Head To The Blue Ridge Mountains To Find The 'Rolls Royce Of Christmas Trees'

As the holidays approach, cities and towns begin to light up with breathtaking Christmas trees all around the world. What makes a superior Christmas tree? Some might say the lights and decorations are most important. But others would say this tree itself. While balsam firs (in the east) and Douglas firs (in the west) are the most common tree species used for Christmas, according to the National Forest Foundation, it's the Fraser firs that have earned the nickname of the "Rolls Royce of Christmas trees" by growers for their ideal color and shape, strong needles, and pleasant aroma. The trees are native only to the southern Blue Ridge Mountains region, growing at high elevations.

Starting after World War II, Fraser firs began to be grown and sold for greenery and, by extension, became a growing source for Christmas trees, according to NC State. If you were to encounter a Fraser fir in the wild in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it could be up to 50 feet tall, but when they're harvested as Christmas trees, they're typically cut down under eight feet, as the Blue Ridge Discovery Center notes.

One of the characteristics that makes them ideal for holiday arrangements is their needles. Fraser firs have resilient needles that make them ideal for supporting heavy decorations and staying full throughout the holiday season. The needles also have a unique aesthetic feature: They're two-toned, with a deep green color on top and a silvery underside. The other deluxe appeal of Fraser firs is scent. The trees release an aromatic resin that smells distinctly of pine without being too overpowering.

According to the Blue Ridge Discovery Center, the trees grow high up on the mountains, typically at least 4,500 feet above sea level, where they thrive on moisture from the foggy mountain canopy and the cool, rocky soil. Most Fraser fir forests are found along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina, as well as the western Appalachian arm of Virginia.

In the walkable, Blue Ridge Mountain town of Boone, the C&J Christmas Tree Farm is a well-reviewed option for finding a Fraser fir to take home, with 4.3 stars from Google reviewers. The Christmas tree that stood in the White House in 2024 was a Fraser fir and came from Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, per CBS. If you head to Newland, you could also check out one of North Carolina's most magical trails, the Babel Tower Trail.

The Sing See Soon blog notes that the most critical way to keep your Fraser fir fresh throughout the holiday season is to ensure it gets enough water. It's best to trim off a small layer from the trunk (about a centimeter), and then put it into a stand with water, as this allows the tree to absorb the moisture more efficiently. You can refresh the water at least every two days, sometimes even daily. Since Fraser firs thrive in cold climates, keeping them in an air-conditioned space could make them last longer — as an alternative, you could put ice cubes in their water.