Seed Propagation of Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea, or balsam fir, is a popular evergreen tree that is native to eastern and central Canada from Newfoundland to central Alberta and the northeastern United States from Maine to Minnesota down to Virginia. Within these areas it may also be known as balsam, Canadian balsam, eastern fir and bracted balsam fir. Balsam firs are part of the family Pinaceae. They are considered a small to medium size evergreen tree because they can grow to be between fourty and eighty feet tall. Balsam firs can live as long as two hundred years. These trees have shallow root systems that hardly ever reach beyond thirty inches deep. They grow best in cooler environments with high soil moisture and a humid atmosphere.
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| Balsam fir tree |
After twenty to thirty years of growth, balsam firs will produce dark purple cones that stand upright on the upper branches of the tree and release seeds in september. The cones are produced in a single season and are two to three and a half inches long when they reach maturity. The cones produced by balsam firs allows the tree to be distinguished from the fraser fir, which is easily confused with the balsam fir. However, seeds suitable for propagation are produced in intervals only every two to four years.
Balsam firs are a major food sources for moose and are also a food source for squirrels and many types of birds. Not only are these trees a food sources, but they provide shelter for moose, deer and caribou in the winter months.
Balsam firs have many uses to humans as well. The resin is used to make Canada Balsam, which was once used as a cold remedy but is now used as a glue in making glass. The wood is used for lumber as well as for making paper. A nontoxic rodent repellent is made from balsam fir oil and the balsam fir needs hold their distinct scent for a long period of time and consequently balsam fir is also used to make air fresheners. But perhaps their most notable use is being a popular choice for Christmas trees.
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| The needles of balsam fir are used to for fragrance. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abies_balsamea_branch.jpg |
Christmas trees have been sold since around 1850. In 2009 the United States sold over 12.9 million Christmas trees. Balsam firs are ranked as the 4th most popular tree for Christmas tree varieties. The top producing states of Christmas trees in 2009 were Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Propagation by seed is favored for balsam firs. Though they can be propagated by cuttings or grafting and somatic embryogenesis. Balsam fir cuttings are difficult to root. And all three of these methods require a lot of time, labor and money. Since there is a high demand for balsam fir for Christmas trees, it is most economical for them to be started by seed propagation, especially if a high volume of balsam firs is to be produced. Seed propagation of balsam firs is a very simply and easy process, especially for first time propagators or anyone starting a Christmas tree farm.
The seeds of balsam fir are only viable for about a year, so when you are propagating balsam firs make sure to have fresh seeds. To collect the seeds, you want the seeds to be fully ripe otherwise germination will not occur. You will know when the seeds are mature because the cones will be a dark purple or brown color. Seed fall peaks in September, but starts in August and continues through October. Collect ripe cones and let them dry so you can harvest the seeds from the cones.
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| Ripe balsam fir cones |
The germination rate for balsam fir seeds is only twenty to fifty precent, but each cone produces over one hundred seeds. The embryo of balsam fir seeds is dormant and thus requires stratification. The seed needs to be planted in moist soil at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) for a one to three month period. This can be achieved by placing the seeds on moist filter paper so that they can slowly take up the water over time, and let them sit in a refrigerator at forty degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of three weeks. Rather than placing seeds on moist filter paper, alternatively you can place the seeds in moistened perlite for five to ten days, prior to the cold stratification process, for imbibition. You could try planting some seeds outside in the fall and seeing if germination occurs because the cool winter is how the dormancy is broken in nature. However, I recommend placing the seeds in your refrigerator to break the dormancy because this is a controlled environment that you can monitor.
After the seeds have been stored in cool moist soil for a period of time, you can plant them either in a greenhouse or outside. If you have planted seeds outside to break dormancy, you can dig them up and plant them into containers and keep in a greenhouse. If you plant them outside, it has to be late enough in spring so that there is not threat of a frost occurring. I would recommend planting the seeds and then keeping them in a greenhouse because its an environment that you can control and monitor easily.
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| Balsam tree farm |
When the tree is big enough to be transplanted outside, which may be in late spring or early summer, plant the tree in the ground and then cover the base of the tree with mulch. Balsam firs are highly intolerant of drought so be sure to monitor the water levels and keep your seedling well moistened. Also, balsam firs are sensitive to light and receive damage for the excessive sunlight easily. Make sure to not let the plant receive too much sunlight, especially when they are in their first year of growth. When you are planting them outside, plant the seedling in an area with at least partial shade, if not full shade.
Sources
Balsam Fir. 2000. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/balsam_fir.htm
Burden, D. 2012. Christmas tree profile. Iowa State University. http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/forestry/christmas-tree-profile/
Frank, F. Balsam Fir. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/abies/balsamea.htm
Hartmann, H., Kester, D., Davies, F. and R. Geneve. 1999. Plant Propagation. Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ.
McKinley, C. Abies balsamea (L.) Miller. National Christmas Tree Association. North Carolina State University. http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/TreeVarieties/BalsamFir.aspx.
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