Types of Real Christmas Trees: Which Should You Buy?
Not all real Christmas trees are the same. Needle retention, scent, branch strength and shape all vary, and the one you want depends on when you put it up and what you hang on it.
Here is every type of Christmas tree you will find in the UK, what each is actually like to live with, and which one to buy.
Nordmann Fir
Britain's favourite, and more than eight in ten real trees sold here are Nordmanns. It is the non-drop tree.
The needles are thick, waxy and dark green, soft to the touch and blunt at the tip. That waxy coat holds moisture in, so the tree loses water slowly and the needles stay attached. A watered Nordmann Fir holds four to five weeks indoors.
The branches grow in strong, well-spaced tiers. They carry heavy glass baubles without sagging, and the gaps between tiers give decorations room to hang properly.
The trade is scent. A Nordmann is close to scentless. You are buying needle retention, and for most families that is the right deal.
Best for: decorating early, heavy ornaments, homes with children or pets.
Norway Spruce
The traditional Christmas tree. The one Prince Albert put candles on, the one in Trafalgar Square, and the one that actually smells like Christmas.
Classic conical shape, deep forest green, full right down to the trunk. The scent is sharp, resinous pine and it fills a house in a way nothing else does.
It drops. The needles are thinner and less waxy than a Nordmann's, so they dry out faster. A well kept Norway Spruce holds around three weeks. Put it up in mid December rather than late November, water it daily, and keep it off the radiator.
It is also cheaper, because it grows to 6ft in five or six years where a Nordmann takes ten.
Best for: scent, tradition, and anyone happy to decorate a little later.
Fraser Fir
A narrow, dense tree with blue-green needles and a citrus scent. Needle retention is good, close to a Nordmann. The slim shape makes it popular in flats and narrow rooms where a wide tree simply will not fit.
It is the official White House tree more often than any other, if that sways you.
We do not stock the Fraser Fir. If you want that combination of strong needle hold and sturdy branches, the Nordmann Fir is a great alternative and it is the closest tree we sell.
Noble Fir
A handsome tree with blue-green needles that sit up off the branch, leaving clear gaps between the tiers. Florists love it, because those gaps are perfect for hanging ornaments where they will actually be seen.
Good needle retention and a rich scent. Usually one of the more expensive trees.
We do not sell the Noble Fir. For strong, well-spaced branches that display heavy decorations well, the Nordmann Fir is a great alternative.
Blue Spruce
Striking and silvery blue, with stiff branches that hold weight well and a good scent.
The needles are genuinely sharp. Decorating a Blue Spruce is a job for gloves, and it is not the tree for a house with toddlers or a curious cat.
We do not stock it. If you want a traditional spruce with the scent to match, the Norway Spruce is a great alternative.
Korean Fir
The rare one. Dark green needles with silver undersides that give the tree a shimmer, and if you are lucky, small purple cones sitting upright on the branches.
Excellent needle retention, soft needles, and a fresh forest scent. Hard to find and usually expensive.
We no longer sell the Korean Fir. For a premium tree with the same excellent needle hold and soft needles, the Nordmann Fir is a great alternative.
Pot grown Christmas trees
Not a cut tree at all. A pot grown tree is alive, roots and all, and ours run about 2ft to 3ft.
Keep it cool, keep the soil damp, and limit it to two weeks indoors. Then put it back outside and it can come back next year, and the year after.
Be careful what you buy. A genuinely pot grown tree was raised in its pot with an intact root system. A merely potted tree was dug up from a field and pushed into a pot, losing most of its roots, and it will often die within the year.
Best for: flats, small spaces, and anyone who would rather not cut a tree down.
Shop pot grown Christmas trees or read our potted tree care guide.
So which type of Christmas tree should you buy?
If you want to put your tree up early and forget about it, buy a Nordmann Fir. It holds its needles longer than anything else, its branches are strong, and its needles are soft. It is the safe answer and it is why most of Britain buys one.
If the smell of pine is what Christmas means to you, buy a Norway Spruce and put it up a bit later.
If you want something alive that goes back outside in January, buy a pot grown tree and accept that it will be small.
Whatever you choose, the care is the same. Cut an inch off the trunk, get it straight into water, check the water every single day, and keep it away from the radiator.
Types of Christmas tree: FAQs
Which type of Christmas tree drops the fewest needles?
The Nordmann Fir. Its waxy needles hold moisture, and a watered one lasts four to five weeks.
Which Christmas tree smells the strongest?
The Norway Spruce. Nothing else comes close.
What is the most popular Christmas tree in the UK?
The Nordmann Fir, by a long way.
Which Christmas tree is best for a small room?
A 5ft tree, or a pot grown tree if you want something alive. See our Christmas tree size guide.
Which Christmas tree is safest for children and pets?
The Nordmann Fir. Its needles are soft and blunt rather than sharp.
Read our complete guide to real Christmas trees, or choose your tree. Delivery is free.