Description
Balsam fir is an open, pyramidal tree with stiff horizontal branches ending in stout yellowish-brown, fuzzy twigs with crowded shiny foliage. They grow best on fertile, moist, well drained or swampy soils associated with natural stands of tamarack and white cedar. Can be grown on dry and sandy soils once they are established. It is considered a short-lived tree that rarely survives over 90 years. They make fabulous Christmas trees and can be grown in moist areas where other Christmas trees will not survive. Commonly they grow 40-60′ in height and occasionally as tall as 80′, with a trunk diameter of 1-2′. On mountaintops they are reduced to shrub like sizes. Some years ago, while hiking to the top of Mt. Marcy in New York, my brother and I came to an exposed area at about 4,500′ that was all balsam fir. It was somewhat of an unreal sight as the path wound through a field of 6′ high balsam shrubs. By the way, my brother made it to the top of Mt. Marcy but I didn’t. My ankle was acting up and we had a 10-mile hike out, so I had to save the wear and tear on it for the trip out. Needless to say, I had a very pleasant sit amongst the balsam fir as he sprinted to the top.
