Balsam fir broom.

[yashu]

Last winter I found a witch’s broom on a young balsam fir. The host tree is no more than about 4’. It appeared dead so I snapped a couple photos as I don’t see them often and I thought it was a cool thing. The other day my kid tells me he thinks he found a broom out in our woods and I asked him if it was a dead one o. A small tree. He said it was indeed on a small tree but not dead. He brought me out there and it was the same broom but with live green needles. It’s a neat specimen as it very closely resembles Canadian Hemlock.
Is this collectible? If so how, is this a graft situation or is there another way through cuttings or something? I have no experience with brooms and propagation so any insight is welcome.

 

[yashu]

All the branch tips are loaded with buds and I recall when I found it last winter there were also tons of buds however I assumed they weren’t viable as the broom appeared dead and dry. Maybe I discovered a new deciduous conifer!!! the broom was also chock full of small webs as if it had the worst spider mite infestation. I recall reading that broom like growths can appear with certain infections, is it possible this could be what’s going on?

Anyway… I assume it’s too late in the season here in Maine to do anything with it this year

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Is there a chance that it's a yew? Some taxus species can bud from bare wood.
The broom part might be a response to grazing or a dropping branch, and spider mites did the rest.

Still an interesting find!

 

[yashu]

Is there a chance that it's a yew? Some taxus species can bud from bare wood.
The broom part might be a response to grazing or a dropping branch, and spider mites did the rest.

Still an interesti

No chance, the host plant is definitely abies balsamea.
…and the broom is definitely growing out of its branch.