Types of Christmas TreesChoosing the right Christmas tree can be one of the most important decisions you make during the holiday season, and with all the different varieties of trees out there, it can get complicated. Which trees last the longest? Which are good for budget buyers? Which need the most care? To answer these questions and others, we talked to an expert in the Christmas tree business.
Missouri native Bud Lyon was working for Look Magazine when he settled in Southern California in 1962. Two years later he saw his first Christmas tree farm, and by 1977 it became his full-time vocation. During the past 25 years Lyon has been active with both the California Christmas Tree Association and the National Christmas Tree Association, holding numerous top-level positions in both groups. Here he offers a basic guide to different varieties of Christmas trees: - Leland cypress. Lyon loves the Leland Cyprus. It’s a great choice for buyers with allergies, as it’s a non-allergenic tree. It also holds onto its needles exceptionally well.
- Douglas fir. The Douglas Fir is a great choice for budget-minded buyers as it’s less costly for farmers to grow. The trade off is that it does not keep as well as other types of tree, and it demands a bit more care and attention. Make sure to give Douglas Firs plenty of water all the time.
- Scotch pine. Lyon considers the Scotch Pine the "old standby." It was the first tree to be grown as a commercial Christmas tree, about a half-century ago. Once cut, the Scotch Pine is one of the best keeping trees, even with poor care.
- A family decision. Choosing a tree can be a fun activity for the whole family, and a way of bringing everyone together. No matter what kind of tree you end up buying, Lyon stresses that the most important thing to remember is to keep that tree stand filled with water so your tree will last through the season and bring you plenty of joy.
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