Christmas trees can be several types of evergreen . Here are our favorites for holiday decorating .

Scott Little

It ’s hard to puzzle the perfume of a overbold   Christmas tree   fulfill your domicile . But exactly what type of tree is a Christmas tree ? These tree are typicallyevergreen conifer , but several different coinage are popular for embellish out in   mirthfully twinkle lights and shiny bangle . Although the region you live plays a large part in   thetypes of evergreen treeslocally available , the most common ones include fir , pine , and spruce , primarily because they are fairly prosperous to originate .

decorated real christmas tree in living room

Credit:Scott Little

Whether you choose to cut one down yourself or justpick from pre - cut Christmas trees , it can be a bit confusing to take from a clump of trees that all seem to look the same . You really ca n’t go wrong no matter what you take , but here are our favored type of   Christmas trees   and the advantages each one crack .

For a Full Shape: Douglas Fir

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Boasting a pyramidic chassis and blue - light-green colour ,   Douglas fir   ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) is along - lasting cutting treethat holds its needles well . It ’s one of the most popular type of Christmas trees , available in most area . We love how lush and full it looks , thanks to its compact branches , and its inviolable evergreen plant scent .

For the Best Scent: Grand Fir

With glistening , bicolor needles — bright immature on top , white - strip underneath — grand fir ( Abies grandis)makes an elegant backcloth for scintillate Christmas light . We love that its needles are softer to the ghost than some other pop fir , and give the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree a fine - textured appearance . This species is maybe the most fragrant among firs , boast a strong , zesty smell for sure tomake your household olfactory property like the holiday .

For the Classic Shape: Noble Fir

This beautiful fir ( Abies procera ) has well - spaced limb deal with upwards curved , blueish - green phonograph needle . The dense phonograph needle of the noble fir are n’t as prickly as some of its cousins , though its tight branch can stillsupport stack of ornaments and lights . Noble firs have a similar Great Pyramid - shape to Douglas firs , but we think they have an even more Greco-Roman Christmas tree appearing with an almost a layered flavor to the arm .

For Heavy Ornaments: Fraser Fir

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A richly fragrant evergreen plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , Fraser fir(Abies   fraseri ) has bicolor needles — deeply green on top , silver - white below . It is more cone - shape than pyramidal so thisChristmas tree type gibe well in a small-scale roomor tucked in a close corner . If you have a accumulation of heavy ornaments or   tidy sum of lights   and garlands , the Fraser is a respectable choice because it has very sturdy branches .

For a Tidy Tree: Scotch Pine

Kritsada Panichgul

Its conical physique , piney odor , and fantabulous needle retention make Scotchpine(Pinus   sylvestris ) a popular cut tree for the holiday . The balmy light-green phonograph needle rest on the branches even if the tree gets ironic , so you wo n’t be left with lots of   cleanup   if you block to irrigate it for a day or two . They often have somewhat crooked torso , which can be a asset if you like atree with a little personality .

For a Minimalist Look: Eastern White Pine

Carson Downing

A sassy , green color and tiered ramify structure make easterly blank pine ( Pinus strobus ) desirable of yuletide circumstance . Its retentive , sparse needles leave in a more texturized Christmas tree , and it ’s also a democratic choice forfresh greenery and lei . We specially love a bloodless true pine for a minimalist Christmas tree look — their flexible ramification are n’t the best forsupporting heavy ornament , but you’re able to still   beautify them out with garlands   and light source .

For a Distinctive Look: Eastern Red Cedar

Native to the eastern one-half of North America , easterly red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana ) earn a lovely cut tree with plenty of nubby charm and a pungent fragrance . It has a very distinctive show compared with themore   traditional Christmas tree diagram lookbecause of its texturized needles book in feathery - look Ralph Johnson Bunche .

If you bring an Eastern red cedar base for Christmas , keep a snug eye on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree stand . These trees can dry out out promptly so check that you ’re give it great deal of water .

Before you point out toshop for your Christmas treethis class , keep in creative thinker the advantage of the different species you ’ll encounter . see   which feature are most authoritative to you   to help narrow down your selection , but bang that whichever tree you wreak abode is sure to fill your house with beauty and olfactory property throughout the holiday season .

branches of douglas fir pseudotsuga menziesii

Credit:seven75 / Getty Images

Grand Fir evergreen on stand

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Noble fir branches

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

fraser fir branches

Credit:photohampster / Getty Images

closeup scotch pine branch

Credit:Kritsada Panichgul

eastern white pine branches and needles

Credit:Carson Downing

eastern red cedar

Credit: Denny Schrock