Popular Christmas Tree Varieties

The United States is a very large and diverse country. Is it any wonder that there are regional differences in the types of Christmas tree that can be grown, sold, and enjoyed over the holidays? In a Mid-Atlantic state like Maryland, the more popular Christmas tree varieties include Fraser Fir, a tree that naturally grows in high elevations in the south; Douglas Fir, a western variety; Concolor Fir, a tree found in the west; Scotch Pine, native to Scotland; white pine, a native variety; Colorado blue spruce; and Norway spruce, from Norway. A northern state like Minnesota lists the following as their more popular varieties: Balsam fir, Fraser fir, Scotch pine, Norway spruce, white pine, red pine, blue spruce, and white spruce. In California, some of the more popular Christmas trees include Douglas fir, Concolor Fir, Blue Spruce, Sierra Redwood, Incense Cedar, Scotch pine, and Monterey pine. And in the deep south, the Christmas trees must be able to withstand warmer conditions. Some of the most common Christmas Trees found in Alabama include Leland cypress, Arizona cypress, eastern red cedar, Virginia pine, white pine, blue spruce, and Norway spruce.

Most Christmas trees are sold in “choose and cut locations (60%),” while the Christmas tree lot supplies another 30%, and others are ordered by catalog. A nationwide pool asked folks to choose their most favorite variety of Christmas tree, and the favorite were #1: Fraser Fir, #2: Douglas Fir, #3: Balsam Fir, #4:Colorado Blue Spruce, #5: Scotch Pine, #6: Eastern Red Cedar, #7: White Spruce, #8: Eastern White Pine, #9: Concolor Fir, #10: Virginia Pine.

The top 6 Christmas trees sold in Maryland, according to the Maryland Christmas Tree Association, are the Frasier Fir, Douglas fir, Concolor Fir, Scotch pine, White Pine, and Blue Spruce. The Frasier Fir is cherished for its dark green color, pleasant evergreen aroma, soft needles (which are retained for one to two months on a cut tree,) and its strong branches that can hold abundant ornaments. The Douglas fir has many of the same attributes, although the branches are not as strong, and the needles are not as persistent. The Concolor Fir is not as aromatic as the two favorite trees, but it is still very aromatic. The Concolor Fir is native to California, and it is their most popular Christmas tree. The Scotch pine is the most widely planted Christmas tree in North America, and it has persistent needles and a good fragrance. The needles are somewhat pointy. White pine have soft needles that are fairly persistent, and it is somewhat aromatic. The branches are not very stout so it droops somewhat when loaded with ornaments. Blue spruce transplants readily, so this tree is often offered as a balled and burlapped Christmas tree that can be planted following the Christmas season. Its main drawback is that the needles are somewhat pointy.

Article by FCFCDB