Types of Christmas tree: a guide to every kind sold in the UK

3 min read

Nordmann fir, Norway spruce, Fraser fir and the rest: how each real Christmas tree looks, smells and holds its needles, and who it suits.

Walk onto any tree lot in December and you will see the same handful of species. They differ in three ways that matter at home: how well they hold their needles, how they smell, and what shape they are. Here is each one in plain terms.

The two you will see everywhere

Nordmann fir

By far the best-selling Christmas tree in Britain. The needles are soft, flat and glossy, deep green on top and silvery underneath, and the tree holds on to them well for the whole of December. The shape is full and even, with strong branches that take heavier decorations. The scent is light.

Best for: most homes, especially with children or pets, and anyone who wants the tree up early.

Norway spruce

The traditional Christmas tree, and the one in Trafalgar Square each year. It has short, fine, pointed needles and the strong pine scent many people think of as the smell of Christmas. It costs less than a Nordmann. The trade-off is that it drops its needles sooner, particularly in a warm room.

Best for: tradition, scent and value, if you buy it a little later in December.

The others worth knowing

Fraser fir

Slimmer than a Nordmann, so it fits narrow spaces, with soft needles, good needle retention and a pleasant balsam scent. A good middle ground, though harder to find and usually dearer.

Noble fir

Blue-green, with stiff, upturned needles and well-spaced, sturdy branches. It holds its needles very well and shows off large ornaments. Expect to pay a premium.

Blue spruce

Chosen for its colour: a silvery blue-grey that looks striking with white lights. The needles are very sharp, which makes decorating prickly work, and less suitable around small children.

Serbian spruce

Tall and slender with gently arching branches, so it suits small rooms and alcoves. Its needles are softer than a Norway spruce’s and it tends to hold them a little longer.

Scots pine and lodgepole pine

The pines have long needles, a strong resin scent and excellent needle retention. They look bushier and less formal than a fir. Scots pine is the only one of these trees native to Britain.

Cut or pot-grown

Most trees are sold cut. A pot-grown tree has been raised in its container with its roots intact, so it can live on outdoors after Christmas if it is kept cool and watered and not left inside for more than about two weeks. They are smaller, usually up to around 4 or 5 feet.

Which should you choose

For most households the choice comes down to the first two. We compare them in detail in Nordmann fir or Norway spruce.