CHRISTMAS TREE SPECIES

Christmas Tree Species
What is a Douglas Fir?
What is a Blue Spruce?
What is a Virginia Pine?
What is a Noble Fir?
What is a Fraser Fir?

What is a Douglas Fir? Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco
The Douglas fir is an interesting tree; it is not even directly related to the "true" fir tress. Much like the Noble this tree is found in areas of California, Oregon, Washington and parts of Canada. This tree is tough and can grow in many different climates. Certain variants of this tree are found in only a small area near southern California but this variant is rarely used as a Christmas tree. However the true Douglas if found all along the Rockies making it one of the most popular trees in the west coast.

Take a journey through old growth forests and you will find many Douglas Fir tress. This is because the Douglas is a hardy survivor with a thick bark that can allow the tree to survive small to moderate fires. Many of the Douglas Fir's in old forests have been around for thousands of years, being only rivaled by the famous Redwoods.

The Douglas has a proud look to it. The branches droop but the bark and branches are very thick and rough. The needles are usually a dark green sometimes with a blue tint and have an incredibly sweet fragrance. In older times these needles were crushed up and used for various purposes. The cones on this tree are also very hard and hang low. In the end of summer these cones will open and let out their precious payload. The cones themselves however will hang on for a few more months until this cycle is repeated. In artificial settings new trees can be made from root cutting. Despite some scientific breakthroughs old techniques are favored by most.

For almost 100 years the Douglas Fir has been used as the major Christmas tree gaining it's popularity from the west coast of the United States. There was a time when all retail Christmas trees were cut from the forest but over time they moved into plantations and controlled growing situations. Nowadays most trees are grown under some form of control and are rarely harvested from the forest. It is actually beneficial for growers to control and monitor the tree because this reduces pests, diseases and increases shape and beauty.

Aside from the Douglas's popularity as a Christmas tree in the United States, other markets have hawked at the chance to get these beautiful and strong trees. Hawaii, Guam and many places in Asia import these trees, pumping money into the American economy. There are also many alternative uses for this tree. Because of Douglas's strength it is often used for construction frame work. It is also widely used as laminated wood, plywood, trim, pallets, ladders and flooring.

What is a Blue Spruce?Blue Spruce Picea pungens Engelm.
The Blur Spruce a.k.a. the Colorado Blue Spruce is a popular and attractive tree. So much so that is the state tree for both Colorado and Utah. Blue Spruces can be found in Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, in some cases even Arizona. This type of tree has a great pyramid shape and is popular for ornaments across the eastern United States and parts of Europe. As they grow older the tress become irregularly shaped and lose the appeal they are so strongly known for. Although mature time is lengthy for a Blue Spruce many can reach ages of over 700 years.

The appearance of the blue spruce is striking. The needles are somewhat shorter than other Christmas trees and also have a sharper point on the edge. The needles have a blue and sometimes whitish color giving them the name "blue" spruce. Like some other trees the Blue Spruce pollinates itself, having both the male and female leaves on a single tree. Unlike many other trees the cones can stay on for years and have a unique dark brown color. Also unlike other tress the bark is relatively thin. The Blue Spruce excels in moderate shade and deep rich soil. Many Blue Spruce are located near water because of this. Being near water also offers another benefit; the roots grow very deep helping them resist harsh wind and other forces of nature.

There are over 70 different types of Blue Spruce, each with their own traits. Many have become resistant to trees worst enemies such as beetles and budworms. Some Blue Spruce become infected with dwarf mistletoe which cause them to develop odd bundling of branches known as "witches' brooms". Many trees with bad infections will die. Because of the Spruce's particular vulnerability to pests and diseases, cultivators carefully choose which species to propagate. Farmers will usually plant using seeds but are known on occasion to use cutting.

The wood of the Blue Spruce is a light-medium brown and a very soft light wood. Some trees will not have been pruned properly leaving many knots and imperfections in the wood; however it is still used for minor things like fences and heat. The last place the Blue Spruce finds itself useful is as a windbreak for farming communities. These windbreaks prevent soil erosion and help reduce the cost of heating and cooling.

What is a Virginia Pine? Virginia Pine Pinus virginiana (Mill.)
The Virginia pine seems like it would come solely from Virginia however this tree has a grand tradition and can be found in many states. The east coast is where the Virginia Pine flourishes growing I states like Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Indian, Tennessee and some breeds even extend to hotter southern states like Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida.
The Virginia Pine is popular in the south and eastern United States because of its appealing looks and ability to grow under normally harsh conditions. Found in poor soils and all along the Appalachian Mountains the Virginia Pine prefers dry conditions and can live almost 100 years. The needles are unusual in that they are twisted in pairs. Many have a yellow coloring to them and the cones of the trees can remain for years.

The Virginia Pine is very popular for Christmas tree use but also very popular for industrial and agricultural purposes. Two industries love the Virginia Pine, forestry and construction. When a forest is leveled because of their endurance the Virginia Pine is planted to re-forest the area. These trees are also used widely as wood pulp and lumber. There are many Christmas tree plantations across the eastern sea board making this tree stand out.

Originally the Virginia Pine was just another tree; of no real use to anyone. But since the birth of the Christmas tree industry its importance commercially became huge. With such a high demand many scientists have worked to create more efficient strain of Virginia Pine. Certain traits have been bred out so that the tree can survive and thrive in varied climates. Of all the Christmas tree species none is more carefully bred than the Virginia Pine.

What is a Noble Fir?Noble Fir Abies procera Rehd.
The noble fir is perhaps the most recognized species of Christmas tree. These beautiful trees have stood the test of time and have been used in everything from Christmas trees to WW2 RAF Mosquito plane. All of the noble trees come from the Siskiyou Mountains in the northern parts of California, Washington and Oregon. Most of the trees sold around Christmas time come from Oregon so it's no surprise Noble has become one of the most sought after and recognizable tress; a staple of the Christmas tree tradition.

The Noble Fir is a tall beautiful tree and a perfect example of symmetry. Some Noble Firs' can grow to over 200 ft. The bark is smooth and has some resin filled blisters, creating that wonderful smell we associate with Christmas. The needles are much like the Spruce in that they have a bluish tint on the over side and a white silver on the underside. The lowest branches of the tree are often exposed because the trees needle face upward. Once a tree is pollinated it will sprout cones around the top part of the tree, when they are ready they will fall to the ground and start a new generation of trees.

Since these trees grow in the Pacific Northwest it's no surprise that they grow best in medium to high altitude and love rich soil. Years ago scientists discover that certain areas produce higher quality trees, because of that most of the species used in cultivation are from these areas. Special care is taken to maintain the genetic line of the tree and maintain the strong characteristics it was originally chosen for. Usually these trees are more resistant to problems associated with low elevation tress like wind, fire and snow.

Not only is the Noble Fir a wildly popular Christmas tree, it is also popular for alternate uses. The nursery and greenery businesses love to use the Noble for making Garland, Wreathes and door swags as well as a host of other products. Wood workers also love this wood because of it's light color and straight grain. The grain is a very important part of wood working so this is a great benefit. It's also easy to work and a popular choice for interior wood decorations like, furniture, paneling and doors. On occasion it is used for light frame work but generally this is left for stronger woods.

Although Noble Fir's are similar to Red Fir's their distinct look, beautiful coloring and awesome appearance have kept them popular for many years. It's clear that the Noble Fir is not going anywhere and we are likely to see more uses of it in the future.

What is a Fraser Fir? Fraser Fir Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.
The Fraser fir has many similarities to the Balsalm fir despite the fact they grow in entirely different regions. The Fraser comes from regions around the great lakes and eastern parts of United States and Canada. Fraser fir's were first discovered by John Fraser a Scottish botanist who was exploring the Appalachian mountains. This type of tree has small blisters filled with resin on the trunk leading to the nickname the "she balsalm". The "he balsalm" is the Red Spruce and is lacking these trunk blisters.Like all Christmas tree the Fraser is triangularly shaped and has strong upturned branches, giving this tree a proud and compact look. The needles are dark green on the top side and whitish on the underside.

The Fraser is a "monecious" tree, which means that it has both male and female flowers on the same tree. Depending on the climate Fraser fir's begin to flower around May and when pollinated will produce beautiful 2-3 inch cones. These cones are bent and create the distinct features that Fraser Fir's are known for. The bark is often a grayish tint and fairly thin. The Fraser does best when in medium shade in acidic soil. The Red Spruce and Yellow Birch also thrive in the same climate. Aphids are perhaps the biggest threat to these thriving plants. Root disease is also a leading cause of plant death however this is less prominent in low altitude areas.

The amazing grace, beauty and scent of this tree have caused it to be one of the most popular Christmas trees sold today. North Carolina is the largest producer of these trees and can take almost 8 years to produce a 6-7 foot tree. Virginia, Tennesse and Canada are the next in line for production. Despite not being able to grow in elevations lower than 4,500 ft the Fraser fir still has many uses outside of retail. Frasier firs can be made into light frame construction, pulpwood and paneling and was even used as "pine pllows".