Abies balsamea

balsam fir

Did you know?:

Balsam fir is very popular during the Christmas holidays and is used for wreaths and Christmas trees.

Photo Credit:

What does this species look like?

Balsam fir is an evergreen, conifer tree growing 40 to 90 feet tall. Trees begin bearing cones at about 20 years of age. Male and female cones are present on the same tree, with pollination occurring by wind.

Balsam fir grows on a wide variety of upland and lowland sites: mountain slopes, glaciated uplands, alluvial flats, peatlands, and swamps. It can be found in pure stands, mixed coniferous forests, and mixed deciduous and conifer forests. Its seedlings are very shade tolerant.

Why observe this species?

Balsam fir is a USA-NPN regional plant species. Regional species are ecologically or economically important and are distributed more locally than calibration species. The USA-NPN integrates these observations to better understand plant responses within the different geographic regions of the nation. In addition, this species is an allergen. Observations on its phenology will provide valuable information to benefit people with allergies and the public health community.

Where is this species found?

U.S. States:

CT, IA, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WI, WV

Which phenophases should I observe?

Needles	Do you see...? *Breaking needle buds* One or more breaking needle buds are visible on the plant. A needle bud is considered "breaking" once a green needle tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first needle from the bud has unfolded and spread away from the developing stem. How many buds are breaking? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Young needles* One or more young unfolded needles are visible on the plant. A needle is considered "young" and "unfolded" once it has spread away from the developing stem enough that its point of attachment to the stem is visible, but before it has reached full size and turned the darker green color of mature needles on the plant. How many young needles are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10
Pollen cones	Do you see...? *Pollen cones* One or more fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant. How many fresh pollen cones are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Open pollen cones* One or more open fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant. How many fresh pollen cones are open? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 Peak opening: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant are open and still fresh. More... *Pollen release* One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown. How many cones release pollen? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 Peak pollen: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant release pollen. More...
Seed cones	Do you see...? *Unripe seed cones* One or more unripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Abies balsamea, an unripe seed cone is green or brown with scales closed together. How many seed cones are unripe? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Ripe seed cones* One or more ripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Abies balsamea, a seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned brown and the scales have begun to spread apart to release the seeds. Do not include open cones that have already dropped all of their seeds but remain on the plant. How many seed cones are ripe? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Recent seed cone drop* One or more mature seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature seed cones that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all seeds but remained on the plant. How many mature seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped from the plant? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More...

Needles

Do you see...?

Breaking needle buds
One or more breaking needle buds are visible on the plant. A needle bud is considered "breaking" once a green needle tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first needle from the bud has unfolded and spread away from the developing stem.

How many buds are breaking?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Young needles
One or more young unfolded needles are visible on the plant. A needle is considered "young" and "unfolded" once it has spread away from the developing stem enough that its point of attachment to the stem is visible, but before it has reached full size and turned the darker green color of mature needles on the plant.

How many young needles are present?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

Pollen cones

Do you see...?

Pollen cones
One or more fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant.

How many fresh pollen cones are present?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Open pollen cones
One or more open fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant.

How many fresh pollen cones are open?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

Peak opening: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant are open and still fresh.

More...

Pollen release
One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown.

How many cones release pollen?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

Peak pollen: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant release pollen.

More...

Seed cones

Do you see...?

Unripe seed cones
One or more unripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Abies balsamea, an unripe seed cone is green or brown with scales closed together.

How many seed cones are unripe?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Ripe seed cones
One or more ripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Abies balsamea, a seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned brown and the scales have begun to spread apart to release the seeds. Do not include open cones that have already dropped all of their seeds but remain on the plant.

How many seed cones are ripe?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Recent seed cone drop
One or more mature seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature seed cones that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all seeds but remained on the plant.

How many mature seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped from the plant?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

For more information

USDA PLANTS profile for balsam fir (USDA Symbol: ABBA)
ITIS information for balsam fir (ITIS TSN: 18032)

Acknowledgments

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