There is one tree that is most recognized as a Christmas tree; the Douglas fir. The Douglas fir is not even a true fir, it is unrelated to the true species of fir tree. Take a drive along the west coast of the United States and you are sure to see a Noble fir. These trees can be found in Washington, California, Oregon and even parts of Canada. Since Oregon is the number one seller of Christmas trees both nationwide and internationally its no surprise the Douglas fir is a staple of the Christmas tree industry. The noble is a tough tree that can grow in a variety of climates. While there are many variants of this type of tree most of them are not used for Christmas tree sales. The primary species of Noble fir can be found all along the Rocky Mountains and is sold in most places.
Drive through all of the old growth forests in Oregon, Washington and California and you will many Douglas fir trees growing naturally. The Douglas is an amazing survivor and has a hardy, thick bark that allows it to survive small and moderate fires, which are common in those hot western states. Many of the forests that still grow Douglas fir’s naturally have been around for thousands of years. Only the famous Redwood trees out live the Douglas fir.
When you look at a Douglas fir you will notice it has a feel of strength and pride to it. The branches have a slight droop to them but are very rough and thick. The needles of this tree are a dark green and have an almost overpowering scent to them. The Native Americans would crush these needles up and use them for a variety of purposes. Because of their height most of the sun is directed at the very tops of these trees which is why their branches and their cones hang low. At the end of each summer the cones will release their seeds and continue the life cycle. These cones will hang on for several more months until this process is repeated.
For over 100 years the Douglas fir has been used as the main species of Christmas tree. The forests in this part of the nation are extremely dense and originally harvesting for Christmas use was from these forests. As environmental concerns grew so did the amount of trees planted and grown in a controlled environment. Today most Christmas trees that reach the market are grown in either a farm style or a controlled forest. Thanks to modern agricultural techniques and due diligence growers can reduce diseases, pests which will add to the trees shape and beauty.
Source: www.articletrader.com
