How to Tell Christmas Tree Varieties Apart

Balsam Fir

The best way to tell different Christmas tree varieties apart is by the look of their needles and branches.

A balsam fir tree will have dense, dark-green needles. The top of the tree will be much more slender than the bottom half. The look of a balsam’s needles will be different depending on how old the branch is. The needles will be shorter and curved upward and will usually have a sort of notch at then end.

Douglas Fir

Douglas fir needles are green or blue-green and tend to spread out in all different directions from the branch. When these needles are crushed they have a sweet smell. The one we all love to smell in the air during the holidays!

White Pine

The white pine is actually the largest pine tree that grows in the U.S. Its needles are very soft and are longer than a fir tree’s needles. They’re usually a tinted green and blue color and don’t fall off the branch easily, making them less messy than other types of Christmas trees. The branches, however, won’t be able to hold heavy ornaments.

Fraser Fir

This type of tree has very short, spikey needles that stem off of short, clustered branches. The branches point upward and the needles have a strong retention rate. This means the Fraser will smell great and make it an easy tree to ship across the country to sell to retailers.

Colorado Blue Spruce

The Colorado blue spruce is famous for its blue tint. The blue spruce is the state tree of both Colorado and Utah. It has great needle retention and is often a family’s choice in a Christmas tree because of its blue look. The needles are actually a blue-gray or silver color up close.

Arizona Cypress

This tree’s needles are a rich green color that spike out from the branches. Unlike some other trees like the balsam or Douglas fir, Arizona cypress trees do not have short, spike-like needles. Their leaves are softer and look more like scales than needles.

Canaan Fir

A Canaan fir tree is a new comer to Christmas tree retail in the last few years. The tree is very similar to Fraser and balsam firs in the way they look and grow. Canaan firs have dark green needles that are short and rather soft when the tree is watered properly.

Concolor Fir

Concolor fir or white fir trees look much different than other fir varieties. These trees have small, narrow needles that are a light green color. The needles occur in rows that point upward and have a good retention rate. Like other fir trees, concolor firs have a sweet smelling aroma.

Grand Fir

The grand fir is the largest type of fir tree. It has long dark green needles that are spread out horizontally across the branches. You’ll be able to see both the upper and lower sides of the branches because of this.

Norway Spruce

There are actually more than 100 forms of the Norway spruce that exist today. The Norway spruce’s needles are much different from other species of fir trees. At the base of each needle there is a twig projection that will remain on the tree even when the needle falls out. The needles hang down on the branch instead of standing straight and are usually flat.

Eastern Red Cedar

This tree may be slow growing, but it’s adaptable to its environment. Like the Arizona cypress, the Eastern red cedar’s needles are more like soft leaves. They’re dark green in color and have a scale look to them. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs along the branches.

Noble Fir

Like most fir varieties, the noble fir has light green needles that are short and spikey. The noble fir is known for its beauty and how long it lasts after it has been cut. The branches are stiff, which make it a good tree for heavy ornaments. Nobles also create great greenery for making wreaths and garland.

For more info visit the National Christmas Tree Association’s website.