Live Trees Year-Round: Grow Your Own Christmas Tree!
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Collapse ▲December is a time we start looking inward in the Northern temperate regions. The dark and cold weather presses us to stay inside and we look to bring warmth, light and life into our spaces. Peoples across Europe and Asia have been bringing in greenery to ward away the doldrums of winter for thousands of years, and our Christmas tree traditions keep this old custom alive. While traditionally Christmas trees are cut from outside, eventually killing the tree, and brought indoors to be enjoyed, there is the option to grow a Christmas tree off your own and keep it alive year-round!
The Fraser Fir: Traditional Christmas trees in Eastern North America
The Fraser fir, Abies fraseri, is native to the Appalachian Mountains and is probably the tree species that comes to mind when you think of a live Christmas tree. North Carolina is home to almost 1,000 Christmas tree growers and more than 95 percent of the Christmas trees grown are the Fraser fir. The Appalachian Mountains are the ideal climate for growing this species, so that limits growing this species outside of the region.
Growing, Maintenance and Care
That being said, Central North Carolina has an ideal growing climate for so many other great evergreen trees that can still give you that “Christmas tree” look without a lot of extra horticultural work. These species can be grown and either left in the ground for years to come or grown and then cut down for your indoor tree.
The species notes below all have similar management needs. These species are widely available at your local garden center at reasonable prices. They prefer full sun, and moist, well drained soil (except Atlantic White Cedar, which can take shade and moist soils). They can adapt to various soil pHs, but you should always do a soil test before planting!
The difference between standard maintenance and managing them as a Christmas tree is shearing. Most of the time I do not recommend shearing these trees, but for that thick, conical, Christmas tree look, shearing in the early summer, about May, and then potentially again in August, can keep the new growth from looking too wild and crazy! Otherwise, many of these species have a natural, conical shape, and the greenery can be used to supplement seasonal decorations!
Growing your own holiday greenery can be simple and successful by choosing the right species for your desired look, preparing your garden for the plant, and pruning during the right season. We hope you can enjoy your own homegrown Christmas tree in years to come!
– Native to North America
– Hesperocyparis arizonica ‘Carolina Sapphire’, Carolina Sapphire Arizona Cypress
– Juniperus virginiana, Eastern Red Cedar
– Chamaecyparis thyoides, Atlantic White Cedar
– Non-Native
– Thuja ‘Green Giant’, Green Giant Arborvitae
– Abies firma, Momi Fir
– Chamaecyparis pisifera, Sawara Cypress
– Chamaecyparis obtusa, Hinoki Cypress
– Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese Red Cedar
Amanda Bratcher is the Horticulture Agent for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.