Christmas Trees that Grow in Indiana
Nothing beats the joy of a fresh cut Christmas tree! Did you know that most christmas trees that are sold at store fronts or nurseries are usually not grown locally? The most popular and common Christmas tree is Fraser Fir. Most Fraser Firs are actually grown on the mountains of North Carolina. You can support local Indiana Christmas tree farms too! I am going to go over the best Christmas trees to grow in Indiana.
Fraser Fir does grow here, but they have difficulty with our hot and humid Summers and wet clay soils. For this reason most are grown in cooler climates and are shipped here like from the Appalachian Mountains or Canada.
Good alternative to Fraser Fir that is nearly indistinguishable is Canaan Fir
Canaan Fir (Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis)
More tolerant of humid and wet clay soils than Fraser Fir. Looks identical. Is a subspecies of Balsam Fir. Less likely to suffer late spring frost damage unlike Fraser and Balsam, as Canaan breaks bud much later. Tiny very soft needles. Very dense growth. Perfect shape. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-7
Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Scotch Pine is a very cold hardy tree. As a long term landscaping tree, it is not recommended. They are very versatile for different soils and climates, but suffer major disease in the long term. For short term as a Christmas tree (around 10 years) it is an excellent choice. Has longer needles than Fir that are somewhat sharp, but very dense growing making it perfect to shear into a beautiful Christmas tree. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-7
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)
Native to portions of Indiana primarily northern Indiana. Hardy throughout the state. Hot humid Summers don't bother this tree. The main thing that this tree hates is compacted soils and poor alkaline soils. White Pine gets chlorosis easily in alkaline soils and compacted clay soils. Make sure the soil is amended when planted, and if soil is alkaline to add soil acidifier to the soil. Very soft long needles that feel like a feather. They tend to drop older needles faster creating a less dense form. So it must be pruned more regularly than other trees in order to keep the desired dense shape.
Concolor Fir (Abies concolor)
Concolor Fir is not super common in the Eastern US yet, but is quickly gaining popularity as a Christmas tree and as a landscaping tree. Very popular out west though. Long needles that point outward and upward that resemble more of a Pine than a traditional Fir, but are not prickly at all. Gives off a citrusy aroma, and much stronger when crushed. The needles have a dark green to blue colored needle. The Blue usually stands out more than the green adding a frosted look. Since this tree is native on the Coastal mountains it is sensitive to compacted soils. Make sure the soil is amended to be well draining. Thankfully is more tolerant of alkaline soils than other Conifers making this tree more adaptable to Indiana.
Virginia Pine
Not common as a Christmas tree in Indiana, more common in the South but still not overly popular choice. Native to the Appalachian Mountains parts of the South and Southern Indiana. Even though it grows in the South it is hardy even up through Northern Indiana. Hardy to -30°F. Short needles similar to Scotch Pine than compared to most Pines add a more compacted look that is suited for a Christmas tree. While not overly picky with pH, it performs best in well draining acidic soils, but will be forgiving in slightly alkaline.
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