How to Pick the Best Christmas Tree Species for Your Home (Updated for 2025)

Holidays are filled with traditions, which are different for every household. When Christmas rolls back around, you might have a tradition where you hang all your decorations on the first day of December or count down the days on a special calendar. Learning about Christmas tree species might not be one of your traditions, but it could make your holiday even more special this year.

Many people maintain a tradition of traveling to a tree farm to choose their Christmas tree together. It’s fun to run down the rows of trees, inspect each one and picture how you’ll decorate it. The challenge is choosing the best Christmas tree species for your home.

Steps to Choosing a Healthy Christmas Tree

Follow this guide to choose the perfect Christmas tree for your home and keep it healthy after it’s been cut. 

1. Measure Your Space

Before you head to your local tree farm, measure the space where you want to set up your tree. You’ll need to know what kind of height you’re dealing with to narrow down which trees will fit in your home. You should also think about the width of the tree and account for elements that add height, such as the tree stand topper.

Don’t forget to think about how far you’ll carry the tree, how many doorways you’ll pass through and if your neighborhood has limits on the tree sizes they’ll pick up after the holidays are over. No one wants to get stuck with a tree that doesn’t fit in their home and won’t be picked up from the side of the road after New Year’s Eve.

2. Choose a Location in Your Home

Where you place the Christmas tree has a huge impact on its longevity and safety. From 2018 to 2022, fire departments responded to an average of 155 home structure fires caused by Christmas trees annually. While fires involving these festive trees are rare, it’s still a good idea to take measures to prevent them. Ensure you place your tree far from heat sources, such as fireplaces and radiators. 

Also, avoid placing the tree near sunny windows. The sunlight can prematurely dry its leaves, resulting in significant needle drop. 

3. Check for Freshness

After you’ve chosen which kind of tree you’d like, watch for discoloration. Walk around each tree you consider to look for brown spots in the needles. Tiny spots here and there can be covered up with ornaments, but large ones will be harder to hide.

Also, no farmer can grow a Christmas tree that naturally has the perfect form and shape. Trees have bare spots for a variety of reasons, so look for them while you check for discoloration. Bare spots are areas where the branches aren’t as full as others or are missing branches entirely. 

You can cover a bare spot by turning it towards the corner of a room, but multiple will be difficult to hide with lights and ornaments.

4. Trim the Bottom of the Trunk

Once you’ve found the tree you like, call the tree farmer over to cut it down for you. They’ll trim it into the famous Christmas tree shape — if they haven’t already — and then they’ll cut it off at the base of the trunk.

Make sure they cut the trunk in a flat line instead of an angled one, so the tree can absorb more daily water through the increased surface molecules.

5. Wrap the Tree

Most people take their tree home by tying it to the top of their car or securing it in the bed of their truck. Before you do that, ask the tree farmers to wrap your tree tightly with any netting they have on hand. They’ll put the tree in a shaker to loosen any dead or weak needles and then wrap it up in seconds for easy transport.

You’ll be glad you asked when you’re carrying the tree through a door frame or narrow hallway in your home. The fewer needles you need to sweep off your floors, the merrier you’ll be.

6. Prepare for a Long Life

Proper tree care starts the moment you get it home. If it’s been 12 hours or longer since it was cut, trim the bottom of the trunk before placing it on the stand. This will ensure it can absorb water, as a watertight sap seal may have formed over it after half a day. Take other measures to keep it alive for a long time, such as keeping your tree cool and limiting its time indoors. 

The Best Christmas Tree Species for Your Home

America has nearly 350 million natural Christmas trees growing in farms, so you won’t run out of species to choose from. Here are some of the most popular festive varieties. 

Balsam Fir

This tree has the classic Christmas tree scent and shape, so your home will immediately be filled with the Christmas spirit. Although it won’t lose its needles easily, it has flexible branches that can only hold lighter ornaments.

• Color: Dark green
• Shape: Slender, pyramidal
• Branch strength: Good for lightweight ornaments
• Fragrance: Strong, classic festive scent
• Needle retention: Excellent
• Best for: Those who prioritize fragrance and classic holiday style

Fraser Fir

Often called the “Cadillac of Christmas trees,” Fraser Firs grow in the high altitudes of the Appalachian Mountains. They’re the perfect combination of good form, strong branches and pleasant scent, making them one of the most common species found on tree lots. 

• Color: Dark green to silver blue
• Shape: Uniform, pyramidal
• Branch strength: Excellent for heavy ornaments
• Fragrance: Pleasant, medium strength
• Needle retention: Excellent
• Best for: Families with lots of heavy or sentimental ornaments

Scotch Pine

Also known as Scots Pine, it’s the national tree of Scotland, and it’s known for its hardiness. It’s a popular Christmas tree in America because its needles will stay on the branch, even after the tree has dried out.

• Color: Bright green
• Shape: Pyramidal, but can be pruned to be dense
• Branch strength: Very strong, excellent for many ornaments
• Fragrance: Lingering, earthy scent
• Needle retention: The best
• Best for: Households that want a long-lasting tree with minimal needle drop

White Pine

The White Pine is a softer tree that grows taller than most varieties, so it’s great for rooms with high ceilings. Make sure you water it twice a day if you buy one, and don’t hang heavy ornaments, as the branches are fairly thin.

• Color: Blue green
• Shape: Full and bushy, with long, soft needles
• Branch strength: Poor, only suitable for light, small ornaments
• Fragrance: Little to no scent
• Needle retention: Good
• Best for: A minimalist or natural look with few decorations, and for homes with allergies due to its low fragrance

Blue Spruce Tree

The Blue Spruce has a beautiful blue hue to its green branches, so it’s eye-catching with or without decorations. It doesn’t shed easily and can hold up most ornaments, although it doesn’t have much of a scent and may only come in small sizes.

• Color: Silvery blue to powder blue
• Shape: Classic cone shape
• Branch strength: Very strong, great for heavy ornaments
• Fragrance: Faint and earthy
• Needle retention: Fair to good, but its sharp needles can be a deterrent
• Best for: Making a visual statement with color

What to Expect for Christmas Tree Costs

The price of natural Christmas trees ranges from $50 to $200, depending on various factors:

• Tree species: Some varieties are more expensive than others, such as Fraser Firs for their excellent shape and slow growth rate. 
• Height and grade: Taller trees and fuller, more uniform trees cost more. 
• Location: Prices may vary by region and proximity to Christmas tree farms. 
• Purchase method: There’s a difference in cost and experience between a “U-Cut “ farm and a pre-cut lot at a big-box store. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some common questions about selecting a Christmas tree. 

Should You Get a Real or an Artificial Tree?

It depends on your needs and preferences. Real trees offer the authentic experience, with their distinct scent and natural beauty. Studies also show that they can help people recover from mental fatigue, reduce anxiety and psychological stress. The downside lies in their annual cost, maintenance needs and potential mess. 

While their upfront cost is higher, artificial trees are more cost-effective because you can reuse them for years. They’re also easy to maintain, hypoallergenic and free of sticky sap and dropped needles. However, they lack the festive fragrance of their natural counterparts. They also consume significant storage space. 

What Is the Most Fragrant Christmas Tree? 

The Balsam Fir is widely regarded as the most aromatic of all festive trees. It’s famous for its strong, spicy-sweet “classic Christmas” scent that can fill an entire room. Other fragrant options include the Fraser Fir, with its pleasant evergreen tones, and the Douglas Fir, with its unique sweet and citrusy scent. 

Which Christmas Tree Drops the Fewest Needles? 

The champion of needle retention is the Scotch Pine, which retains its needles even as it starts to dry out. It’s a fantastic, low-mess option. Fir trees, such as Frase, Noble and Balsam, are also excellent choices. Regardless of the species, a smart trick to prevent needle drop is proper watering. A thirsty tree will quickly become brittle, so be sure to check the water stand daily. 

How Do You Dispose of Your Tree After Christmas?

Most towns and cities have designated Christmas tree disposal programs. Check your local government’s website for information on curbside pickup dates or drop-off locations. Some communities “tree cycle” by chipping old trees into mulch. 

Never burn your Christmas tree in an indoor fireplace or wood stove. The sap and dried leaves can create a rapid, intense fire and cause a dangerous buildup in your chimney.

Consider Different Christmas Tree Species

The holiday season is hear, so you might be itching to get out there and bring home your Christmas tree. Be sure to plan everything out before you leave. If you know what the best Christmas tree species is for you, you’ll end up with a tree that fills your home with extra joy during the holidays.

Original Publish Date 12/06/2023 – Updated 12/03/2025