Christmas Trees

Belcarra Garden Club
BC, Canada

Christmas Trees (in Vancouver, BC, Canada)

by Nora Boekhout

Ahh, the scent of fresh evergreens is the hallmark of Christmas! The first recorded decorated tree was in Latvia in 1510! I remember many a class field trip in the old days to cut down a “Mrs. B. sized tree” at a local tree farm, as well as the time the chopped tree fell right on our son! Then there was the time my colleague and I virtuously bought “living trees”, only to find they required huge waterproof pots for the root balls! Yes, it wouldn’t be Christmas at our house without a fresh tree waiting at the garage door.

The tree lots will soon be full of selections, from expensive giants to little Charley Browns. Personally, we always buy from “Aunt Leah’s Trees” (behind Gleneagle school), because our purchase goes towards housing and programs for vulnerable foster youth and young moms and babies. If looking for a tree farm, check out https://ca.christmastreefarms.net/farms/vancouver-bc/
Choosing a tree will test your personal preferences: shape, density, scent, needle retention, needle touch, and will it hold those bigger ornaments. Run your hands over the branches and needles to check for freshness and hydration. Look for vibrant colour.
Here are some tips on the most popular choices.

christmas trees
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Douglas Fir: The No.1 choice in PNW since the 1920’s! budget-friendly (natural) tree is dense with soft, shiny needles, branches are rather floppy, important to buy a freshly cut one as needles can drop, cultured, sculptured trees (more expensive) have repeated shearing

Noble Fir: very popular, dark green needles that turn upwards and have excellent retention. A full base with a pyramidal peak, sturdy symmetrical branches for heavy ornaments, a mild woodsy fragrance, branches held at 45 degree angle (My personal favourite! It has lovely "spaces" between the full branches for all my decorations!)

Fraser Fir (rivals the Noble): bright green, soft 1-inch needles and strong, open-spaced branches for those heavy ornaments,, a triangle shape with a good scent and great needle retention. (branches held at 60degree angle)

Balsam Fir (very aromatic): soft dark green needles, flat needles and boughs make it popular for wreaths and garlands, good needle retention unless near a heat source

Grand Fir (very aromatic): glossy, green 1 to 2-inch needles with two white lines underneath, bushy branches are too soft for large ornaments, heavily scented and citrusy so it’s often used for boughs, important to buy a freshly cut one as needles can drop

Scotch Pine: bright green 1 inch needles that don’t fall out even as the branches dry out, strong curved branches

Nordmann Fir: deep green rounded needles with excellent retention, dense sturdy branches for heavy ornaments, not much scent

Colorado Blue Spruce: a pyramid shape, thin, sharp blue/silvery needles with strong limbs, retains needles

White (Concolor) Fir: inch long whitish-blue-green needles curve upwards, has a conical shape and a lemony scent, is hardy and can take irregular watering

Norway Spruce: bright green needles and sturdy branches but it can be difficult to keep alive! (Used in NYC at Rockefeller Center)

Leyland Cypress: excellent for those with allergies as it doesn’t produce pollen and has little aroma, good needle retention, dark green-grey

White Pine: unique, longish blue-green 3-5inch needles, good retention but little aroma, not recommended for heavy ornaments

Korean Fir: soft, dark green needles with silvery undersides, a leafy aroma, some have good symmetry

Turkish Fir: (available on Vancouver Island) similar to the Nordmann fir but the needles are somewhat flatter on the stem, dark green needles with a silvery underside, excellent retention, fragrant, strong branches, conical shape

Belcarra Garden Club BC, Canada

Christmas Trees (in Vancouver, BC, Canada)

by Nora Boekhout

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Belcarra Garden Club
BC, Canada