Feature: Christmas Tree Facts

• Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the U.S. since 1850.
• As many as 36 million Christmas trees are produced each year and 95 percent are shipped or sold directly from Christmas tree farms. In North America, there are more than 15,000 Christmas tree growers.
• The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, Balsam fir and white pine.
• Over one million acres have been planted in Christmas trees.
• More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On average, 1000 to 1500 survive. In the north, 750 survive.
• This year, 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted.
• It takes 6 to 10 years to grow a mature Christmas tree.

These facts are provided by the University of Illinois Extension. If you would like to read more, the address is www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees/.

While the NRCS Plant Materials Program does not evaluate evergreens for Christmas tree use, the Program has released species like Hunter select Ponderosa pine for use in windbreaks and living snow fences.
 

Last Modified 12/16/2003
Last Reviewed 1/23/2006

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