Choosing a Christmas Tree – Scotch Pine and Norway Spruce
Spotting a Scotch Pine is easy, although the way to do it is with your fingers, rather than your eyes since its needles can be sharp as pins. Scotch or Scots pine is a species which has been widely planted for the purpose of producing Christmas trees, both across Europe and in the USA, as it is an extremely hardy species which is adaptable to a wide variety of soils and sites. As a Christmas tree, it is known for its dark green foliage and stiff branches which are well suited for decorating with both light and heavy ornaments – as long as you wear gloves!. It has excellent needle retention characteristics and resists drying, even if it is allowed to become dry does not drop its needles. When displayed in a water-filled container it will remain fresh for the normal three weeks to a month of the Christmas season.
The Norway Spruce is a truly beautiful tree although it does not hold its needles well, and should be purchased only a week or so before 25 December, as the American National Christmas Tree Association notes – ‘the overall colour of Norway spruce is fair to excellent, but needle retention is considered poor unless the trees are cut fresh and kept properly watered’ – so you have been warned! In Europe, Norway spruce grows very well, ranging from 130 to 215 feet in height and trunk diameter may reach as much as two feet on older trees. It is readily identified by its dark green needles and drooping branch ends although these are often snipped off before sale. An interesting fact about this tree, in spring, its new leafy shoots can be used for brewing spruce beer!
Norway Spruce photograph by ra64, used under a creative commons attribution licence.
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