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:  

Needle color: dark green with silver cast

Needle softness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Soft with rounded tips

Branch strength: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strong branches suitable for heavy ornaments 

Needle retention: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent needle retention

Fragrance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pleasing, long-lasting, resinous fragrance

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri)
Native Range: Isolated pockets in the southern Appalachian Mountains
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Qualities:

Needle color: dark blue-green with silver undersides 

Needle softness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Soft

Branch strength: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Strong, dense branches that angle upward and are suitable for heavy ornaments

Needle retention: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent

Fragrance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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:  

Needle color: dark blue to green

Needle softness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Soft 

Branch strength: ⭐⭐⭐
Moderately strong branches, but not suitable for very heavy ornaments 

Needle retention: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good needle retention

Fragrance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sweet and citrusy, but subtle fragrance

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Native Range: Asia and Europe
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities: 

Needle color: bright green to blue-green

Needle softness: ⭐
Sharp

Branch strength: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Stiff, sturdy branches are ideal for heavy ornaments.

Needle retention: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Excellent needle retention

Fragrance: ⭐⭐⭐
Typical pine fragrance

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Native Range: Southeastern Canada and eastern United States
Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities:

Needle color: blue-green with silver cast

Needle softness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Soft and flexible

Branch strength: ⭐⭐
Slender, weak branches not suitable for heavy ornaments

Needle retention: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Good needle retention

Fragrance: ⭐⭐
No notable fragrance

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Native Range: Eastern North America
Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Christmas Tree Qualities: 

Needle color: shiny, dark green

Needle softness: ⭐
Sharp, sticky to the touch

Branch strength: ⭐⭐⭐
Moderately strong branches not suitable for very heavy ornaments 

Needle retention: ⭐
Poor

Fragrance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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