What is the difference between a Canaan fir and a Fraser fir?

Canaan firs are the best of both worlds. They have the heartiness and branch-strength of a Fraser, but the conical shape and rich green needles of a Balsam. However, their smell is milder, and in most areas, these trees will be more difficult to find than both other options.

How fast do Canaan fir grow?

1-2 ft per year
The Canaan is a medium growing (1-2 ft per year) evergreen. Its needles are about 1 inch long and has a nice green color. It does not shed its needles but holds them for 10 years or longer.

Which Christmas tree is the easiest to grow?

As a rule, cypress and cedar trees are the fastest growing Christmas tree varieties. Specifically Leyland Cypress and Eastern Redcedar. Both of these varieties can grow from a seedling to a height of 5–7 feet in 5 years with careful cultivation. These species are best suited for warm regions.

How do I identify a Fraser fir tree?

A distinguishing feature of the Fraser fir is that it has straight branches that are angled upwards. The foliage forms a conical shape at the top of the tree. Each branch has twigs with short green to dark-green needles that grow in 2 rows. These give off a mild turpentine-like fragrance when crushed.

Why are Fraser firs more expensive?

These trees are more expensive than pines because they grow slower, however the extra expense is worth it. Firs have stiff branches that hold heavy decorations, their needles won’t shed even if it misses a watering or twos, and the scent will make the whole house smell like Christmas.

How do I identify my Canaan Fir?

Canaan fir is an attractive medium-sized tree generally reaching 40-55 feet in height and 20-25 feet in width. It exhibits a relatively dense, pyramidal crown with a slender spire-like tip that often imparts a formal appearance.

How fast do Fraser firs grow per year?

Fraser fir only puts on one flush of growth each year. In an outdoor nursery bed, it can take five years to progress from seed to a one-foot-tall transplant that is large enough to survive in a Christmas tree field. In the first growing season, the tiny Fraser fir seedling only grows 1-inch tall.

How long does it take for a Fraser fir to grow to 7 feet tall?

Average-Growing Christmas Trees Fraser fir grows throughout the southern Appalachian region in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, in North Carolina, the Fraser fir “requires from 7 to 10 years in the field to produce a 6-7 feet tree.”

How long does it take for a seedling to grow into a Christmas tree?

It’s important to know that reaching the size of a full grown Christmas tree from a seed or seedling takes anywhere from four to 10 years, so this will be a long-term project. If you’re still interested, here’s our guide to growing your own tree for a future holiday.

Which tree makes the best Christmas tree?

Fir Trees The species of fir trees considered best for Christmas purposes include Nordmann Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Douglas Fir, Spanish Fir, and Balsam Fir. These types of fir trees are suitable since they have aromatic foliage.

How can you tell a Fraser fir from a balsam?

Balsams grow faster meaning their branch strength is less than a Fraser, however Balsams are often “fuller”, with more, closer growing branches. Unlike the Fraser, Balsams have “soft” needles. This means that the needles lay flat so when you grab a branch with your hand, it’s not sharp.

What is the difference between Canaan fir and Fraser fir?

Canaan fir does combine many of the characteristics of balsam fir with better needle retention of Fraser fir. It is sometimes described as a hybrid between balsam fir and Fraser fir, but is actually a specific seed source from balsam fir from the Canaan Valley of West Virginia.

What is the scientific name of Canaan fir?

Canaan fir is so-named because several of the original trees with the intermediate morphology were identified from a limited area in West Virginia, generally referred to as the Canaan Valley. Taxonomically, Canaan fir is considered the same as bracted balsam fir and has the scientific name of Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis.

Can Canaan fir be used as a Christmas tree?

The primary pests of Canaan fir include balsam twig aphid, spider mites, balsam wooly adelgid, and deer. In recent years, considerable interest has developed in using Canaan fir as a Christmas tree species. Unfortunately, it’s use as a landscape ornamental has gone largely unnoticed.

Is the Fraser fir a good tree to buy?

“The Fraser fir is the Cadil­lac. It’s su­pe­rior in terms of nee­dle re­ten­tion, so the cus­tomer wants it. Es­pe­cially those peo­ple who have it up for five weeks.” When peo­ple think of bal­sam trees ver­sus Fraser fir, the usual di­chotomy is the pleas­ant fra­grance of the bal­sam, and the long-last­ing nee­dle re­ten­tion of the Fraser.