Christmas Trees at Hoyt Arboretum A Brief History of Christmas Trees Christmas Tree Tour 1 Nordman fir* (Abies Early Europeans used evergreen boughs to Nordmanniana) Native to S. Europe. decorate their homes at the winter solstice. A good tree for people with 1500s Christmas trees decorated in the town Hoyt allergies. Good needle retention. square in the capital of Latvia. According to 2 European Silver Fir (Abies alba) legend, Martin Luther first put a decorated tree Arboretum in the home. Once popular in Europe. Replaced A guide to popular Christmas trees in the by Nordman fir and Norway spruce. 1600s Trees commonly decorated with apples conifer collection at Hoyt Arboretum in Germany. 3 Douglas fir* (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Oregon native. The #2 1700s Edible ornaments on trees in Germany. Christmas tree in US, #1 in Oregon. First record of lit candles on trees in France. Soft, thin needles. 1800s Christmas trees introduced in US by German settlers. 4 Grand fir* (Abies Grandis) Oregon native. Flat needles. Great aroma 1846 Queen Victoria and family sketched and good needle retention. sitting around a Christmas tree, leading to its popularity in England. 5 Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Native to * 1851 First Christmas trees sold in US at a Tennessee. Similar to Balsam Fir. market in NY. 6 Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) Native 1853 First Christmas tree at the Whitehouse. to Canada and northeast US. Good needle retention and scent. 1882 First electric lights on a Christmas tree by Edward Johnson, protege of Thomas Edison. 7 Noble fir (Abies Procera) Oregon * 1890s Glass ornaments arrive in US from native. Stiff branches with upturned Germany. Larger trees become popular. needles. Nice form. Good needle retention. 1901 First Christmas tree farm in US. ______8 Sacred fir (Abies religiosa) Native to Mexico. Branches used for More information decoration. www.hoytarboretum.org whychristmas.com/customs/trees.shtml 9 Blue spruce (Picea pungens) www.christmas-tree.com/where.html Native to Rocky Mts. Nice form and www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/christmaslights.html good needle retention but prickly.
______* Christmas trees available in the Balsam Fir – Abies balsama Portland area.
10 Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) Native to western Himalayas. Called “California Christmas tree.” 11 Mexican white pine (Pinus ayacahuite) Native to Mexico. One variety called pino de navidad. 12 Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) Native to Oregon and California. Widely used in Christmas wreaths. 13 Scots pine* (Pinus sylvestris) Native to Europe. The #1 Christmas tree in the US. Great needle retention and scent. 14 Norway spruce (Picea abies) Native to Europe. The #1 Christmas tree in Britain. Nice form but sheds needles. 15 White spruce (Picea glauca) Native to northeast US and Canada. Good form. Poor needle retention. ______* Christmas trees available in the Portland area.