LIVE CHRISTMAS TREES

CHOOSING THE ONE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THE MOST

With so many options it may not be as simple or as easy as it appears

BY CLAUDE A. SWANSON


BONUS LINK! Click here to get your free online Christmas Tree Care Guide from flowers.com:

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Spruce

Colorado Blue Spruce

The Colorado Blue Spruce is a popular Christmas tree choice in the western areas of the country. It has a full, attractive, slightly pyramid shape, with good needle retention. It is a good choice, especially in limited horizontal spaces or small rooms. Sharp, fragrant needles grow 1 to 1 ½ inches long. The needles are bluish or silver in color. The Colorado Blue Spruce is a slow growing tree. Mature trees reach up to 75 feet tall, and can live 600-800 years.

Norway Spruce

Attractive Norway Spruce trees are native to Europe, where they are extremely popular. Their beauty caused people to bring them to the New World, where they are primarily found from Northeastern U.S. to Southeastern Canada. Norway Spruce trees have dark green needles on drooping branches. The needles are ½ to 1 inch long, and are sharp pointed. Needle retention is fair to poor. Norway Spruce trees reach Christmas tree size in 8 to 11 years. Mature trees can reach over 200 feet tall.

White Spruce

The White Spruce is a beautiful, shapely tree. It has a wide native range, from Alaska in the Northwest, all the way into the Great Lakes region. These trees grow up to 140 feet tall, and have long lives, up to 300 years. White Spruce are popular as Christmas trees. The sturdy branches and shortneedles, make them an excellent tree for hanging ornaments. The needles are short and stiff with a blunt tip, just ½ to ¾ inches long. Needle retention is better than other spruce varieties. The bluish-green needle have an unpleasant aroma, if crushed. As a result, it's nickname is the "Skunk Spruce".


spruce tree chart