Some Christmas tree facts and trivia.

  • Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since about 1850.
  • Until fairly recently, all Christmas trees came from the forest.
  • In 2002, Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, and Virginia were the top Christmas tree producing states. Oregon was the leading producer of Christmas trees - 6.5 million in 2002.
  • The best selling trees are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir, Virginia pine, balsam fir and white pine.
  • More than 2,000 trees are usually planted per acre. On an average 1,000-1,500 of these trees will survive. In the North, maybe, 750 trees will remain. Almost all trees require shearing to attain the Christmas tree shape. At six to seven feet, trees are ready for harvest. It takes six to ten years of fighting heavy rain, wind, hail and drought to get a mature tree.
  • In the United States, there are more than 21, 000 Christmas tree growers.
  • In the United States, there are around a half billion Real Christmas Trees growing on U.S. farms.
  • In the United States, there are more than 12,000 cut-your-own farms.
  • In 1979, the National Christmas Tree was not lighted except for the top ornament. This was done in honor of the American hostages in Iran.
  • Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has given a Christmas tree to the President and first family.
  • The first decorated Christmas tree was in Riga, Latvia in 1510.
  • Recycled trees have been used to make sand and soil erosion barriers and been placed in ponds for fish shelter.
  • The first Christmas tree retail lot in the United States was started in 1851 in New York by Mark Carr.
  • Christmas trees remove dust and pollen from the air.
  • The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season occurred before the birth of Christ.
  • Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states including Hawaii and Alaska.
  • 98 percent of all Christmas trees are grown on farms.
  • In 1856 Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, was the first President to place a Christmas tree in the White House.
  • President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.
  • 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted this year.
  • You should not burn your Christmas tree in the fireplace; it can contribute to creosote buildup.
  • Artificial trees will last for six years in your home, but for centuries in a landfill.
  • Using small candles to light a Christmas tree dates back to the middle of the 17th century.
  • Thomas Edison's assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees in 1882.
  • Christmas tree lights were first mass produced in 1890.
  • In the first week, a tree in your home will consume as much as a quart of water per day.
  • 93% of real Christmas tree consumers recycle their tree in community recycling programs, their garden or backyard.
  • In the United States, there are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs.
  • An acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
  • The first printed reference to Christmas trees appeared in Germany in 1531.
  • In 2002, 446,996 acres of land in the United States were in Christmas Tree production.
  • 2-3 seedlings are planted for every harvested Christmas tree. In 2004 sixty million Christmas tree seedlings were planted by Christmas tree farmers.

Source: National Christmas Tree Association, USDA Census of Agriculture