Christmas Trees

Revised February 2024.

Overview

In the United States, Christmas trees are an important part of Christian Christmas celebrations and of the national winter holiday.

Christmas trees have been commercially sold in the United States since about 1850, when most were cut from forests. Midway through the last century, tree farms began to appear, and now most Christmas trees are grown on farms.

Production

There are over 16,000 Christmas tree farms in the United states stretching over 292,050 acres. In 2022, 14.5 million Christmas trees were cut down from 15 million in 2017 (USDA NASS).

Christmas Trees are grown in all 50 U.S. states. The top five tree-producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Washington, and Pennsylvania. In 2022, there were 292,050 acres of land in the United States in Christmas tree production, down from the 295,162 acres of land in 2017 (USDA NASS).

The best-selling species are Fraser fir, Douglas fir, Noble fir and, followed by Balsam fir and Scotch pine. North Carolina is the leading producer of Fraser fir and Oregon is the leading producer of both Noble fir and Douglas fir (USDA NASS).

Almost all trees require pruning management (shearing) to attain the proper branch and fascicle (twig/needle) density and a proper cone-shaped Christmas tree shape. Plantation production is the best system for delivering the regularly scheduled pruning, water management and general care necessary to produce the highest-quality product. 

Maturity for harvest usually is determined after the trees reach six to seven feet in height. Christmas trees often are “baled,” tied or similarly wrapped to protect the branches and retain the shape and overall quality of the tree during shipping.

National, Regional and State Christmas Tree Associations

National Christmas Tree Association
Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington)
Southern (Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi)
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin

 

Sources

Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), FAS, USDA.
National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA).
Census of Horticultural Specialties (2019), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA
Census of Agriculture (2022), National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), USDA
United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees, Ag Marketing Service, USDA, 1989.