Editing Christmas tree (section)

===Natural trees===

{{See also|Christmas tree cultivation}}

The most commonly used species are [[fir]] (''Abies''), which have the benefit of not shedding their needles when they dry out, as well as retaining good foliage color and scent; but species in other [[genus|genera]] are also used.

In northern [[Europe]] most commonly used are:
* [[Picea abies|Norway spruce]] ''Picea abies'' (the original tree, generally the cheapest)
* [[Abies alba|Silver fir]] ''Abies alba''
* [[Abies nordmanniana|Nordmann fir]] ''Abies nordmanniana''
* [[Noble fir]] ''Abies procera''
* [[Picea omorika|Serbian spruce]] ''Picea omorika''
* [[Scots pine]] ''Pinus sylvestris''
* [[Stone pine]] ''Pinus pinea'' (as small table-top trees)
* [[Swiss pine]] ''Pinus cembra''

In [[North America]], [[Central America]], [[South America]] and [[Australia]] most commonly used are:
* [[Douglas fir]] ''Pseudotsuga menziesii''
* [[Abies balsamea|Balsam fir]] ''Abies balsamea''
* [[Fraser Fir]] ''Abies fraseri''
* [[Abies grandis|Grand fir]] ''Abies grandis''
* [[Abies guatemalensis|Guatemalan fir]] ''Abies guatemalensis''
* [[Noble fir]] ''Abies procera''
* [[Abies nordmanniana|Nordmann fir]] ''Abies nordmanniana''
* [[Abies magnifica|Red fir]] ''Abies magnifica''
* [[Abies concolor|White fir]] ''Abies concolor''
* [[Colorado Pinyon|Pinyon pine]] ''Pinus edulis''
* [[Jeffrey pine]] ''Pinus jeffreyi''
* [[Scots pine]] ''Pinus sylvestris''
* [[Stone pine]] ''Pinus pinea'' (as small table-top trees)
* [[Araucaria heterophylla|Norfolk Island pine]] ''Araucaria heterophylla''
*[[Araucaria angustifolia|Paraná pine]] ''Araucaria angustifolia'' (when young, resembles a [[Pine|Pine tree]])

Several other species are used to a lesser extent. Less-traditional conifers are sometimes used, such as [[Sequoiadendron giganteum|giant sequoia]], [[Leyland cypress]], [[Monterey cypress]], and [[Juniperus virginiana|eastern juniper]]. Various types of [[spruce]] tree are also used for Christmas trees (including the [[Picea pungens|blue spruce]] and, less commonly, the [[Picea glauca|white spruce]]); but spruces begin to lose their needles rapidly upon being cut, and spruce needles are often sharp, making decorating uncomfortable. [[Pinus virginiana|Virginia pine]] is still available on some tree farms in the southeastern United States; however, its winter color is faded. The long-needled [[Pinus strobus|eastern white pine]] is also used there, though it is an unpopular Christmas tree in most parts of the country, owing also to its faded winter coloration and limp branches, making decorating difficult with all but the lightest ornaments. Norfolk Island pine is sometimes used, particularly in [[Oceania]], and in [[Australia]], some species of the genera ''[[Casuarina]]'' and ''[[Allocasuarina]]'' are also occasionally used as Christmas trees. But, by far, the most common tree is the Pinus radiata [[Pinus radiata|Monterey pine]]. ''[[Adenanthos sericeus]]'' or Albany woolly bush is commonly sold in southern Australia as a potted living Christmas tree. [[Tsuga|Hemlock]] species are generally considered unsuitable as Christmas trees due to their poor needle retention and inability to support the weight of lights and ornaments.

Some trees, frequently referred to as "living Christmas trees", are sold live with roots and soil, often from a [[plant nursery]], to be stored at nurseries in planters or planted later outdoors and enjoyed (and often decorated) for years or decades. Others are produced in a container and sometimes as [[topiary]] for a porch or patio. However, when done improperly, the combination of root loss caused by digging, and the indoor environment of high temperature and low humidity is very detrimental to the tree's health; additionally, the warmth of an indoor climate will bring the tree out of its natural winter [[dormancy]], leaving it little protection when put back outside into a cold outdoor climate. Often Christmas trees are a large attraction for living animals, including mice and spiders. Thus, the survival rate of these trees is low.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/other/seasonal/hgic1751.html |title=Living Christmas Trees |publisher=[[Clemson University]] |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606222650/https://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/other/seasonal/hgic1751.html |archive-date=6 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, when done properly, replanting provides higher survival rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.for.msu.edu/extension/ExtDocs/xmastree.htm |title=Christmas tree |publisher=Department of Forestry, [[Michigan State University]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315150004/http://www.for.msu.edu/extension/ExtDocs/xmastree.htm |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>

European tradition prefers the open aspect of naturally grown, unsheared trees, while in North America (outside western areas where trees are often wild-harvested on public lands)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/newsroom/2004/blm_and_forest_service0.html |title=BLM and Forest Service Christmas tree permits available |publisher=[[Bureau of Land Management]] |date=30 November 2004 |access-date=18 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114174843/http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/newsroom/2004/blm_and_forest_service0.html |archive-date=14 January 2014 }}</ref> there is a preference for close-sheared trees with denser foliage, but less space to hang decorations.

In the past, Christmas trees were often harvested from wild forests, but now almost all are commercially grown on [[tree farm]]s. Almost all Christmas trees in the United States are grown on Christmas tree farms where they are cut after about ten years of growth and new trees planted. According to the [[United States Department of Agriculture]]'s agriculture census for 2007, 21,537 farms were producing conifers for the cut Christmas tree market in America, {{convert|5717.09|km2|acre|0}} were planted in Christmas trees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Specialty_Crops/speccrop.pdf |title=2007 Census of Agriculture: Specialty Crops (Volume 2, Subject Series, Part 8) |at=Table 1, page 1 |date=November 2009 |publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]] |access-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216135500/http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Specialty_Crops/speccrop.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The life cycle of a Christmas tree from the seed to a {{convert|2|m|ft|0|adj=on}} tree takes, depending on species and treatment in cultivation, between eight and twelve years. First, the seed is extracted from cones harvested from older trees. These seeds are then usually grown in nurseries and then sold to Christmas tree farms at an age of three to four years. The remaining development of the tree greatly depends on the climate, soil quality, as well as the cultivation and how the trees are tended by the Christmas tree farmer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weihnachtsbaumversand.de/Wissenswertes:_:35.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125213649/http://www.weihnachtsbaumversand.de/Wissenswertes%3A_%3A35.html |archive-date=25 November 2007 |title=Unsere kleine Baumschule—Wissenswertes |trans-title=Our little nursery: Trivia |language=de |year=2010 |access-date=18 December 2012 }}</ref> One issue that farmers face is the destruction of pine trees by pests, such as ''[[Tomicus piniperda|T. piniperda]].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Grinch That Spoils Christmas Trees |url=https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/1995/dec/trees/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov |publisher=USDA ARS}}</ref>