Fir Trade: A Buyer’s Guide to Holiday Trees
Say goodbye to sad Charlie Brown Christmas trees and hello to the perfect fir for your decorating style.
How do you like your Christmas tree? So many varieties of pine and fir grow in the West that it’s not hard to find a freshly cut tree that’s perfect for you and your space. Maybe you like the aptly named Noble Fir, with its short needles and classic shape. Or maybe you’d like to fill your home with the sentimental scent of a Grand Fir, which carries with it a strong fragrance of pine. If you live in a drier area, you might find dense Afghan Pines around; they make good Christmas trees, too, especially if you’re decorating primarily with lights. Whatever type of tree you choose, we wish you a happy, piney holiday.
All-Around Best Buy: Douglas Fir
Alexis Seabrook
This is the most-sold holiday tree in the Northwest. Its soft, inch-long needles are deep forest green and cover the branches and twigs on all sides. It grows in nearly every Western state.
The Perfect Shape: Noble Fir
Alexis Seabrook
For many, a noble fir is the ideal holiday tree. Its blue-green needles have a nice fragrance and stay fresh longer after cutting. Nearly all noble firs are sheared.
