Christmas Tree Varieties / Types

Cedars  -  Cypress   - Firs  -  Pines  - Spruce  -  Miscellaneous

Cedars

Deodara Cedar – short, bluish-green needles; branches become pendulous at the tips; native to Himalayas; Deodara wood in Asia was used to build temples. In ancient Egypt Dedodara wood was used to make coffins for mummies. More info

Eastern Red Cedar – Photo - leaves are a dark, shiny, green color; sticky to the touch; good scent; can dry out quickly; may last just 2-3 weeks; a southern Christmas tree. More info.    Close-up photo of tree.

Arizona Cypress - Photo

Leland Cypress – Photo  - foliage is dark green to gray color; has upright branches with a feathery appearance; has a light scent; good for people with allergies to other Christmas tree types. The most popular Christmas tree in the South-East, the Leyland Cypress is dark green - gray in color and has very little aroma. Because it is not in the Pine or Fir family, it does not produce sap, so that those with an allergy to sap can still enjoy a Leyland as their Christmas Tree.  More info.     Close-up photo of tree. (Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association)

Balsam Fir – Photo -  Ύ” to 1 ½” short, flat, long lasting needles that are rounded at the tip; nice, dark green color with silvery cast and fragrant. These needles are 3/4 - 1 ½ in. in length and last a very long time. This is the traditional Christmas tree that most Americans grew up with. This tree has a dark-green appearance and retains its pleasing fragrance throughout the Christmas season.  Named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark. Resin is used to make microscope slides and was sold like chewing gum; used to treat wounds in Civil War.  More info.     Close-up photo of tree.

Canaan Fir - Photo - Similar to the other eastern firs.

Douglas Fir –  Photo - good fragrance; holds blue to dark green; 1” to 1 ½” needles; needles have one of the best aromas among Christmas trees when crushed. The Douglas fir needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance. They are one of the top major Christmas tree species in the U.S. Named after David Douglas who studied the tree in the 1800’s; good conical shape; can live for a thousand years. More info.     Close-up photo of tree. Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association

Fraser Fir – Photo - dark green, flattened needles; ½ to 1 inch long, dark green on the top and silvery underneath; good needle retention; nice scent; pyramid-shaped strong branches which turn upward. The Fraser fir branches turn slightly upward. They have good form and needle-retention. They are dark blue-green in color. They have a pleasant scent, and excellent shipping characteristics as well. Named for a botanist, John Fraser, who explored the southern Appalachians in the late 1700’s. More info.    Close-up photo of tree. 

Grand Fir – Photo  - shiny, dark green needles about 1” – 1 1/2 “ long; the needles when crushed, give off a citrusy smell. More info.

Noble Fir – Photo - one inch long, bluish-green needles with a silvery appearance; has short, stiff branches; great for heavier ornaments; keeps well. These needles turn upward, exposing the lower branches. It's extremely aromatic, and while it is native to the West Coast, it is gaining popularity throughout the U.S. It's shape is similar to a Douglas fir but with a deeper, richer green. Known for its beauty, the noble fir has a long keep ability, and its stiff branches make it a good tree for heavy ornaments, as well as providing excellent greenery for wreaths and garland. More info.     Close-up photo of tree. Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association

Nordmann Fir - An excellent needle retaining species with soft glossy dark green needles. This tree is very popular in Great Britain.

White Fir or Concolor Fir – Photo – blue-green needles are ½ to ½ inches long; nice shape and good aroma, a citrus scent; good needle retention. They have good foliage color, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma.  In nature can live to 350 years. More info. Close-up photo of tree.
Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association

Afghan Pine – soft, short needles with sturdy branches; open appearance; mild fragrance; keeps well; grown in Texas; native to Afghanistan, Russia & Paskistan. More info.

Austrian Pine – dark green needles, 4 to 6 inches long; retains needles well; moderate fragrance. More info Close-up photo of tree.

Red Pine – dark green needles 4”-6” long; big and bushy. More info - Close up photo of tree. 

Ponderosa Pine – needles lighter colored than Austrian Pine; good needle retention; needles 5” – 10” long. More info.

Scotch Pine – Photo – most common Christmas tree; stiff branches; stiff, dark green needles one inch long; holds needles for four weeks; needles will stay on even when dry; has open appearance and more room for ornaments; keeps aroma throughout the season; introduced into United States by European settlers. The color is a bright green. The most common Christmas tree in the U.S., the scotch pine has an excellent survival rate, is easy to replant, has great keepability and will remain fresh throughout the holiday season. More info.  Close-up photo of tree.

Virginia Pine – dark green needles are 1 ½” – 3” long in twisted pairs; strong branches enabling it to hold heavy ornaments; strong aromatic pine scent; a popular southern Christmas tree. These branches are stout and woody and respond very well to trimming. It is small- medium in size and its foliage becomes extremely dense. Aside from being a good nesting site for woodpeckers, the Virginia pine continues to be the most popular Christmas tree in the South.  More info.     Close up photo of tree. Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association

White Pine – Photo – soft, blue-green needles, 2 to 5 inches long in bundles of five; retains needles throughout the holiday season; very full appearance; little or no fragrance; less allergic reactions as compared to more fragrant trees. The largest pine in the U.S., the White Pine has soft, flexible needles and is bluish-green in color. Needles are 2 ½ - 5 in. long. White Pine’s have good needle retention, but have little aroma. They are the state tree of Michigan & Maine; slender branches will support fewer and smaller decorations as compared to Scotch pine. They aren’t recommended for heavy ornaments.  It’s wood is used in cabinets, interior finish and carving. Native Americans used the inner bark as food. Early colonists used the inner bark to make cough medicine. More info.    Close-up photo of tree.

Black Hills Spruce - Pinus glauca var.densata – green to blue-green needles; 1/3” to Ό” long; stiff needles may be difficult to handle for small children. More info.

Blue Spruce – Picea pungens – dark green to powdery blue; very stiff needles, Ύ” to 1 ½” long; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; branches are stiff and will support many heavy decorations. State tree of Utah & Colorado. Can live in nature 600-800 years. Close-up photo of tree. Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association. More info.

Colorado Blue Spruce - Photo - Often used for stuffing pine-pillows, these sharp needles are 1 - 1 ½ in. in length. This species is bluish-gray in color and has a bad odor when needles are crushed. This Christmas Tree has good symmetrical form and has an attractive blue foliage. It also has good needle retention.

Norway Spruce – Photo  - needles ½” – 1” long and shiny, dark green. Needle retention is poor without proper care; strong fragrance; nice conical shape. Very popular in Europe. More info.

White Spruce – Photo - needles ½ to Ύ inch long; green to bluish-green, short, stiff needles; crushed needles have an unpleasant odor; good needle retention. State tree of South Dakota. The White Spruce is excellent for ornaments; it’s short, stiff needles are ½ - 3/4 in. long and have a blunt tip. They are bluish-green - green in color, but have a bad aroma when needles are crushed. They have excellent foliage color and have a good, natural shape. The needle retention is better in a White Spruce than it is among other spruces. More info.  Close-up photo of tree. Photo credit to The National Christmas Tree Association

Carolina Sapphire - Cupressus arizonica var. glabra – ‘Carolina Sapphire’- steely, blue needles; dense, lacy foliage; yellow flowers and nice scent; smells like a cross between lemon and mint. More info.