In the ranking of the most popular Christmas trees, the blue spruce and Nordmann fir compete head-to-head every year. Each of the two tree species boasts individual attributes. To make your choice easier, we have compiled the most important characteristics for you below.
Why choose a blue spruce as a Christmas tree?
The blue spruce as a Christmas tree impresses with its stable growth, bluish shimmering needles, pleasant scent and cheaper price than the Nordmann fir. However, their short shelf life and sharp needles are disadvantageous.
Blue spruce impresses in terms of price and appearance
If you have a Christmas tree up your sleeve that you can plant as a house tree in the garden after it's in the living room, you're well advised to go with the blue spruce. You can read about the other characteristics of a Picea pungens here:
- A sturdy pin dress with a blue shimmer
- A blue spruce exudes a pleasant scent
- Strong branches in a tiered arrangement hold even heavy tree decorations
- Cheaper in price than the Nordmann fir
The negative points are the rather short shelf life of 8 to 10 days. Without an adequate supply of water, the blue-gray leaves will crumble within a short time. In addition, the coarse, sharp needles sting painfully every time they come into contact with the skin. Blue spruce is therefore less suitable for decorating a Christmas tree with children.
Nordmann fir scores with gentle elegance
If you are prepared to dig a little deeper into your pockets, your decision will be easier. Explore the convincing arguments for a Nordmann fir as a Christmas tree here:
- Evergreen tree with soft, flexible needles
- Branches do not secrete resin
- The sturdy branches even support heavy, real candles
- High needle strength ensures durability for weeks
Since the slow-growing Nordmann fir only reaches room height after more than 10 years, the tree is significantly more expensive to purchase than a blue spruce. In addition, Abies nordmanniana is not suitable for growing as a house tree, as it grows to enormous size over the years.
Sales figures speak for themselves
If you are still wavering between blue spruce or Nordmann fir as a Christmas tree, take a look at the sales figures with us. In 2016, the Nordmann fir ranked first with a whopping 80 percent share of sales. The blue spruce followed far behind at 15 percent.
Tip
Whether your choice for the Christmas tree is the blue spruce or the Nordmann fir, without an adequate supply of water, the trees will only last a few days. Water the root ball in the pot every 2 days or fill the tree stand with fresh water every day. In addition, you should ideally spray the needle dress several times a day with soft water.