Christmas Trees

 

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 is happy to brave the snow and the cold to help you find it!

This year our newly designed tree lot features native Lodgepole Pines that are harvested right here in the Rocky Mountains as well as farm-grown Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, and Nordmann Fir. These trees are cut fresh by our trusted suppliers and are available in a wide range of sizes. Our fresh-cut trees are no longer located in our front parking lot, so come inside to enjoy a more festive shopping experience!

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.

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir trees are the original Christmas tree of the West Coast, having been used since the 1920’s. Nationally, it remains one of the most popular Christmas trees species today. Douglas Fir trees have a dense, full bushy shape with a defined angular profile. Their dark green – blue green needles are approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, soft to the touch and radiate out in all directions from the branch. Their classical uniform shape can support lots of lights and their sweet fragrance lasts the entire Christmas season.

Noble Fir

Noble Firs have grown in popularity and now outsells all other Christmas tree varieties in the Western United States. Known for its beauty, the Noble Fir has a long shelf life, and its stiff branches make it a good tree for holding heavy ornaments. Noble Fir trees have soft blue-green needles on evenly spaced strong branches. The needles are roughly 4-sided, over 1 inch long, and are generally twisted upward so that the lower surface of branches are exposed, giving them a lovely and layered appearance. Noble Firs emit a distinctive yet mild evergreen scent that really lights up a room.

Nordmann Fir

Nordmann Fir are considered by many to be the perfect holiday tree due to their beautiful symmetry and density. They feature firm hardy branches for supporting large ornaments and superior needle retention. They have soft deep green needles with a silvery underside. Nordmann Firs are a great choice for families with allergies or sensitivity to Christmas tree aroma as it has a lower fragrance level.

 

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.

Originally published on November 1st, 2018. Updated on November 30th, 2023.