Guide to Christmas Trees

The Christmas holiday means many different things to many people. This wintertime celebration evokes feelings of joy, companionship, compassion, and giving. Decorations are an important part of Christmas and no decoration is more important than the Christmas tree. There are artificial and live trees, but did you know that live Christmas trees come in a wide variety of species and types? The most popular breeds of trees to use as Christmas decorations are fir and pine, but spruce and cypress can also be used. All live trees, no matter the variety, will need a base that can hold water to keep the tree fresh. Live Christmas trees will shed their needles at different rates as well, so be prepared to keep the area around the tree tidy, depending on how long you'll have your tree up. However, the vibrant colors and pleasing aroma may make having a live Christmas tree worthwhile.

Fir Trees

Fir trees are one of the most commonly used trees for household Christmas decorations. All firs belong to the scientific genus Abies. A fir tree can be distinguished by the cones it produces that stand straight up. The branches on a fir tree also stick out horizontally, unlike the more vertical branches on spruce trees or twisted branches of pine trees. The needles on a fir tree will be singular and not clustered in groups. Some of the most popular are Fraser, Balsam, Douglas, and Noble fir trees.

Balsam fir is favored in particular because of its rich fragrance. It has beautiful bluish-green needles that don't easily shed and firm branches to hold Christmas ornaments. However, the Balsam fir can dry out if not properly watered, so be sure to keep the base filled.
The Fraser fir tree has strong branches that can support heavier ornaments. The needles also possess a dark blue and green that makes this variety a popular species of Christmas tree. The Fraser fir is native to the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States and many Christmas tree farms are located in North Carolina and Virginia as a result.
The Douglas fir is a thinner tree with softer, green needles that won't be able to hold heavier decorations. However, a Douglas fir tree is less expensive than a Balsam or Fraser fir tree. Douglas fir trees are more tolerant of harsh conditions and thus are easily grown all across North America. This hardiness makes them ideal for use as live Christmas tree decorations.
Noble Fir has strong, wiry branches that have often been used in Christmas decorations, not just as trees but also for making garlands and wreaths. The greenery business relies heavily on the Noble fir for this purpose. Noble fir trees compromise much of the Christmas tree market in the Pacific Northwest, as this tree grows very well in that climate.

Pine Trees

Pine trees are similar to fir trees and are also used for Christmas decorating in areas where fir trees do not grow as readily. Pine trees are found in the scientific genus Pinus. The easiest way to differentiate a pine tree from a fir tree is to examine the needles. On a fir tree, the needles will be in a single group. On a pine tree, the needles will be in bunches of two, three, or even five.

The Virginia pine is frequently used as a Christmas tree. It can be grown in warmer, more southern climates than most fir trees. The Virginia Pine can grow in sandy or acidic soil as well. It takes about three to six years from when you plant a Virginia pine for it to reach a six- to seven-foot height, the ideal size for your living room. As the pine tree is growing the branches must be pruned correctly in order to achieve a pyramid-like shape, as the Virginia pine branches do not grow uniformly.
White pine is also a good choice for live Christmas trees, as they produce no fragrance and therefore don't trigger allergies. Like the Virginia Pine, the White pine must be sheared during growth in order to produce the necessary shape for a Christmas tree.
Scotch Pines are very resilient trees that will grow almost anywhere. Due to this durability, they have become a popular variety for Christmas decorating. The needles are a dark green and the strong limbs support heavy decorations and ornaments. In addition, the needles of the Scotch pines are very hardy and will not fall off, making this tree ideal for longer-lasting displays.