Christmas trees come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with each having a delightful fragrance. The centerpiece of holiday festivities is having a real, live Christmas tree at home. The major Christmas tree varieties that are cultivated for the season are fir, spruce, and pine trees. Soft needles that last as long as possible are ideal for the perfect festive tree.
Choosing the finest Christmas tree is a cherished Christmas custom for many families. Soft needles on pine Christmas trees don’t fall easily and create clusters. While live spruce Christmas trees have a stunning blue-green hue, they don’t keep needles as well. Soft green trees with excellent needle retention are the real deal for Christmas.
A Christmas tree, of course, is not a specific species of tree. Almost 35 different types of evergreen conifers are suitable for home growth. Young or dwarf pine, fir, and spruce trees are frequently used to decorate Christmas trees. Douglas fir (realized a pine tree), noble fir, Fraser fir, Scots pine, Norway spruce, and Nordmann fir are the most popular festive trees.
You’ll learn how to recognize different types of Christmas trees in this article. You’ll discover which trees have the strongest smelling and longest-retaining needles. You’ll be able to identify which is the greatest Christmas tree for you by using pictures, descriptions, and the scientific name.
What to Look for When Choosing a Christmas Tree
Choosing a natural Christmas tree rather than an artificial one has numerous benefits. Freshness and a sense of tranquility are added to your home by live trees. How do you choose the finest Christmas tree? You should start by determining the height of your room and selecting a tree that fits. Also, take into account the form of your tree. A traditional conical triangle shape is seen in several coniferous tree types.
Perfect for hanging decorations are the trees with spaced-out branches. The foliage on other varieties of soft fir trees is thicker. Long, thin Christmas trees are ideal for tiny rooms, and some varieties of them are. Species of fir and pine trees, especially balsam fir and Douglas fir, produce the most fragrant Christmas trees. It’s critical to choose a kind of evergreen that has no aroma if you have allergies, however.
The issue of needle retention should be taken into account before purchasing a Christmas tree. Towards the conclusion of December and beginning of January, trees are typically up for at least two to three weeks. As a result, you’ll want to select a tree species that doesn’t drop its needles too soon. The Fraser fir is one of the best Christmas trees for retaining their needles.
Types of Christmas Trees with Their Picture and Common Name
Now that you know what the most popular Christmas trees are, let’s explore them in further depth. You’ll want to make sure that your festivities are ones that people will remember if you pick the best natural tree.
Fraser Fir Tree (Abies fraseri)
The Fraser fir is a commonly known for its excellent needle retention, mild citrus fragrance, and dark blue-green color. It’s an evergreen conifer that’s best known for its Christmas tree plantation in the United States. The Fraser fir is one of the greatest Christmas trees available due to its versatility.
The typical pyramid shape of Fraser firs is created by firm branches with soft green fir needles that are coiled spirally. The tree has a compact appearance because of the branches that bend slightly upward. The fir tree is ideal for displaying holiday garlands and fairy lights since it bruises easily.
Real Fraser firs offer a lovely fragrance to the room and their needles don’t fall easily, making them ideal Christmas trees. You can put large decorations and garlands on the lush green tree without fear of breaking them because to its sturdy branches.
Balsam Fir Christmas Tree (Abies balsamea)
The balsam fir is a well-known kind of Christmas tree with firm branches, a conical shape, and a lovely new fragrance. Balsam firs have become one of the most popular Christmas trees due to their great characteristics. The needles on balsam fir are dark green with blue and silver hints. On the twigs, these needles stay on for a long time and do not need to be watered. Christmas bouquets and wreaths are made with cut branches from the tree.
The balsam tree has all the characteristics of a traditional Christmas tree when viewed in photographs. The tree has an appealing look due to its natural pyramid form and delicate spiky-looking branches. In large cities, large balsam fir Christmas trees are also used to commemorate the holidays.
These are thus the traditional realistic-looking Christmas tree for many individuals. Balsam firs have a strong spicy scent that lasts and keeps their needles fresh in warm household settings.
Douglas Fir Tree (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Due to its fresh strong fragrance and traditional pyramid shape, Douglas fir is a popular live Christmas tree in many homes. This species is suitable for indoors because of the soft needles that sprout on strong branches. Despite being called a fir, its scientific name reveals that the Douglas fir is really a pine tree.
The Douglas fir’s dark green, soft flat needles that grow in bunches are easily visible up close. Despite the fact that its limbs aren’t as robust as balsam or Fraser fir, they’re adequate for supporting many decorations. The Douglas fir has a pleasant fragrance and excellent needle retention, making it a pleasant Christmas tree.
They are often cheaper than other Christmas trees because they are one of the most popular types.
Canaan Fir Tree (Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis)
The Canaan Fir is a cross between the balsam fir and Fraser fir, and it has a lovely fragrance. All the characteristics of popular Christmas trees are included in this magnificent festive tree. The Canaan fir, for example, is more fragrant than the Fraser fir and holds its needles better than the balsam fir. The Canaan fir is soft to touch and has lustrous dark green leaves, as are most of the best evergreen trees for Christmas.
You’ll also notice a silvery-blue hint in the needles from all angles. Strong citrus aromas are released by rubbing a few of the needles between your fingers. They may be harder to find since they are a newcomer in the Christmas tree industry. However, if you do discover one, the outstanding Christmas tree features will astound you.
Nordmann Fir Tree (Abies nordmanniana)
The Nordmann fir is a fantastic pick if you are looking for a live Christmas tree with beautiful soft needles, lovely fragrance, and lush green leaves. These are Europe’s most popular Christmas trees, and it’s clear why from the photos. Nordmann firs have symmetrically placed branches that point slightly upward and have the classic Christmas tree form.
Since the needle-covered branches are not densely packed, it is simple to hang all of your lights and decorations on them. Similar to Fraser firs, these lovely Christmas trees have excellent needle retention. Nordmann firs have a few benefits: They hold their needles well after drying out and are slightly aromatic, among other things.
Popular Types of Christmas Trees with Their Picture and Common Name
Noble Fir Christmas Tree (Abies procera)
The noble fir is a beautiful evergreen conifer with short blue-green needles and short stiff branches, and it is one of the finest Christmas trees available. The “Christmastree,” as it is known, is a noble fir tree that is commonly utilized to make garlands, door swags, and Christmas wreaths.
Since their form resembles the Douglas fir, noble firs are becoming more common as Christmas trees. These firs, on the other hand, have a deeper green hue and retain their needles just as well as balsam firs. Its branches rise upward, making it simple to hang decorations, and it has a pleasant appealing fragrance that are benefits of noble firs. The needles stay on the branches for such a long time that they may last through the Christmas season.
White Fir Tree (Abies concolor)
Because of their delicate needles, excellent needle retention, and wonderful fragrance, white firs are a popular Christmas tree. These fir trees are sometimes referred to as concolor Christmas trees. The rich needle-like flattened blueish-green leaves of white fir trees are delicate to touch and differentiate them from other tree species. The underside of the needle leaves are striped with blue-white bands.
This is a beautiful Christmas tree because of the triangular formations of the fir tree, its tightly developing branches, and light color. This species can be one of the more costly Christmas trees for sale because white fir trees take longer to develop than other Pinaceae family conifers. The fragrant needles of the white or concolor fir tree, which smell of citrus and don’t fall off, are one of its benefits.
Scots (Scotch) Pine Tree (Pinus sylvestris)
Because of its fragrance and needle retention, the Scots pine is often utilized as a Christmas tree. The lovely green needle leaves, robust branches, and nice pine fragrance of this joyful tree make it famous. After being cut, these pine trees retain their needles for a long period.
It is still one of the most popular pines used as Christmas trees, despite not being as widely known as the Fraser or Douglas fir. Scots pines grow crooked or twisted branches in their natural environments. Good triangular shape, straight trunks, and well-formed branches are all important when growing in plantations for the Christmas trade.
If you are considering purchasing this, remember that the needles are sharper than many fir Christmas trees. Scots pines provide excellent needle retention and a fresh pine forest fragrance, making them an ideal choice for Christmas.
Virginia Pine Tree (Pinus virginiana)
The Virginia pine tree has a really festive look with short needles, a moderate pine fragrance, and a genuine Christmas tree triangular form. Pine tree seeds are used by many tree farmers to produce the best-looking Christmas trees. Because of its short needles that grow in pairs, the Virginia pine tree is easy to identify.
You’ll also see dense branches that shoot upwards at the ends of the tree, as well as short ones. On this beautiful evergreen conifer, this makes hanging Christmas decorations and lights very simple. Having a pleasant fragrance and lovely form are among the benefits of purchasing a cultivated Virginia pine tree at the end of December.
Other Types of Christmas Trees with Their Picture and Common Name
As a natural live Christmas tree, there are various more varieties of evergreen pines, firs, and spruces to choose from.
Norway Spruce Christmas Tree (Picea abies)
The Norway spruce, also known as the European spruce, is utilized as a Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square London. The huge Norway spruce that adorns Trafalgar Square in December is the same tree you see during Christmas time in London photos.
Norway spruces offer a beautiful rich green color and a lovely form as Christmas trees. It features branches that shoot skyward and are covered in soft needles, giving it the iconic conical form. Y
ou must take care of a Norway spruce if you decide to celebrate Christmas with it. To avoid needle drop, needle retention is poor and it requires a lot of water. Due to the unusual red color of the bark, this species is also known as the “red fir tree.”
Eastern White Pine Tree (Pinus strobus)
White pines are beautiful conifers with lengthy feathery needles in clusters of 5, lovely green color, and excellent triangular form. White pines’ foliage is also excellent for creating natural Christmas decorations due to their soft needles. The white pine tree is a fantastic option for Christmas if you suffer from allergies.
This species has a nearly scent-free needle retention. Therefore, go for a white pine Christmas tree if strong scents in the home cause negative breathing symptoms.
Blue Spruce Christmas Tree (Picea pungens)
Because of its blue-green-gray colored needles, the blue spruce creates a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree this December. Some people also claim that this is one of the nicest-looking Christmas trees around because of its conical shape. Colorado blue spruce, white spruce, and green spruce are some of the names for this tree.
The needle retention of a blue spruce is another reason for selecting it as a live Christmas tree. After being chopped, spruces are well-known for shedding needles. The needles of this spruce species, on the other hand, are very well- retained. If the needle leaves are crushed, blue spruce Christmas trees lose their fragrance and might emit an unpleasant odor.
Red Cedar Christmas Tree (Juniperus virginiana)
The red cedar has a thin pyramid shape, lovely fragrance, and soft glossy dark green leaves. It is mostly used as a Christmas tree in eastern North America. These cedars have thick foliage, which may make it difficult to decorate them.
Several of these trees, including the angel or star Christmas decorations popular among many people, don’t have a protruding stem at the top. Despite this, many individuals in the eastern United States prefer red cedars as their Christmas tree.
Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
The Arizona cypress is a popular landscaping evergreen and Christmas tree, with distinctive and intriguing blue gray leaves. This scented cypress has a delicate, fresh aroma that is similar to pine and juniper with citrus fruits thrown in for good measure. This is sometimes known as the Ice Blue Christmas tree because of its unusual hue.
Leyland Cypress Tree (Cupressus leylandii)
If you’re allergic and want a soft-needled cypress Christmas tree, the Leyland cypress is the perfect option for you. This dark green, velvety evergreen has little fragrance and no sap. Even in warm dry weather, the green conifer maintains its needles and has a good Christmas tree shape.
Canadian Spruce (Picea glauca)
The Canadian spruce has thin needle-like leaves and is often known as the white spruce Christmas tree. The top is blue-green, while the belly is blue-white. A compact conifer with a conical form that thrives in containers, the Picea glauca ‘Christmas Star’ cultivar is a cultivar. This is a tree that may continue to grow even after the festivities are over. It is a long-lasting Christmas tree.