Life style / Christmas Trees Glossary

Acicular: Needlelike.

Afghan Pine: Pinus oldarica - soft, short needles with sturdy branches; open appearance; mild fragrance; keeps well; grown in Texas; native to Afghanistan, Russia & Paskistan

Angiosperm: Means 'enclosed seeds' and identifies trees usually known as hardwoods.

Arizona Cypress: The Arizona cypress is a steeple shaped tree with a pale-green to gray-green color. The leaves are extremely tiny and quite plentiful. They lay close to the branchlet surface in a scale like . . . View Full Definition

Austrian Pine: Pinus nigra - dark green needles, 4 to 6 inches long; retains needles well; moderate fragrance.

Balsam Fir: First described in 1768, balsam fir is a medium-sized tree generally reaching 40-60 feet in height and 1-1 1/2 feet in diameter. It exhibits a relatively dense, dark-green, pyramidal crown w . . . View Full Definition

Black Hills Spruce: Pinus glauca var.densata - green to blue-green needles; 1/3'' to ¼'' long; stiff needles may be difficult to handle for small children.

Blue Ice Cypress: A cultivar of the Arizona cypress, this silvery-blue tree has a citrus aroma and a narrow steeple shape. It's found in the Gulf states, Georgia, and South Carolina. The branches support smal . . . View Full Definition

Blue Spruce: Picea pungens - dark green to powdery blue; very stiff needles, ¾'' to 1 ½'' long; good form; will drop needles in a warm room; symmetrical; but is best among species for needle retention; b . . . View Full Definition

Bract: A thin leaf-like structure often extending past the cone scale on conifers.

Canaan Fir: Canaan (pronounced 'Ka-naan', with emphasis on the last syllable) is a relative newcomer to the Christmas tree market. It has many similarities to both Fraser and balsam firs in growth and a . . . View Full Definition

Carolina Sapphire Cypress: This southern dweller is naturally broad and has a strong scent of lemon and mint. It's very similar to the 'Blue Ice' cypress (and has similar drawbacks).

Colorado Blue Spruce: Colorado blue spruce, or blue spruce, is an attractive tree often used for Christmas trees or as ornamentals, particularly in the eastern United States and Europe. It is the official state t . . . View Full Definition

Concolor Fir: White fir, also commonly called concolor fir, is native to the western United States and may reach sizes of 130-150 ft. in height and 3 to 4 ft. in diameter. The oldest white firs may occasi . . . View Full Definition

Cone: Seed bearing structure of certain gymnosperms.

Conifer: A gymnosperm which bears cones.

Cultivar (cultivated variety): A unique form or type propagated and maintained for specific purposes.

Deciduous: Characteristic of leaves dropping in the fall.

Deodara Cedar: Cedrus deodara - short, bluish-green needles; branches become pendulous at the tips; native to Himalayas; Deodara wood in Asia was used to build temples. In ancient Egypt Dedodara wood was u . . . View Full Definition

Dioecious: Having only one sex per plant.

Douglas Fir: Douglas-fir is not related to the true firs. This wide ranging species grows from 70 to 250 feet tall. The branches are spreading to drooping, the buds sharply pointed and the bark is very t . . . View Full Definition

Drupe: A simple fleshy fruit which often has only one seed.

Eastern Red Cedar: The branches of the eastern redcedar are compact and form a pyramidal crown, except in older trees. The leaves are usually arranged in opposing pairs along the branchlets. They are a dark sh . . . View Full Definition

Eastern White Pine: Beginning with the British colonists, eastern white pine (or white pine) has proven to be one of the most important and most desirable species of North America. It is a truly magnificent tre . . . View Full Definition

Evergreen: Characteristic of retaining at least some leaves through the fall and winter.

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