The Christmas Tree is one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday season. The dark green needles and rich aroma brings a piece of nature right into your living room. The lights, bows, and ornaments that you hang are a reflection of your own personality and bridge past memories with new holiday experiences. At Fort Collins Nursery, we understand the importance of picking out that perfect tree and our dedicated staff will brave the snow and the cold to help you find it!
This year our tree lot features Colorado native Subalpine Fir and Lodgepole Pines that are harvested right here in the Rocky Mountains. Each tree is cut fresh by our trusted suppliers and they vary in size, ranging anywhere from petite table toppers to elegant giants.
Subalpine Fir
Subalpine Fir are popular Christmas trees that grow wild throughout high-elevation forests and are often identified by dark purple cones that stand upright in the tops of the trees. The trees are slender and spire-like with short, dense, and rigid branches that reach out horizontally giving it a shelf-like appearance. Its nicely spaced branches are great for displaying your ornaments and are strong enough to hold the weight of heavier decorations. Their needles are short, soft, flexible, and curve upward. Subalpine Fir are sought after as Christmas trees, but are relatively hard to find due to harvesting challenges at higher elevations.
Lodgepole Pine
Lodgepole Pines have long been a local favorite because of their distinct Colorado look. Their pine cones are still attached as a beautiful reminder of their place in our local ecosystem. The trees are straight and narrow with upwards pointing branches. They showcase long, luscious green needles that cluster near the ends of the branches and maintain a festive pine scent throughout the season. Lodgepole Pines offer tremendous needle retention making them ideal for those who like to kick off the holiday season early and extend it past the new year.
Living Trees
Looking for something different this year? Bring home a potted living tree to display on your porch or patio. A living tree can be brought indoors to decorate the week of Christmas and returned to the great outdoors to await spring planting.
Please observe the following guidelines:
- Your potted living Christmas tree should be kept in a cool, shady location protected from severe winds until you bring it into your home.
- The tree should not be kept in your home for more than 5 to 7 days.
- Use only small cool “twinkle” lights, not large outdoor lights that produce heat. LED lights are best.
- After Christmas, either plant the tree in the ground, place it in an unheated building, or put it in a protected location outdoors, preferably with a mulch such as leaves around the container to insulate the roots and keep the soil temperature stable.
- Water the tree periodically (once a month) if the soil ball is not frozen.
- Plant the tree in your landscape in the spring when the ground has thawed.
This year’s first batch of fresh cut trees should arrive just in time for our Holiday Hoopla Sale beginning November 19th.
Originally published on November 1st, 2018. Updated on December 1st, 2022.