Top Picks for Your Holiday Tree: A Guide to the Most Popular Choices
Choosing the right Christmas tree for your home from among the numerous available options can be challenging. Regardless, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular natural Christmas trees, their artificial Balsam Hill equivalent, and a brief description of what sets each apart to aid in your decision:
FIR
The mountains of Central America, North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa all have an abundance of fir trees. The needles are broad and flat, and they develop in a spiral at the end of each branch. While spruce needles are sharp and may be rolled between your fingers, fir needles are flat and soft. The balsam fir, fraser fir, and noble fir are the most common members of this family, and they are all used as Christmas trees.
SPRUCE
It is in the mountains of Western and Northern America where the spruce tree thrives. Their distinctive pyramidal form, four-sided needles, and low-hanging cones provide a striking visual contrast to the upright branches. The blue spruce, the Norway spruce, and the white spruce are the three most common types of spruce trees.
PINE
Pine trees produce their needles in clusters, unlike spruce and fir trees. Even though they have fewer branches than other evergreens, this trait gives the impression that they are denser than they actually are. Since pine trees are less numerous, you can use more substantial holiday decorations on them. The two most popular types of pine for use as Christmas trees are the Scotch pine and the Eastern white pine.
HOW DO CHRISTMAS TREES VARY FROM ONE ANOTHER?
Some of the most common types of trees selected for use as Christmas trees are listed below.
SCOTCH PINE
Originally from the Scottish Highlands, the Scotch Pine (or “Scots Pine”) is now widely grown in the Midwest. The Pinus sylvestris, with its dark green needles and widely spread branches, is usually regarded as the most aesthetically pleasing species of pine tree. Scotch Pine by Balsam Hill is a full-bodied blend of pine needles and Classic Needles.
SUGAR PINE
Pinus lambertiana, also known as the “King of Pines,” is one of the world’s tallest pine tree species. Native to the Sierra Nevada mountains on California’s Pacific coast, this conifer is easily identified by its tufted branch structure and medium- to long-sized, forest-green needles. Our sugar pine has bendable limbs that are ideal for displaying decorations, and it is frosted to give it a snowy appearance.
WHITE SPRUCE
The Picea glauca has bluish-green needles and a distinctive conical form, earning it the name “White Spruce” in New England and “Canadian Spruce” across Canada. The white spruce is a popular Christmas tree due to its dense needles and beautiful design. However, it needs consistent watering to keep its needles from falling off. Our Vermont White Spruce is made to look as realistic as possible by having long, luscious needles in a medium green color and dark brown stems.
NORWAY Spruce
Norway spruce trees are a popular European species due to its visually appealing needles and pleasant aroma. Its broad and robust branches are striking, but this spruce loses its needles quickly. Balsam Hill’s Picea abies replica is a fantastic choice if you enjoy the look of this tree but don’t want to deal with needle drop. The multi-tiered branches and dark green leaves with silvery undersides distinguish our version.