Almost every store you go into this time of year is selling Christmas trees. Most are either cut trees or artificial ones, but if you look around, you can also find living Christmas trees. They come in many sizes and also many varieties. After having seen so many trees die from lack of proper growing conditions, I decided to do some quick research to see if what the stores are selling will do well in our area after they are planted.
Let me start with the Afhgan or Eldarica pine. This is the type of tree pictured above. It was one of the first trees my family planted after moving to our current home almost nine years ago. We bought it as a living Christmas tree. It was about three feet tall and came in a five gallon container. Not a very impressive tree if you have a large room, but we had a very small living room at the time and it was perfect. I honestly had not done my homework previous to this purchase and just picked it because I liked the way it looked. It seems that I got lucky and the Eldarica is doing great. It has grown to almost twenty feet tall and is a beautiful addition to our yard. It is recommended as a good plant for the area on the Texas A&M web site (http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/ViewAllTrees.aspx), but Howard Garrett has a different opinion to offer. He states on his web site that the tree is prone to root rot if it gets too much rain and said that most of the Eldaricas in East Texas are dying out. West Texas is ideal because it is so dry. He says they will not do well at all in irrigated areas. Here is a link to the page where he discusses the tree: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Eldarica-Pine_vq935.htm. Maybe it’s just the dry conditions we have had lately that have made this tree so happy in our yard, or the particular soil in our area. Although I will definitely keep in mind Mr. Garrett’s cautious remarks, I would be inclined to purchase this tree again based on my own experiences.
On that same page, Howard Garrett does recommend the Italian Stone Pine as an attractive alternative. These trees are not native to Texas, but do seem to do well here. He states that they are hard to find, but I found them today at the Home Depot in Sherman. I was tempted to pick one up and give it a try and may go back and get one later this week. They are hardy trees that also produce an edible pine nut and have been cultivated since prehistoric times. A tree that gives back to it’s caretaker is always a winner in my book!
Other trees I made note of in stores lately were both the Leyland and Arizona Cypress trees. It seems both will grow in this part of the state, but the Leyland does like it a little bit dry. Well drained soil is a must for this tree. The Leyland Cypress also likes full to partial sun and the Arizona Cypress prefers full sun. Both make good screens and are generally happy in NE Texas.
I’m sure there are many more varieties of living Christmas trees being offered for sale in nurseries in the area. The few that I’ve mentioned all seem to do well here (with the possible exception of the Eldarica pine), and all make lovely additions to the yard when planted with care and consideration of the proper area. If you see a different species that you like, just look it up and see how it does in our area. It only takes a few minutes and could make the difference between a tree that will give you enjoyment for many years to come and one that will struggle to survive in our environment.
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