Did you know? The state of North Carolina is the second-highest producer of Christmas trees in the United States. Every year, between five and six million Christmas trees (primarily Frasier firs) are harvested across the state, then make their way into homes throughout the region to be trimmed with tinsel and ornaments.
North Carolina Christmas trees don’t just decorate homes across the region, they’re often seen in some of the country’s most prominent positions. In 2022, a seventy-eight-foot red spruce from Pisgah National Forest traveled to Washington, DC, to become the official Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol, and North Carolina trees have been chosen for the White House several times.
2024 was no easy year for the state as Hurricane Helene pummeled the region in September, flooding tons of towns in its wake. Roads were washed out, making access to the farms nearly impossible, and trees were taken down not long before harvest.
Where to See NC Trees
In 2024, White House staff ventured to Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, a small town that recorded a whopping 31 inches of rainfall during Helene. They selected a 20-foot-tall Fraser fir that will be used to decorate the Blue Room that season.
One of the state’s most well-known farms, David Pittmans Christmas Tree Farm also in Newland, was able to fulfill its orders, specifically for the 35-foot tree that is raised every year at Biltmore’s banquet hall. The stunning behemoth of a tree made its appearance in late October when the estate reopened.
How To Support the Region
If you’re looking for ways to support the farms of Western North Carolina, consider buying your Christmas tree from the region. It will help these hard-hit areas continue getting back on their feet and keeping family-run businesses afloat. Some will be open for in-person shopping and a few even have mail-order businesses like Appalachian Evergreens in Boone. If you don’t have room for a full-sized tree, garlands and wreaths are another option as are gift cards for future use.
Family-owned Avery Farms, however, was hard-hit and is accepting donations while still offering garlands and trees. The farm also has tree lots they work with in Crystal River, Florida; Augusta, Georgia; and Helena, Alabama, where local shoppers can support them in person. Mistletoe Meadows also has lots in Asheboro, Pinehurst, and Garner.
For more information, visit the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association website.
Looking for more? Meet Larry Smith, a Christmas tree farmer in Newland, North Carolina, in a special by Where the Food Comes From here.
