The genus Abies, commonly known as firs, encompasses approximately 50 species of evergreen, coniferous trees within the family Pinaceae. These majestic trees are characterized by their spiral arrangement of needle-like leaves, distinctive upright cones, and pyramid-shaped growth habit. Abies species play a vital ecological role in temperate and mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere, providing habitat for wildlife, stabilizing soil, and sequestering carbon dioxide. Beyond their ecological importance, they are prized for their high-quality wood, which finds applications in construction and furniture making, and many species are cultivated for their ornamental value in gardens and parks. Abies is a remarkable genus that combines ecological significance with aesthetic appeal and economic value.

The balsam fir, Abies balsamea is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the north-eastern United States. It is a small to medium-size evergreen tree typically 14–20 meters tall, rarely to 27 meters tall, with a narrow conic crown. A beautiful landscaping tree, the bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and with resin blisters, which tend to spray when ruptured, becoming rough and fissured or scaly on old trees. The leaves are flat needle-like, 15 to 30 millimetres long, making it a perfect subject for the art of bonsai. The cones are erect, 40 to 80 millimetres long, dark purple, ripening brown and disintegrating to release the seeds at the beginning of winter.