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Douglas Fir Plantation
Noble and Grand Fir Plantation, Chilliwack, BC

Canada's Christmas Tree Species: Fir, Pine and Spruce

Fir:
Balsam, Fraser, Douglas, Canaan, Concolor:

Balsam fir (Abies Balsamea) thrive in cooler climates, adapting to a variety of soils
This wonderful species is native to Canada, ranging from Alberta to Newfoundland
The most popular Christmas tree grown in Canada is characterized by:
a dark green appearance
good needle retention
an attractive form
a wonderful fragrance
Characteristics of balsam fir needles:
15-25 mm (¾-1 inch) long
flat with a rounded or notched tip
well-spaced
lower branches have two rows of needles along the sides of each branch
dark-green on top and whiter on the bottom
These trees naturally reach 12-18 metres (40-60 feet) in height and live 150-200 years.

Six to twelve years are required to produce a 6-7 foot Christmas tree that is ready for market.

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Fraser Fir: (Abies fraseri) thrives in fertile, rocky to sandy acidic soils.

Fraser Fir Characteristics:
dark green colour
lush dense foliage
excellent needle retention
strong branches capable of carrying heavy ornaments
nice light Fragrance
The Fraser fir's needles are:
soft , making the tree ideal for children to handle and decorate
flat and up to 1 inch long
deep green with a blue/grey underside
curled up (on upper branches)

This species was discovered by John Fraser, a Scottish explorer and botanist, when he was exploring the southern Appalachian Mountains in the late 18th century. Though these trees grow naturally typically at elevations above 4,500 feet in the south-eastern United States, they are now grown widely, where possible, across the continent as Christmas trees.


Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga manziesii) grows throughout western North America, from the interior of British Columbia to the mountains of Mexico.
Douglas Fir Characteristics:
dense bushy shape
easily decorated
sturdy Branches are able to support a large number of Christmas tree lights and decorations
 
Douglas fir needle Characteristics
Dark green or blue green
2-3 cm (1 - 1.5 inches) long
soft to touch
radiate in all directions from the branch
David Douglas, the renowned Scottish botanist studied and discovered this species in the 1820's. It is a strong softwood tree which is widely used in the construction industry. It also makes for a wonderful Christmas tree.

Stump Culture, the tree continues to live after harvest
Stump culture: the root system and
bottom whorls (branches) of the tree
remain after harvest. One of the
branches will turn into a
new Christmas tree


Plantation Grown BC Douglas Fir

Canaan Fir (Abies Balsamea) has many similarities to both the Fraser and the balsam firs in growth and appearance, as it offers the wonderful bouquet of a balsam fir combined with the beauty of a Fraser fir. The needles have a beautiful green topside, and a silver/white underside. Canaan firs grow in soils too wet to grow Fraser firs or Douglas firs. In addition, Canaan fir has a later bud break, reducing damage from late spring frosts. It is a beautiful tree that will gain importance in the years to come.

Noble Fir (Abies Procera) A beautiful Christmas tree with stiff branches and extended durability. This species is growing in popularity and is widely used to make wreaths, swags, garland and other Christmas products.

Grand Fir (Abies Grandis).

Grand fir (Abies grandis) can reach heights of 300 feet. The needles are spread horizontally so that both the upper and lower sides of the branches are visible. The needles have glossy dark green tops with two highly visible white lines on the underside. The needles are 1 to 1½inches in length

White Fir or Concolor Fir (Abies Concolor) is an excellent ornamental tree and is widely planted in the eastern United States and Canada. Its small, narrow needles are around 1-1½ inches in length and are laid out in rows. They have good foliage colour, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma.

PINE

White Pine (Pinus Strobus) towers over much of Eastern Canada’s boreal forests. A graceful evergreen, its fragrance and excellent needle retention has made it a popular Christmas tree for many years.


White Pine Characteristics
soft flexible branches and needles
very little aroma (the white pine's mild fragrance is good for people with allergies)
White Pine Needle Characteristics
soft flexible branches and needles
lacy blue-green foliage
7-10 cm (3-4 inches) in length
grow in bunches of 5
 

In the wild, it can reach up to 45 metres (150 feet) with a trunk diameter of 1.5 metres (4.5 feet) This tree is naturally occurring from Newfoundland to south-eastern Manitoba. Because of its size and strength, the white pine was once the wood of choice for constructing ocean-going vessels. Particularly straight stands of trees were designated to become masts for sailing ships. Today these trees are valued for their smooth white wood which contains few knotholes and doesn't twist or shrink.

Notice the 4 bunches of needles, indicative of a white pine
SCOTS PINE (Pinus Sylvestris) was one of the first plantation grown Christmas Trees in North America.
Scots Pine Characteristics
excellent conical shape
stiff branches which are good for supporting heavy ornaments and lights
dense foliage
wonderful Aroma
Scots Pine Needle Characteristics
blue green
good needle retention even if the tree becomes dry
long - 5-8 cm (2-4 inch) and sharp
grow in bunches of 2

Scots pine will grow up to 25-30 meters (80-100 feet) in height.

It is the most widely distributed pine around the world.

Spruce
Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens) are slower growing trees, taking a few years more to bring to market, but well worth the wait. They have a natural colour variation from blue to green.
Colorado Blue Spruce Characteristics
symmetrical shape
attractive blue foliage
Colorado Blue Spruce Needle Characteristics
15-30 mm (.5-1.5 inches) long needles
short and stiff
four-sided
very good needle retention

This tree naturally grows to 20 - 30 meters (65-100 feet) in height. They may grow slowly, but they last up to 600 years in the wild.



White Spruce (Picea Glauca)grows across North America throughout the Canadian Shield and northern United States
White Spruce Characteristics
excellent shape
wonderful colour
 
Needle Characteristics
blunt tip
blue Green Needles
short and stiff, 15 - 22 mm (1/2 - 1 inch)
four-sided
good needle retention

The wood from white spruce is light and soft with a straight grain. The wonderful properties of this wood have found wide used including musical instruments, plywood and furniture. The trees will reach up to 50 metres (140 feet) in height and grow to be up to 300 years of age.




Pollen on Pine trees
A White Pine producing pollen for bees to pollinate the trees

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Canadian Christmas Tree Gowers Association     © Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association
     


The Leading tip of a
Spruce Tree