If you are buying a real Christmas tree, you can often find two different options:
A cut Christmas tree is the most popular. This is a Christmas tree that you put in your own stand at home.
Some people like to get a pot grown Christmas tree. This is one that is still growing in soil in a pot. Pot grown trees are usually a bit smaller.
Pot grown trees need to be kept somewhere cool. Remember, they would still be growing outside all through winter! Some people choose to keep them outside the whole time and add some twinkly lights. Or, you can wait until it's almost Christmas tree to bring your tree into the home.
The good thing about a pot grown tree is you can keep it in your garden after Christmas and use it again next year.
At many Christmas tree farms and garden centres, you will have a choice of Christmas tree variety. These are some of the most commonly sold varieties.
1. Nordmann Fir
The Nordman fir is the UK’s most popular Christmas tree. This is because it holds on to its needles well and is easy to look after.
It’s a symmetrical tree with dark green, tightly packed foliage. It has strong branches that can hold plenty of baubles and decorations, and it copes well with central heating. It doesn’t have much scent though.
2. Fraser fir
Take the headache out of finding a real tree for a small space by choosing a Fraser fir. Offering a compact pyramid shape, its branches bend upwards and its needles are fairly soft as needles go. It retains them well too.
The foliage has a grey/blue underside and offers a citrus fragrance.
3. Blue spruce
With a wide base, the blue spruce has foliage the same colour as its name and a fine fragrance. Beware, its needles are sharp and unforgiving. Bear this in mind if you have small children.
A Blue Spruce will also need regular watering. This will help keep the needles on its dense branches rather than the floor.
4. Norway spruce
The Norway spruce is a traditional buy. It easily drops its needles in the warm, so is better suited to cooler hallways away from heat.
This tree offers thick but soft foliage, just make sure you keep it watered. Worth considering if you are counting the pennies.
5. Douglas fir
This is a popular choice in America. The Douglas fir is ideal if you like a strong citrus fragrance.
Its dark green or blue-green needles are soft and have good longevity on the branches. This fir also offers a handsome shape, but its flexible branches mean you’ll have to go easy on the decorations.
We look at ways you can dispose of your tree after Christmas.
Find out more
There is a long tradition of using plants at Christmas time for displays and gifts. We look at some of the most popular plants of the season.
For as little as £1 a week, you could be in with the chance of winning up to £25,000 every week!
Play now
