SPECIAL NOTE: This post was created prior to Hurricane Helene hitting Western North Carolina in September 2024. View statements from the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and N.C. Christmas Tree Association about the storm’s impact on the industry.
In the words of Clark W. Griswold, Jr., “We’re kicking off our fun, old-fashioned family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.” A real Christmas tree.
Whether a timeless family tradition or a festive holiday centerpiece each year, picking the perfect Christmas tree often signals the start of the holiday season. The nostalgic smell and warm glow of the lights offer respite from a cold, dreary winter and help usher in a new year.
North Carolina produces nearly 1 of every 4 real Christmas trees grown in the U.S.
North Carolina has over 900 farmers growing a collective 53 million Christmas trees across more than 30,000 acres (mostly in the western counties). Each year, they harvest close to 4 million of those Christmas trees, which require years of growth to mature. The state ranks No. 2 in the country for Christmas tree production, behind only Oregon.
Gifting the world with millions of trees each year, North Carolina is pretty much the North Pole of Christmas trees. And with hundreds of Christmas tree farms, you don’t have to walk into the woods and cut it down with your bare hands Griswold-style (we have choose-and-cut farms that can help you).
The most popular species of Christmas tree in North Carolina is Fraser fir. The “Cadillac of Christmas trees,” according to Johnny Wishon of Wishon Farms, Fraser firs make up around 96% of the state’s industry.
Fraser firs are grown mostly in Western North Carolina counties like Ashe, Avery and Watauga. Folks in the Piedmont and coastal plain regions of North Carolina are still able to make the season bright with Christmas tree species suited to lower elevations: Leyland cypress, white pine, Virginia pine, eastern redcedar and Arizona cypress cultivars like ‘Blue Ice’ or ‘Carolina Sapphire.’ Explore various Christmas tree species and how they’re grown.
Did you know that real Christmas trees are already 6 to 10 years old when you buy them?
Join NC State Extension’s Christmas tree expert, Jeff Owen, and journey into the world of North Carolina Christmas trees for a behind-the-scenes look at how NC State helps farmers grow, harvest and sell these seasonal delights. Consider this permission to peek before Christmas!
Visit NC State Extension’s Christmas tree site and follow the team on Facebook for more helpful holiday tips. Discover more about the industry at N.C. Christmas Tree Association.
Extra Tree Trimmings
- Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees: Discover the differences and environmental impacts of real North Carolina Christmas trees and artificial trees.
- Picking the Perfect Christmas Tree: Selecting the best Christmas tree for your home can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the entire family, but where to begin?
- Choose-and-Cut Christmas Tree Farms: Use the N.C. Christmas Tree Association’s directory to find which of our 300 choose-and-cut farms is nearest to you.
- Replanting Live Christmas Trees at Home: One of the more enjoyable holiday traditions is to replant a live Christmas tree in your landscape – learn how to select and care for a tree that can last a lifetime.
- History of the Christmas Tree: For many families, a decorated tree is the centerpiece of the Christmas holidays, but how did this curious habit of bringing a tree into the house get started?
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