TEN
Virginia Pine
Virginia pine has only recently been used as a
Christmas tree. It tolerates warmer temperatures and has been developed
as a southern alternative to Scotch pine. The tree has to be
mechanically formed into shape; the foliage is dark green to gray in
color; the limbs are stout with woody branches.
NINE
White Fir or Concolor Fir
White fir is one of the longest-needled firs and
is sometimes mistook for a pine. Concolor fir has blue-green needles
that are 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long. The fir has a nice shape with a
pleasing aroma and good needle retention.
EIGHT
Eastern White Pine
White pine has been valued as a timber tree for
centuries but can be cultivated for a Christmas tree if heavily
sheared. White pine is grown mostly in the mid-Atlantic states for
commercial Christmas trees. The tree retains needles throughout the
holiday season but has little or no fragrance and not a good tree for
heavy ornaments. The tree is sought by people who suffer from allergic
reactions to more fragrant trees. The White pine is the largest pine in
United States.
SEVEN
White Spruce
White spruce is a tree of the northeast US and
Canada. It is a regional favorite because it grows into the best shapes
in the wild. White spruce has green to bluish green needles but crushed
needles have an unpleasant odor. Another problem with the spruce is it
has poor needle retention. The tree is excellent for heavy ornaments.
SIX
Eastern Red Cedar
Branches of eastern red cedar are light but
compact and forms a pyramidal crown as a young tree. Very aromatic
needles are a dark, shiny, green color and sharp and prickly to the
touch.
FIVE
Scotch Pine
Scotch or “Scots” pine is the most planted
commercial Christmas tree in North America according to NCTA. However,
this survey does not suggest that it is the most popular. A true pine,
Scots pine was imported from Europe and is not native to America.
Scotch pine trees have stiff branches, two bundled dark green needles 1
to 3 inches long that are retained for four weeks. The aroma is
long-lasting and lingers through the entire season. Scotch pine does
not drop needles when dry – excellent retention.
FOUR
Colorado Blue Spruce
The Colorado Blue Spruce is most familiar to
people as an ornamental landscape tree. The tree has dark green to
powdery blue needles, 1 to 3 inches long and a pyramidal form when
young. Colorado blue spruce is very often sold “living” and with an
entire root ball – to be planted after the holidays. The spruce was
chosen in 1978 and planted as the official living White House Lawn
Christmas tree. The young tree is pleasingly symmetrical, is best among
species for needle retention.
THREE
Balsim Fir
Balsam fir is a pyramidal tree with short, flat,
long-lasting, aromatic needles. Balsam fir and Fraser fir have many
similar characteristics and some botanists consider them extensions of
the same species. Their geographic ranges do not overlap and the Balsam
fir has to have cold winters and cool summers. Balsam fir has a nice,
dark green color and very fragrant. The tree was named for the balsam
or resin found in blisters on bark and which was used to treat wounds
in Civil War.
TWO
Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir is not a true fir but actually has
its own unique classification. Unlike true firs the cones on Douglas
fir hang downward. Douglas fir grows cone-shaped naturally, has 1 to
1-1/2 inch needles that are persistant and has a sweet scent when
crushed. The Doug fir tree is shipped to and found in nearly every tree
lot in the Unites States. The tree was named after David Douglas who
studied the tree in the 1800s.
ONE
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