam Fir features aromatic foliage and a narrow, pointed, spire-like crown. The needles are flat, about ¾ inch long, and dark green in color. The under side of the needle is pale with a few white lines. Like all firs, the needles are generally the longest in the middle of the twig. The twigs are smooth.

The needles are arranged spirally on the shoot. However, on the lower branches, the leaf bases are twisted to appear in two more-or-less horizontal rows. On branches higher on the tree or those exposed to direct sunlight, the needles project in all directions like spruce needles. Chemicals in the needles give this tree a unique defense against insect feeders, as they mimic a growth hormone that interferes with normal insect metamorphosis.

The Balsam Fir is one of the relatively few trees with bark distinctive enough to provide a good basis for identification. Its bark is thin, gray and smooth, with many resin blisters. The bark often becomes broken into irregular brownish scales as the tree ages.

Both male and female cones occur on the top branches of the tree. The cones are ½ to 3 inches long. The cones are purplish in color and stand erect on branches.

Keys to identifying the Balsam Fir and differentiating it from other coniferous trees include its needles, bark, and habitat.

• Balsam Fir trees are easily distinguished from Eastern White Pine, since the latter tree has much longer needles in bundles, while the needles of the Balsam Fir grow individually on the twig.
• Balsam Fir needles can also be differentiated from those of the Red Spruce, which are sharp-pointed and prickly, growing all around the twig. Balsam Fir needles, particularly those on lower branches, appear to be two-ranked. The needles appear to occupy a single horizontal plane and are soft and friendly to the touch. Moreover, Red Spruce needles are four sided, in contrast to the flat needles of the Balsam Fir. Finally, the cones of Red Spruce are orange-brown, contrasting with the bluish brown cones of the Balsam fir.
• The arrangement of Balsam Fir needles also contrasts with that of Tamaracks. Tamarack needles are relatively short, like those of the Balsam Fir, but are produced in clusters of ten to twenty, as opposed to the single needles of the Balsam Fir. Moreover, Tamaracks thrive in much wetter soil than Balsam Fir.
• Balsam Fir is also easy to distinguish from Black Spruce, since the latter species thrives in bogs, where Balsam Fir does not grow.

Differentiating Balsam Fir from Eastern Hemlock is somewhat trickier.

• Balsam Fir needles, like those of the Eastern Hemlock, are flat and white-lined below. In both cases, the needles appear to occupy a single horizontal plane. However, the needles of the Eastern Hemlock are attached to the twig by tiny slender stalks, in contrast to those of the Balsam Fir, which are not stalked.
• The cones of these two species are very different. Those of the Eastern Hemlock are much smaller and pendant, while those of the Balsam Fir are upright.
• The growth habits of the two species are different. The Balsam Fir is conical, with ascending branches, while the Eastern Hemlock has a loose, feathery silhouette. The topmost shoot of hemlocks tend to droop, in contrast to the conical shape of firs and spruces.
• Balsam bark is another key identifier, since it features many resin blisters which emit a spicy-scented resin.

Uses of the Balsam Fir

This tree is used primarily for pulp and light frame construction. It has been used for paneling, crates, barrels, and plywood, and other products not requiring high structural strength. The tree's main economic value is as Christmas trees, since balsam holds its aromatic needles indoors much longer than spruce. The aromatic foliage of Balsam Fir is also used to make balsam pillows. The resin has been used for medicine, turpentine, glue, and varnish. The resin was formerly used in medicine, optics, and microscopy, but has now largely been replaced by synthetics.

This plant was widely used medicinally by various North American Indian tribes. Native American tribes made extensive use of Balsam Fir to treat a wide variety of ailments, including heart disease, colds, kidney pains, sore throat, rheumatic joints, headache, coughs, boils, bruises, sprains, and colic. Several tribes used the needles to make pillows, believing that the aroma promoted good health.

Wildlife Value of the Balsam Fir

Adirondack Birds: Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) is a common tree in the breeding habitat of birds such as the Blackpoll Warbler. Blackpoll Warbler on the Woods & Waters Trail (30 September 2018).

The Balsam Fir is moderately important to wildlife.

• The evergreen foliage of young trees is useful to mammals and game birds for cover, especially in winter.
• Browsers, particularly White-tailed Deer and Moose, may resort to fir foliage as a large part of their winter menu.
• The seeds are sought by Red Squirrels, Eastern Chipmunks and other rodents. 
• North American Porcupines feed on the bark.

Balsam Fir also provides food and breeding habitat for a number of birds.

• The winged seeds are eaten from the cones by at least eight species of songbirds (such as crossbills). 
• Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers chisel feeding wells in the bark. 
• Yellow-rumped Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Veery, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks often choose this species as a nest site.

Balsam Fir is a common tree species in the breeding habitat of a wide variety of birds, including:

Distribution of the Balsam Fir

Trees of the Adirondacks: Balsam Fir is found in all counties within the Adirondack Park Blue Line. Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail (30 April 2019).

This species is widely distributed in northeastern North America. In Canada, the tree's range extends from Newfoundland and Labrador west through the more northerly portions of Quebec and Ontario.

In the United States, the range of the Balsam Fir extends from extreme northern Minnesota west of Lake-of-the-Woods southeast to Iowa; east to central Wisconsin and central Michigan into New York and central Pennsylvania; then northeastward from Connecticut to the other New England States.

In New York State, the Balsam Fir is found in most of the northeastern counties, encompassing the Adirondacks and the Catskills. The Balsam Fir is present in all counties of the Adirondack Park Blue Line.

Habitat of the Balsam Fir

Balsam Fir grows in both well-drained and poorly drained soil. It is shade tolerant. Balsams are usually found in conifer forests with Red Spruce or Eastern White Pine. Balsam Fir also grows in mixed hardwood/conifer forests with birches, maples, and beech species.

Balsam Fir is aggressive in getting established after forest disturbances. For instance, after the Great Blowdown of 1950, Balsam Fir quickly seeded in the damaged areas and grew vigorously. In middle elevations in the Adirondack region (1500 to 1600 feet), this species is most abundant in poorer sites where competition from northern hardwoods is weaker. At higher elevations (above 4000 feet), Balsam Fir dominates to the timberline.

Throughout the Adirondack region, Balsam Fir may be found in a number of ecological communities:

Look for Balsam Fir along many of trails throughout the Adirondack Park, including virtually all of the nature and hiking trails covered here.

• In a mixed woods forest, such as Spruce-Northern Hardwood Forest, codominant trees are Red Spruce, Sugar Maple, American Beech, and Yellow Birch, with smaller numbers of Balsam Fir and Eastern Hemlock.
• In the understory, look for Striped Maple and Hobblebush.
• Ground layer plants include wildflowers such as Common Wood Sorrel, Bunchberry, Wild Sarsaparilla, Clintonia, Goldthread, Canada Mayflower, and Indian Cucumber Root.
• Ferns commonly found on the forest floor include the Common Wood Fern, Evergreen Woodfern, and Spinulose Wood Fern.
• Characteristic birds found in this habitat include the White-throated Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Pileated Woodpecker.

Adirondack Tree List

References

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The Birds of North America. Subscription Web Site. Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Veery, Cape May Warbler, Evening Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Mourning Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-throated Sparrow, Bicknell's Thrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Retrieved 8 March 2015.

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Trees of the Adirondack Mountains