Overview of the Different Types of Trees
Cool Springs Nursery has available!!
FRASER FIR: Cool Springs Nursery specializes in Fraser Fir Trees because of our location… We live, work, play in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee which is the only places that the Fraser Fir tree will grow naturally. Fraser Fir Trees is the most popular Christmas Tree on the east coast. Its fragrance, shape, strong limbs, and ability to retain its soft needles for a long time when cut make it one of the best Christmas Trees in the world.
NOBLE FIR (Abies procera): Cool Springs Nursery does not grow noble fir because we believe to offer our customers the best product the tree has to be grown in it’s native environment. That’s why we ship in trees from the Pacific Northwest. This has become a favorite of the west coast and is increase in popularity on the east coast. The Noble appearance is similar of a spruce. It has blue-green needles spaced out on short strong branches and does have a mild fir scent.
DOUGLAS FIR: Again, Douglas Firs are not native to this area so we bring in trees from up North. Interesting fact about Douglas Firs is that it is not a true fir which has made it hard in giving it a name…After many name changes it goes by Pseudotsuga menziesii. The Douglas fir has been transplanted successfully throughout most of the North American temperate zone due to its ability to grow at medium altitudes. Douglas Fir grows cone shaped naturally and has 1 to 1.5 inch needles that have a “sweet scent” when crushed. This was voted the 2nd most popular tree on the east coast!
CANAAN FIR: Canaan (”cay-nan”) firs, native to West Virginia’s Canaan Valley, have been growing in popularity since their introduction into the tree market. Canaan trees grow better in soil that is to wet to grow high-quality Christmas trees like the Fraser Fir or even the Douglas Fir. Canaan buds break later which cause is good for late springs frost but it does have it drawbacks as a Christmas Tree. Needle retention on Canaan fir is poorer than Fraser Fir but equal to or better than other Christmas Tree varieties but growers are working on improving this ( Jim Brown, a forestry researcher with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center).
WHITE PINE: Most people use the white pine branchs for garland and to accent wreaths and centerpieces because they have long, feathery, soft needles. BUT, the White Pine still makes it in the top10 Christmas Tree in the USA. It is a very beautiful tree with lush fullness. The branches do have a lot of flex to them so not the best tree for heavier decorations, but the needle retention is excellent if properly watered!