Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Popular Christmas Tree Varieties Explained

Fraser Fir

The Fraser fir is the most popular species of Christmas tree in the US. This type of fir has erratic, dense growth. It is characterized by beautiful blue-green needles with fantastic color on the underside of the boughs. As with all firs, it is very soft to the touch and family friendly for children and retains its needles very well. For their height, Fraser firs tend to be slim at the bottom, and are an ideal choice for a space saving tree.

Nordman Fir

The Nordman fir is the most popular Christmas tree in the UK. This type of fir has a very layered, symmetrical type of growth. It has beautiful long, soft green needles and benefits from excellent needle retention. The Nordman fir tends to be a lot wider at the bottom than a Fraser fir, and therefore is best displayed in a spacious room.

Norway Spruce

The Norway Spruce is considered the traditional Christmas tree. It is characterized by dense, layered growth with deep green needles. Spruce needles are a bit sharp to the touch, and may not be a suitable choice for families with small children decorating the tree. The Norway spruce does not hold needles as well as the fir species, and is better suited for outdoor display or placed in cooler temperatures to avoid dehydration.