As with other agricultural produce, an advantage of buying from local Christmas tree farms may be less a price savings than the opportunity to honor older traditions by having closer contact with the growth and harvest of your tree. Tree Several tree species from diverse regions are grown as Christmas trees. True firs include our native balsam fir, Fraser fir from the southern Appalachians, and white or concolor fir from the West. People choose a Christmas tree species depending on tradition and individual taste. Each species has a distinctive appearance and fragrance, and some people prefer a tree densely sheared to a conical shape, while others prefer a looser, more natural form.
Species vary in their normal retention of needles after cutting.
Most spruce and true firs tend to drop some of their older needles after cutting, while pines tend to hold their older needles well. But all cut Christmas trees in a healthy, fresh condition should hold their outer, current-year needles well. At temperatures above freezing, a fresh tree should have flexible needles and the distinctive fragrance of the species. It is harder to determine the freshness of trees when outdoor temperatures are below freezing, so the reputation of the seller is important. When brought inside, a Christmas tree should readily take up water and transpire it through its leaves.