Skip to Main Content

Needles in a snowbank, finding the right species of Christmas tree

Farming cycles out of the spotlight after harvest, yet many families make their most calculated and celebrated plant purchase every winter. The Education Store contains digital and physical resources on a wide range of subjects. The publications are authored by experts on each topic, among them recently retired professor of forestry and natural resources, Daniel Cassens. He also served as the Extension wood products specialist.

This year, Cassens celebrates 40 years since he began operations at his tree farm in West Lafayette. Cassens Trees won the Indiana Grand Champion Tree contest for the third time in 2015. His expertise led Cassens to write Selecting an Indiana-Grown Christmas Tree, a publication available for free download. Much of the information in this guide stems from there.

Scotch Pine

+ Very easy to care for

+ Excellent needle retention

+ Holds heavy ornaments


  • Lasting pine smell
  • Most common species
  • Range of colors

Eastern White Pine

+ Better for allergies

+ Soft needles

+ Excellent needle retention


  • Little aroma
  • Popular
  • Blue to silver green

    -Weakest branches

Douglas Fir

+ Soft needles

  • Fragrant
  • Popular
  • Short needles 

  • Dark or blue green

    - Low branch strength

    -Lower needle retention than other traditional trees

Fraser Fir

+ Excellent needle retention

+ Upturned branches for easy transport

+ Stiff branches

+ Extremely full


  • Fragrant
  • Short needles
  • Dark, silvery green

    -Fullness causes decorating to be limited to branch tips

Canaan Fir

+ Excellent needle retention

  • Fragrant
  • Very similar to Fraser Fir

  • Dark green
  • Short needles

    - Low branch strength

Concolor (White) Fir

+ Excellent needle retention

+ Stiff branches

  • Variety of colors
 
  • Citrus smell
  • Uncommon
  • Silvery blue

Blue Spruce

+ Stiff branches

+ Natural symmetry

  • Pungent
  • Common landscaping or living Christmas tree

 

  • Unique blue color
  • - Very sharp needles

    - Needs water quickly after cutting

    -Low needle retention

Norway Spruce

+ Stiff branches

  • Pungent
  • Common tree in landscaping, wind-breaking, or as a living Christmas tree

 

  •  Lighter green

    - Needs water quickly after cutting

    -Low needle retention

Featured Stories

cows in a field
Food products from animals with heritable genetic modifications potential boon to producers, consumers and animals

Farmers have been improving the genetics of their animals for thousands of years through...

Read More
Anna Paltseva, clinical assistant professor of urban science in the agronomy department, sits outside of a greenhouse, holding her Urban Soils Guide.
Framework to expand engagement in urban areas

Urban soils are essential to building sustainable cities — from supporting green...

Read More
Ag Barometer
Farmer sentiment improves as long-term optimism outweighs tariff concerns

Farmer sentiment improved in April as producers expressed more optimism about current and future...

Read More
black soldier fly
Revolutionizing waste: How black soldier flies transform food waste into sustainable solutions

With food waste being a growing problem around the world, finding innovative solutions is more...

Read More
Two women examine the ground near tomato plants
Small Farm Education Field Day will feature new research, demonstrations and Purdue experts

The Purdue Small Farm Education Field Day on July 24 will offer demonstrations and presentations...

Read More
Oseremi Olivia Jagbojo
Oseremi Olivia Jagbojo - Graduate Ag Research Spotlight

Growing up in bustling Lagos, Nigeria, the largest city in Africa, agriculture was the furthest...

Read More
To Top