When the holiday season is here, nothing quite says ‘Christmas’ like trimming the tree. The fresh smell of pine needles, the twinkle of lights, and the sound of Christmas carols in the background, are enough to make anyone feel jolly.
But how do you find the perfect tree to bring home? With several options of Christmas tree species, it’s hard to know which one best suits your needs.
To help get you started on your search, the Missouri Botanical Garden’s William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening has created this guide comparing some of the most common species of Christmas trees:
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
Native Range: Northern forests of North America
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Qualities:
Soft with rounded tips
Strong branches suitable for heavy ornaments
Excellent needle retention
Pleasing, long-lasting, resinous fragrance
Fraser fir (Abies fraseri)
Native Range: Isolated pockets in the southern Appalachian Mountains
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Qualities:
Soft
Strong, dense branches that angle upward and are suitable for heavy ornaments
Excellent
Strong, spicy, and resinous fragrance
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Native Range: Coastal regions of southwestern British Columbia south to central California
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Qualities:
Soft
Moderately strong branches, but not suitable for very heavy ornaments
Good needle retention
Sweet and citrusy, but subtle fragrance
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Native Range: Asia and Europe
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities:
Sharp
Stiff, sturdy branches are ideal for heavy ornaments.
Excellent needle retention
Typical pine fragrance
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Native Range: Southeastern Canada and eastern United States
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities:
Soft and flexible
Slender, weak branches not suitable for heavy ornaments
Good needle retention
No notable fragrance
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Native Range: Eastern North America
Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities:
Sharp, sticky to the touch
Moderately strong branches not suitable for very heavy ornaments
Poor
Very aromatic with a woodsy fragrance
Keeping your tree picture-perfect:
Once you’ve selected your perfect tree, you want to be sure to keep it watered and looking its holiday best. Be sure to follow the tips, broken down by species, on this Caring for your Christmas Tree Factsheet from the Center for Home Gardening.
For more home gardening advice, including seasonal tips and additional factsheets on plant care, visit gardeninghelp.org.
Catherine Martin
Public Information Officer
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