The
Christmas Tree:
RELATED SITES
| Noble
and Fraser Fir production in the USA Noble fir is rapidly becoming the most important species grown as a Christmas tree in the PNW (Nanny, 1986 & 1987). This species grows naturally in the Cascade Mountains and isolated locations with in the Oregon Coast Range. Noble fir grows naturally at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,500 meters above sea level and can only successfully be grown within the western portions of the PNW.
|
|
| Efforts to grow this species outside of its
native range have met with limited success, especially in the Lake States
and northeastern United States. Douglas-fir and noble fir are the most
important conifers grown as Christmas trees in the PNW. Douglas-fir
accounts for about 45% of the total production while noble fir’s share
of the production has increased from about 5% in 1969 to 45% (5.9 million
or about 17% of the total U.S. production) of the harvested trees today
(Douglas, 1983, Proebsting, 1983, and www.nwtrees.com ).
|
|
| The production of Fraser fir in North Carolina has also increased dramatically. Fraser fir is closely related to balsam fir and is native to high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. Most of the plantations that produce Fraser fir in North Carolina are located at elevations below 1200 meters and thus outside the areas of native stands. In 1970, 50% of the Christmas trees produced in North Carolina were Fraser firs. Fraser fir accounts for about 96% (7.2 million or about 20% of the total U.S. production) of the production today. |
|
|
|
Typically, production of noble
and Fraser fir Christmas trees requires a total of 12-15 years. Seed are
sown in seedbeds and allowed to develop for 2 years. The resulting
seedlings are transplanted to 'line out' nursery beds for one to three
additional years. Thus after 3 to
5 years, trees are large enough to be transplanted to the plantation,
where they grow into a 6- to 7-foot tall Christmas tree in about 6 to 9
yr.
|
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | References © Copyright 1999 by the American Phytopathological Society. All rights reserved. |
|
