With the discerning tastes of today’s consumers, the demand for realistic Christmas trees has grown. In order to achieve this realistic effect, artificial plastic polymers are placed into prepared molds that mimic the needles and branches of actual living trees. The resulting artificial Christmas trees are not only more realistic but provide the needed ambiance without the hassle of a real tree.
Most artificial trees are based on hardwood pines found in nature, which are cultivated by tree-growing states all over North America. They are as follows:
- North America, General – Scots Pine, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Virgina Pine, Eastern White Pine.
- Alabama – Eastern White Pine, Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress
- Florida – Sand pine, Spruce Pine
Among these states, New England has characterized itself as one of the premiere cultivating regions of quality Christmas trees. Their main pool consists of two species, the Eastern White Pine and Red Pine.
Named for the silvery sheen of its needles, the Eastern White Pine reaches heights of up to 150 feet. It can be recognized by the characteristic growth of its foliage, namely in groups of five fascicles. They are also characterized by their male and female pine cones, as determined by length. These Christmas trees shed a pollen that has a unique yellow hue.
In contrast to its companion species, these trees are recognized by the growth of their branches. Tree limbs growing from the approximate middle of a pine’s trunk moving in an upward fashion to form a clump of branches designates it as a Norway Spruce. Instead of five fascicles, these Christmas trees only have two. It is so named due to the reddish hue of its trunk.
Known for its booming Christmas trees industry, New England is also a distributor. Along with other export states and regions, it ships a variety of trees all across the country and even the world. Some of the top exporting states include: Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington. They ship to various locales, mostly non-tree growing communities and countries that lack the capacity to grow their own crop.
In comparison, artificial Christmas trees are also making their way up the industrial ladder. More and more people desire these trees for their ease of use, low cost, and ability to mimic their real counterparts to such an exacting degree.
Whether you purchase a real pine tree or one that’s made of plastic, it’s always important to remember what they stand for: the love and joy brought by the holiday spirit!
