KNOW YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE It’s important to know the characteristics of the tree you choose.
Balsam fir: This is a medium-sized tree reaching between 40 to 60 feet in height and 1 to 11/2 feet in diameter. The tree is shaped like a pyramid. It is dark-green and dense. The balsam fir gives off a pine aroma.
Canaan fir: Similar to other firs, the canaan has a pyramidal shape with dense, dark-green needles that have silver undersides. It can reach between 40 and 55 feet in height. Though the canaan also smells of pine, there is some debate as to whether the scent is of comparable strength to that of the balsam fir.
Colorado blue spruce: The Colorado blue spruce is a teardrop-shaped blueish-gray tree that generally reaches between 65 and 115 feet in height, with a diameter of between 2 and 3 feet at maturity. The blue spruce is finding increasing popularity as a Christmas tree because of its symmetrical form and attractive blue foliage. This tree has a pine scent.
Norway spruce: In the U.S., these teardrop-shaped trees often peak at about 130 feet, but can grow as large as 215 feet in Europe. On older trees the trunk diameter may reach as much as 2 feet. The tree’s needles are dark green. The Norway spruce is largely odorless.
White spruce: Another medium-sized tree that grows between 80 and 140 feet, with a trunk diameter of 11/2 to 3 feet in diameter. The needles on the white spruce are short. The tree can give off a strong, acidic aroma when its buds are broken. The tree’s stiff needles are generally seen as favorable for ornament hanging.
Scotch pine: The scotch pine can grow to more than 125 feet and has a trunk diameter of more than 21/2 feet. The tree has a woody, resinous scent. The tree is pyramid shaped, bright green, and can hold both heavy and light ornaments. Apart from its common use as a Christmas tree, scotch pines are also often used for lumber and for general landscaping.
Douglas fir: Douglas firs, though not a true fir, are similar in their pyramidlike shape and dense needle clusters. The needles are dark-green or blue-green and give off a sweet fragrance when crushed. The trees can grow between 70 and 250 feet tall. Alongside its use as a Christmas tree, Douglas firs are also used as lumber for finishing projects.
Fraser fir: These firs are dark blue-green with branches that turn slightly upward from the trunk. The tree’s maximum height is about 80 feet and its trunk can reach 1 to 11/2 inches in diameter. The Fraser fir is often used as a Christmas tree due to its teardrop shape, needle strength and pleasant citrus and earth fragrance.
Source: The National Christmas Tree Association and Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences