Balsam Fir–abies balsamea

colour photo of Balsam Fir.

Balsam Fir is a common softwood species in Ontario. It has a tall narrow profile that tapers to a point at the top of the tree with sticky resin blisters on the trunk. It is often found as a late successional species growing under other species in clumps, as it is shade tolerant and is generally not as long lived as spruce.

Balsam Fir has traditionally been used for pulp, paper and lumber products. Balsam Fir represents 2.5% of Ontario’s annual harvest and is 5% of its total growing stock volume.

Map of Balsam Fir relative occurrence

map of Balsam Fir distribution in Ontario indicating low (light brown), moderate and high (dark green-brown) levels of relative occurrence.

Enlarge map of Balsam Fir relative occurrence

Area and proportion of Balsam Fir in the AOU (area in hectares)

StatisticCrownParks and protected areasOtherTotal
Total Area Containing Balsam Fir8,165,657765,5431,838,22310,769,424
1-25% of stand6,982,848646,3811,521,7999,151,028
26-50% of stand1,040,900103,761285,2331,429,894
51-75% of stand90,77910,82421,986123,589
76-100% of stand51,1314,5779,20664,913
Average Proportion in All Forest (%)5.18.05.35.5
Area of Balsam Fir Working Group650,89675,041211,627937,563

Growing stock volume of Balsam Fir in the AOU (volume in thousands of cubic metres)

StatisticCrownParks and protected areasOtherTotal
Gross Total Volume167,19120,55453,185240,930
Net Merchantable Volume62,1717,95922,87193,001
Current Annual Increment2,1802085742,962

Balsam Fir working group area by age class

vertical bar graph of Balsam Fir working group area by age class including brown for Crown, green for park and grey for other.