Fir Christmas Trees

In a poll of the 10 most popular Christmas trees, taken by About.com, fir varieties took the top 3 spots and 4 out of the 10. The Fraser fir was voted most popular, followed by the Douglas and Balsam firs. The Concolor fir, commonly known as the White fir, ranked ninth. The Noble fir received an honorable mention.

According to Wikipedia, there are 48 to 55 species of trees known as firs. Firs are evergreen conifers, meaning they have cones, in the Pinaceae family. Firs are distinguished by their leaves, which are shaped like needles. Long cylindrical cones stand upright from the branches. Firs make excellent Christmas trees because they release a very pleasing fragrance and they retain their needles longer than most trees

In the United States, fir Christmas trees tend to come from one of 5 types of firs: Fraser firs, Douglas firs, Balsam firs, White firs, or Noble firs.

Interestingly, throughout Europe, the favorite firs are the Silver fir, the Nordmann fir, and the Noble fir.

It is truly amazing how well today’s fir artificial Christmas trees replicate their live-tree cousins. They capture everything except the fragrance, on the one hand, and the hassle and the mess of transporting and caring for it, on the other.

Let’s look briefly at the five fir Christmas trees found most often in the United States and where you can find their highly popular fir artificial Christmas tree cousins.

Fraser Fir Christmas Trees

Named for the botanist John Fraser, an 18th-century explorer of the southern Appalachians, the Fraser fir (frequently misnomered Frasier) is the favorite of U.S. presidents. It holds the distinction of having been selected as the Blue Room Christmas tree more often than any other type of tree. The Blue Room tree is the official White House Christmas tree.

It takes 7 to 10 years for a Fraser to grow 6 to 7 feet. That makes the typical Blue Room tree, which is customarily trimmed to an 18 ½ foot-stature, at least 25 years old. North Carolina, which produces more Fraser fir Christmas trees than any other state, also tops the list as the state that has most often supplied the official Blue Room Christmas tree.

The Fraser Fir, whose Latin name is Abies fraseri, is most noted for its needle retention qualities. Its soft needles are easy on the hands, a big plus when handling them to make sure your Christmas ornaments are attached firmly. The texture and the strength of the Fraser fir needle are believed the result of the high levels of rain the tree receives in its natural habitat. The Fraser fir came into its own as a Christmas tree during the 1950s when the Forest Service in North Carolina began cutting down and selling the trees.

So what about its artificial tree relations? The Asheville Fraser Fir Realistic Christmas tree typifies the craftsmanship that goes into capturing the details of live trees in the best artificial trees.

Modeled on North Carolina’s beautiful Frasers, the Asheville Fraser Fir Realistic Christmas tree design incorporates the same beautiful long green, needle-shaped leaves found in nature. This 7.5-foot fir’s branch needles are made of the highest quality polyethylene (PE) and PVC to create a full, realistic-looking tree.

Its more than 2300 branch needles are hinged, which means you get a tree that can be assembled in minutes, last 15-20 years, and give you all the satisfaction of experiencing the real thing with none of the cleanup mess, fire hazards, allergic reactions, or transport headaches.

This pre-lit LED tree is also easy on the light bill. You’ll get the same warm glow you’re used to from your tree at a fraction of the electricity usage. Heavy-duty wire supports larger and heavier ornaments, just as the live trees do.

ChristmasTreeForMe.com offers this beautiful tree in several other sizes, including 6.5′, 9′, 12′, and 14′ versions. The tree comes with a metal stand, a 15-year warranty with 5 years coverage on the lights, no sales tax, and free UPS ground shipping.

Douglas Fir Christmas Trees
The Fraser fir holds the record for serving as the White House official Christmas tree more often than any other, but in 2009, it is the Douglas fir that will adorn the Blue Room. The Douglas fir will travel from its home in West Virginia and be presented to the First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Still, the Douglas fir, whose Latin name is Pseudotsuga menziesii, is known more as a tree of the Pacific Northwest. The tree grows most commonly in California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of Alaska. Its soft dark green to bluish green needles are distinctive for the way they flow in all directions from the tree’s branches. The cone-shaped needles extend 1 to 1½ inches.

Botanists don’t consider the Douglas fir a true fir, because its cones hang downward. Named after botanist David Douglas, one of North America’s best-known plant explorers, it is one of the most aromatic of the fir Christmas trees. When crushed, its soft needles give off a sweet aroma.

And what of the Douglas fir artificial Christmas tree? The first ads for artificial Douglas firs appeared about 1975. One look at the ads, and it’s clear that these trees have come a long way since then. With more than 2000 branch tips, the 7.5′ Green Douglas Fir Artificial Christmas tree is full, strong, and ready to serve your Christmas needs for many years to come.

7.5 Foot Douglas Fir – Green
Like its live counterpart, this Douglas fir is proudly made in America. The tree emulates nature in every way, down to varying the color of its branches, ranging from dark forest to emerald green.

Easy assembly. Easy disassembly. This Douglas fir is flame retardant and comes with its own metal stand and storage box. Made just for ChristmasDepot.com, this Douglas fir comes in multiple other sizes, including 5′, 6.5′, 7′, 9′, and 10′.

Balsam Fir Christmas Trees
Some believe that the Balsam fir originally owed its popularity as a Christmas tree to the fact that its twigs resemble a crudely assembled cross. There is much debate about the origins of Christmas trees, and there is little proof to support this theory.

The Balsam fir, whose Latin name is Abies balsamea, is a fragant, dark-green tree with strong needle retention characteristics. Like other true firs, the tree has flat needles and cones that sit upright. Some growers argue that the tree gets its strong, thick needles from growing in the midst of harsh winters and wet summers. This climate leads to slow growth, which results in strong needles.

The fragrant needles are highly valued in aromatherapy, where they are ground up and used to fill pillows and sachets or mixed with oils to create products that calm.

The tree’s oil, taken from its cones and twigs, is an effective non-toxic rodent repellent, and its fragrance is part of the reason. The oil is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as a rodent repellent.

Whereas the best way to keep a live Balsam fir fresh is to keep it in the cold, artificial Balsam firs obviously present no such challenges. ChristmasTreeForMe.com offers beautiful Balsam fir varieties in 6.5′, 7.5′, 9′ and 12′ optional sizes. The tree contains more than 2800 branch tips, creating a full and natural look.

The 7.5′ Pre Lit, Full Balsam Fir Christmas Tree,  pictured here, comes equipped with a metal stand, 10-year warranty on the tree with 3 years on the lights, and an extra set of lights to back up 750 StayLit lights. When one light burns out, the others remain on. Shipping via UPS ground is free. There is no sales tax, except in Texas.

White Fir, or Concolor Fir, Christmas Trees

If it looks like a Christmas tree and smells like an orange, it just may be the Concolor, or White, fir Christmas tree. This unique fir, whose Latin name is Abies concolor, ranges in color from silver gray to blue gray and often even looks white in its natural habitat. The tree is native to California and other parts of the Southwest.

White firs have long, soft needles and are heat and drought tolerant. They’re notable because their needles retain their strength even under these extreme conditions.

Artificial Concolor firs are difficult to find, and most online references to white firs actually lead to white Christmas trees. Gardecor.com offers a 7.5 foot slim artificial Concolor fir Christmas tree.

Noble Fir Christmas Trees
Once again, we have Scottish botanist David Douglas to thank for identifying the Noble fir, whose Latin name is Abies procera. Because of its light-colored wood, the Noble fir is often referred to as White fir.  A spectacular-looking tree, it is highly regarded for its great beauty.

7.5 Foot, Pre Lit Realistic Christmas Tree, Noble Classic, Stay Lit Clear

The Noble fir is native to northern California, Washington State, and Oregon. Its strong, short and stiff branches and high levels of needle retention make it a great choice for a Christmas tree. The needles of a Noble fir resemble those of Spruce trees. The long bluish-green needles turn upward, exposing the branches below it.

The 7.5′ Full Noble Classic Realistic Tree with Staylit, clear, lights is remarkable for how well it captures the beauty and the simplicity of its live counterpart. With more than 2800 branch tips and 900 clear lights that stay lit even when one burns out or is broken, this is a tree designed to reflect true Noble fir classic beauty for many years to come.

With a 15-year warranty on the tree and 3 years on the lights, a sturdy metal stand included, alternative heights and lights available, free UPS ground shipping, and no sales tax (except in Texas), this one is calling your name. Visit ChristmasTreeForMe.com to answer the call and see their other Noble fir models as well.

Firs and the Rest of the Great Christmas Tree Tradition

While you’re shopping, why not learn a bit more about the roots of our Christmas tree tradition? For starters, do you know the history of the Christmas tree? Would it surprise you to know that historians can’t quite agree on how it all began? Who knew that a tradition so life-affirming could have evolved from so much controversy? Read all about it.

We’ve only touched on the long tradition of Blue Room Christmas trees; there’s so much more. White House trees have included most of the firs. Learn more about this long and interesting history, which includes its share of controversies.

More than two hundred years ago, Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen preserved the fir tree for posterity when he wrote the short story, The Fir-Tree. Read it in its entirety or listen to it here.

Perhaps no one has done more to further our knowledge about firs than botanist David Douglas. Learn more about his fascinating, but short, life’s adventures.

And it would be hard to argue that any state has done more to promote the good name of firs than North Carolina. Learn the history of how a few North Carolina Appalachian families made the Fraser fir a national treasure and more.

Last, but most important if you have a pet in the house this Christmas, before you buy your artificial or live tree, make sure you know how to pet-proof the area.

And to all,

Merry Christmas and Be Blessed This Holiday