What Are The Top Five Christmas Trees?

There are many varieties of Christmas trees, and finding the best one for your home can be tricky. Does it dry easily? Does it look good with decorations? Are the branches sturdy? To help you decide, we've listed the most popular Christmas trees found in nature, their Balsam Hill cousins, and what's special about each.

What type of tree is a Christmas tree?

The most common types of real Christmas trees are fir, spruce, and pine. These are coniferous trees that grow and thrive in different places. Learn about their different characteristics below:

Fir

Fir trees are abundant in the mountainous regions of Central and North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. They have individual flat needles that grow in a spiral at the tip of each branch. Fir needles are flat and soft compared to spruce needles, which are sharp and easy to roll between your fingers. The most popular Christmas tree species in this family include balsam fir, Fraser fir, and noble fir.

Spruce

Spruce trees grow in the mountainous regions of the West and North America. They are characterized by their pyramidal shape, four-sided needles, and pendulous cones that create a visual contrast to the upturned branches. The most famous spruce species include blue spruce, Norway spruce, and white spruce.

Pine trees

Compared to spruce and fir, pine needles grow in clusters. This makes them appear denser than they actually are, even though they have fewer branches than other evergreens. Pine trees are also more sparse, allowing you to decorate with larger ornaments during the holiday season. Scots pine and eastern white pine are the most common pine species used as Christmas trees.