If you haven’t already started a Christmas tradition of purchasing a real
tree, this is the year to begin. Real evergreen trees are renewable resources,
making them a more ecologically sound choice than artificial trees. And an artificial
tree can’t match a real evergreen for beauty, warmth, and fragrance.
But what type of tree should you pick? Several species are popular, including
Scotch pine, white pine, balsam fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, and noble fir.
These evergreens vary in needle size, fragrance, needle retention and appearance.
Here are some short descriptions of top-selling varieties:
• Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is the most popular Christmas
tree. Its twisted, 1- to 3-inch long, dark green to blue-green needles grow
in bundles of two. Scotch pine has an open appearance, good aroma and retains
needles for about four weeks. As an added bonus, dry needles do not drop. Branches
are stiff which makes them well-suited for decorating.
• Eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) have blue-green, 3- to
5-inch long soft, flexible needles in bundles of five. White pines have a full,
soft appearance with little to no fragrance and very good needle retention.
White pines produce fewer allergic reactions than do some of the more aromatic
species. Their slender branches will support fewer decorations than Scotch pine’s.
• Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is a popular choice because of
its color, excellent fragrance and fair needle retention. The 0.5- to 1-inch
long soft needles are shiny dark green on top and silvery white underneath.
The solitary needles are generally flat with rounded tips.
• Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) has a pleasing fragrance and excellent
needle retention. The 0.5- to 1-inch long flat needles have an attractive shiny
dark blue-green color above and a silver cast below.
• Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is not related to the
true firs. It has 1- to 1.5-inch long dark green or blue-green flat needles
that are soft to the touch. Needle retention is good and trees have good form,
color, and density. Douglas firs have one of the best Christmas tree aromas.
• Noble fir (Abies procera) has short stiff branches. The flat,
1-inch long needles are blue-green with a silvery appearance.
For more facts and tips about real Christmas trees, visit University of Illinois
Extension’s “Christmas Trees & More” Web site at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/index.html.
More than pines and firs
If your evergreens need to be trimmed this winter, use the cuttings in a holiday
wreath, swag or roping. Several evergreen species can be used for holiday decorating.
Spruce (Picea) species have solitary stiff, sharp pointed needles.
Needles are usually flat on the bottom and slightly rounded on the top. Blue
spruce has dark green to powdery blue 1- to 1.5-inch long needles. Norway spruce
has shiny 0.5- to 1-inch long dark green needles. Norway and blue spruces have
a pleasing fragrance and dense foliage, but needles drop off in about two weeks.
Juniper (Juniperus) needles are coarse, sharp and come in several shades
of greens and blues. Needle retention is very good.
Boxwood (Buxus) is small leafed broadleaf evergreen that has very good
leaf retention. The lustrous, dark green oblong leaves are 0.5- to 1-inch long.
Hemlock (Tsuga) needles are the softest of the evergreens. Solitary,
0.5- to 0.7-inch long needles are usually accompanied by small cones. Hemlock
needle retention is poor.
Yews (Taxus) are a common evergreen shrub. Freshly cut yew branches
will survive about one week without water. Yews produce a red berry that while
beautiful is considered poisonous.
Holly (Ilex) is a broadleaf evergreen that has good leaf retention.
American holly has 1.5- to 3.5-inch long spiny leaves. Female hollies have a
red berry that persists through the winter.
This article appears in Nov 20-26, 2003.
