Bark nearly smooth. Fruit a fleshy, red orange, cuplike aril surrounding a single seed. Newfoundland west to Manitoba, south to Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, and Iowa. Slow growing, shade tolerant species that grows best in the stable environmental conditions of climax forests. Does not occur in early or mid-successional communities.
Growth is best in at least partial shade.
Appears to have a competitive advantage over intolerant species only under a well-developed canopy. Balsam Fir does not reproduce where yew forms dense ground layers. It is indicative of cool and moist, old-growth conditions. Intolerant to moderate or heavy browsing by moose or deer. Disturbances tend to exclude yew and any removal of the overstory is likely to be detrimental.