Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin

Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.

Family: Pinaceae

balsam fir, Canada balsam

[Pinus balsamea L.]

Christopher Noll

Matthew L. Wagner

University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)

Open Interactive Map

Etymology: basalmea: refers to the basalmic resin in the bark Plants: steeple-shaped perennial, to 80' tall, evergreen tree; stems minutely hairy
Leaves: flat, single, whitish below, 3/8"-1/4" long
Fruits: 1 3/4"-3 1/4" long cones
Habitat: moist; woods, swamps
Conservation Status: Native

Found in a wide variety of mesic to wet northern forests as an understory component or as a canopy dominant with aspen-birch, black ash-white cedar, white pine-white spruce, balsam poplar-white cedar, white spruce-birch, hemlock-hardwoods, aspen-bur oak-white spruce, sugar maple-hemlock, birch-red maple-oak, basswood-elm-birch-maple-oak, sugar maple-basswood, white cedar-white pine-birch, white cedar, aspen-elm-birch-red maple, hemlock-yellow birch. Also found along the borders of bogs and within them, wet meadows, dune-swale areas and forested dunes, sedge meadows, talus slopes, steep banks above rivers.

Almost entirely restricted to areas north of the Tension Zone. Specimens collected south of that area were made in a sandy meadow, a blufftop ridge, and one of the Driftless Area relic bogs. Balsam fir exists in the Driftless Area of Iowa as relict populations on cool cliff faces but similar populations do not exist in Wisconsin, even in areas that support hemlock and white pine relicts. This species is a popular Christmas tree because of its long-lasting needles and pleasant aroma. The bark of balsam fir is often covered in resin-filled pustules.