Christmas Trees Day 1 - Fraser Fir

Thanksgiving is Thursday, which means Christmas tree sales will be ramping up in the near future. If you are planning on decorating a live* tree this year, there are many varieties available for purchase. I will spend the rest of the week showcasing a few.

The most popular variety is the Fraser Fir. This jewel of the southern Appalachian Mountains is named for John Fraser (1750-1811), a Scot botanist who explored the area in the late 18th century. The trees closely resemble Balsam Firs, although they grow in distinct geographical areas that do not overlap - this leads arborists to believe they were once a single species.

Photo from Green Acres

Fraser Firs are uniformly pyramidal and have flattened, dark green needles. These characteristics, combined with the Fraser's compact form, pleasant scent and ship-ability make it the most popular Christmas tree species. (It requires 7-10 years in the field to produce a 6-7 foot tree.) The tree has excellent needle retention.

*The trees are not actually alive, so why do we refer to them as "live" trees?