Balsam Firs as bonsai?

[karen82]

Yesterday I was scouting my 'backyard' (mostly native woods backing up to state part) for something to collect, there wasn't much of interest, but I did find a somewhat interesting little balsam fir that I had somehow missed, less than 100 ft from the house.

But there doesn't seem to be much info on balsam firs. Most of what I find on firs is pretty negative, but that seems to be based on alpine firs, which don't do well in many climates. Balsams seem to do great here. I guess I'm just wondering if there are other reasons why balsams or firs in general, aren't grown as bonsai much. Are they a problematic species?

Also I was just wondering on opinions as to whether it's even worth collecting. It was essentially the only tree that didn't have a perfectly straight trunk. It has a little interest in the bottom few inches and then grows straight and boring like its siblings.
Oh and it will be easy to collect as it's growing on a rotten log. I'm not going to disturb it to look more closely at the roots until spring.

 

[River's Edge]

Yesterday I was scouting my 'backyard' (mostly native woods backing up to state part) for something to collect, there wasn't much of interest, but I did find a somewhat interesting little balsam fir that I had somehow missed, less than 100 ft from the house.

But there doesn't seem to be much info on balsam firs. Most of what I find on firs is pretty negative, but that seems to be based on alpine firs, which don't do well in many climates. Balsams seem to do great here. I guess I'm just wondering if there are other reasons why balsams or firs in general, aren't grown as bonsai much. Are they a problematic species?

Also I was just wondering on opinions as to whether it's even worth collecting. It was essentially the only tree that didn't have a perfectly straight trunk. It has a little interest in the bottom few inches and then grows straight and boring like its siblings.
Oh and it will be easy to collect as it's growing on a rotten log. I'm not going to disturb it to look more closely at the roots until spring.


View attachment 260616

I kept a Balsalm fir as a Bonsai for about ten years, then decided it was a better landscape size plant. The flat linear foliage was difficult to wire and style in my opinion. It backbudded readily, seemed to be a slower growing species. I find sub alpine fir much more rewarding to work with. Just my experience others may have had more success and interest in this species.

 

[A. Gorilla]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/549368854527418891/

 

[penumbra]

I have one I got past spring. So far it is doing very well but appears to grow slowly. I love the foliage.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@karen82
That's a nice little fir, it is a bit on the small diameter trunk size for a solo tree, but if you could find 2 more, or 4 more of similar size, but with different diameter trunks, you could make a very attractive forest. Forests are 3 or 5 or 7 or more trees. Never just 4, it's an unlucky number for some cultures, and visual rules make identifying the focal point difficult. It can be done in North American shows, but it has to have a clear focal point (main tree).

So see if you can find more.

You also probably have Carpinus - hornbeam, larch, white spruce (Picea glauca) and if there's any sand barrens near you, Jack pine. All good for bonsai.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

On the same log you are very likely to have low bush blueberry, or a low growing huckleberry. Both make nice accent plants, or understory plants for your forest planting.

 

[karen82]

Thanks for the replies. On my property (less than 3 acres), there are mostly balsam firs and white cedars, with some eastern hemlocks, eastern white pines, some sort of spruce, and mountain maples. Most are just full sized trees or tiny seedlngs. Most of the medium-sized trees are balsams - but almost all of those have perfectly straight trunks and just look like mini Christmas trees, and just seem like they'd be a challenge to bonsai.
I will keep an eye out for others with a more interesting look.
There's better trees in the park, including larch, beech, and even some very old apple trees, but I don't think getting permits to collect any is an option.

 

[RKatzin]

I have this Frasier fir for several years. I'm not certain if it's an improved variety or a close relative of balsam fir, depends what sources you're reading. Most agree it's an Appalachian Mts tree and that they're near to endangered. It's grown very well here in SW Oregon and I'm ready to give it a nice pot in the spring. I should add that it had grown to twice this size, not taller but twice as wide, but one side got snow broken a few years ago.

 

[Shoshin]

Yesterday I was scouting my 'backyard' (mostly native woods backing up to state part) for something to collect, there wasn't much of interest, but I did find a somewhat interesting little balsam fir that I had somehow missed, less than 100 ft from the house.

But there doesn't seem to be much info on balsam firs. Most of what I find on firs is pretty negative, but that seems to be based on alpine firs, which don't do well in many climates. Balsams seem to do great here. I guess I'm just wondering if there are other reasons why balsams or firs in general, aren't grown as bonsai much. Are they a problematic species?

Also I was just wondering on opinions as to whether it's even worth collecting. It was essentially the only tree that didn't have a perfectly straight trunk. It has a little interest in the bottom few inches and then grows straight and boring like its siblings.
Oh and it will be easy to collect as it's growing on a rotten log. I'm not going to disturb it to look more closely at the roots until spring.


View attachment 260616

 

[Shoshin]

This balsam is about 40 years old with a 10 inch base. First one for me and styling soon. How is yours going?

 

[karen82]

I decided to just leave it where it was. I'm still keeping an eye out for a really good one to collect.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I decided to just leave it where it was. I'm still keeping an eye out for a really good one to collect.

Contact David Easterbrook in Montreal . Former curator if the bonsai collection. At he Montreal botanical gardens . Long time bonsai mentor and teacher . He has a YouTube channel . I have heard him talk about somewhere there is great genetic balsam fir to collect . It’s been a long time . But I believe it’s in Wisconsin . Might be Michigan but pretty sure it’s Wisconsin . What makes them interesting is small compact foliage and interesting trunks . Exposed on hills

 

[Javaman4373]

I am interested in learning more about balsam as bonsai. I found one on our farm where the trunk had died at almost ground level and some branches below that look fine. One branch is spreading wide and close to the ground and one is growing upward like a new leader. I think it has potential for collecting in the spring. The base is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. More later.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I am interested in learning more about balsam as bonsai. I found one on our farm where the trunk had died at almost ground level and some branches below that look fine. One branch is spreading wide and close to the ground and one is growing upward like a new leader. I think it has potential for collecting in the spring. The base is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter. More later.

I have a interesting bonsai idea . That you may want to consider . Mine involves Scot’s pine . There is a Christmas tree farm up here . They slow you to cut your own tree . They also have a large machine specific for digging trees . And will sell you a tree in the spring to plant as a landscape plant . I drive buy this place . And see stumps that are below the snow at Xmas that have branches on them that someone cut the top off for a tree . Some of these stumps have back budded . Sone are even trying to grow a new leader . Plan is to have a look and maybe purchase one . Farm owner bay think I’m crazy but I can live with that . Considering Balsam is grown as x mass trees you may want to look into something like that