Some of the most popular eastern Christmas tree species include the Virginia pine, white pine, Leyland cypress, eastern red cedar, giant green arborvitae and varieties of Arizona cypress. They grow several species that offer a unique Christmas experience if you are looking for a different type of aroma and a unique character for your tree. Whitehill: We do have an eastern contingent of Christmas tree growers. TA: Are there other species grown in the state? Fraser firs are also pre-cut and sold wholesale, and can be found on farms and retail lots throughout the state. At these farms, you can go and choose your own tree and cut it on site to take home. mountains that sell Fraser firs and sometimes other species of trees. There are as many as 200 choose-and-cut tree farms in the N.C.

The work performed by my predecessors as part of the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics program used genetics to ensure that these traits are at their peak performance in all Christmas trees generated from seeds, and that they’re consistent throughout the state. It has strong branches to support ornaments and an ideal “Christmas tree” shape. It’s called the “perfect Christmas tree” because it has the perfect mix of traits that people consider important for a Christmas tree: It has soft needles, very good needle retention after it has been cut and a pleasant aroma. It is closely related to balsam and Canaan fir, which are species found more toward Canada and northern parts of the country. It’s been geographically isolated for thousands of years, which has led to its unique characteristics. It’s a species that’s only found in the southern Appalachian mountains at higher elevations. It accounts for around 98 percent of the Christmas tree market in North Carolina. The industry in North Carolina really grew from a particular species that’s unique to our state, which is the Fraser fir.įraser fir is the premier Christmas tree species in the United States, and some would consider the world. Whitehill: In North Carolina, we’re lucky – we have several Christmas tree species grown within the state. The Abstract: What types of Christmas trees are grown in North Carolina? To learn more about the types of Christmas trees grown in North Carolina, expectations for this year’s crop, and the future of Christmas tree research, we spoke to Justin Whitehill, director of the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program and an assistant professor of forestry and environmental resources.

North Carolina is the second leading Christmas tree producer in the United States, with 38,893 acres in Christmas tree production, according to 2017 data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Laura Oleniacz, NC State News Services Carolina’s Christmas tree growers are prepared to meet high demand from consumers this year, according to the leader of a Christmas tree research program at North Carolina State University.

Largest exporter of christmas trees