This weekend kicks off the holiday season, including the process of finding the perfect Christmas tree. While all are evergreens, all Christmas trees are not the same. Pines, the most commonly planted species of Christmas trees in the North Central United States, are a popular group. As with most trees, a number of cultivars are available, varying in color, needle length, and overall appearance. Other pines include white, red, and Austrian pine.
White pine has good color and soft needles.
Branches are relatively weak and do not support heavy loads of ornaments, but it still is an excellent tree and does not readily dry out indoors. Red and Austrian pines have longer needles, with red usually being a more open tree and Austrian having very stiff needles. Firs, which have short, flat needles, make up another popular group of Christmas trees. Balsam fir is a traditional favorite, with excellent fragrance and form. Fraser fir, which features excellent color and fragrance, has been increasing in popularity.