9 Favorite Christmas Trees

June 01, 2012
Don't know which Christmas tree to buy? Check out how 9 popular trees rate for needle retention, aroma and other characteristics.
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Scotch Pine

This pine has stiff, bright green 1- to 2-1/2-inch needles in dense clusters. It holds decorations well and has both excellent needle retention and excellent stamina. The Scotch pine is one of the most popular Christmas trees in the U.S.

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Canaan Fir

This newer fir variety has soft, dark bluish or dark green 1/2- to 3/4-inch needles with silvery underside. Its characteristics include decent needle retention, good aroma, and a full and symmetrical shape.

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White Spruce

The white spruce offers stiff, green to bluish-green 1/2- to 1-inch needles. It holds decorations well and is reliably symmetrical. Needle retention is fair.

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White Pine

White pines have soft, flexible bluish-green needles up to 5 inches long. Flexible branches are more suitable for lightweight ornaments. The pines offer good needle retention, and little aroma makes this tree easy on allergies.

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Colorado Blue Spruce

This tree has stiff, sharp needles that are dense, light bluish-gray to dark green, and 1 to 1-1/2 inches long. It holds decorations well and has fair needle retention, symmetrical form and unique color.

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Balsam Fir

This tree has soft, dark green needles 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long. It holds decorations well and has decent needle retention. A traditional choice, balsam firs are known for their long-lasting aroma.

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Douglas Fir

This fir offers soft, dark green or blue-green 1- to 1-1/2-inch needles that radiate in all directions from the branch. It holds decorations well and has a traditional, sweet scent. It's among the most popular Christmas trees in the U.S.

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Norway (Red) Pine

Stiff, dark green needles 3 to 5 inches long are a distinguishing feature of this tree. It holds decorations well and has excellent needle retention. It's not known for fullness or distinctive smell.

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Fraser Fir

The Fraser fir, among the top Christmas trees in the U.S., has soft, dark blue-green 1-inch needles with silvery undersides. Stiff upward-turning branches hold decorations very well. The tree has excellent needle retention and aroma.

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