How Long Does It Take To Grow A Christmas Tree?

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Have you ever been tempted to grow your own Christmas tree and wondering how long it takes? Or maybe you’re pondering the thought that you could start a small Christmas tree farm?

If you’ve got land to spare then growing Christmas trees is a great way to make use of it, but you need to be aware that it can be a long-term commitment.

The trees commonly used for our festive decorations are normally a rapidly growing variety, but even the fastest-growing tree will take time before it is big enough to use.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Christmas Tree

There are many different types of Christmas trees, and each variety has a different growth rate. The slow-growing Balsam Fir grows 12″ per year, whereas the fast-growing Leyland Cypress can grow over 24″ each year. In the right conditions, some Christmas trees can grow 4ft each year.

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How fast your Christmas tree grows depends on the stage you purchase it at. Christmas trees have several stages of growth; the seed stage (which is slow), then a growth spurt (from sapling), and then the growth rate slows down again once it reaches mature height.

Be aware that many Christmas tree varieties grow to a great height, so you’ll see significant growth for quite a few years. They can be shaped by pruning, to some extent, but you may lose that traditional “Christmas tree look” if you need to prune the top.

You can significantly increase the tree’s growth rate by purchasing a sapling, versus growing it from seed.

Let’s take a look at some of the different varieties of Christmas trees and how long they take to grow.

How Long Do Different Types of Christmas Tree Take to Grow?

young christmas trees ready to be planted in the garden — Look at Christmas trees that are native to your area, if possible. They’re the varieties that will adjust to your climate the best, and grow the fastest!

Many people don’t realize that different types of trees grow at different speeds! And nowadays, Christmas trees come in many different varieties, all with specific desirable traits.

Each variety of tree has very specific growing conditions in which it will thrive; a tree planted in the wrong place will not grow at the optimum rate.

Let’s take a look at the most common types of Christmas trees and find out how long they take to grow!

Balsam Fir

This tree is most commonly grown in areas with colder winters and cool summers, such as the eastern U.S.

The balsam fir is one of the easiest Christmas trees to grow, as they require little maintenance to keep them looking perfect.

Growth Rate – Slow; 12 inches per year

The Jonsteen Company Living Christmas Tree | Seed Grow Kit

Douglas Fir

The Douglas fir prefers a milder climate to the Balsam fir and is popular in the northwest U.S.

This variety is particularly good for holding its needles after cutting, avoiding the dreaded needle drop! It is also naturally cone-shaped and needs little maintenance.

Douglas fir is a popular choice for Christmas tree buyers, as it has a deep blue-green color and dense needles. It also has the classic Christmas tree scent that we all adore!

Growth Rate – Medium; 13 to 24 inches per year

Scotch Pine

The Scotch pine has a deep taproot, making it able to thrive in areas prone to drought. However, it does need regular trimming as it will not normally grow in a natural cone shape.

The best thing about the Scotch pine is that it hangs onto its needles for a long time, even without water.

Growth Rate – Medium; 12 to 24 inches per year

Leyland Cypress

This sapless tree is commonly grown in the southern states of the U.S. The Leyland cypress is a fast-growing variety of Christmas tree, with the young saplings shooting up by 3 to 4 feet per year in the right conditions.

Growth Rate – Fast; over 24 inches per year

Tips for the Best Christmas Tree Variety

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Christmas tree types – in the U.S alone, there are more than 35 commonly grown types of Christmas trees!

To see what type will grow best in your area and climate it is worth asking around to see what other farmers and homesteaders grow.

Tree saplings can be quite expensive, plus there is a large time commitment when you decide to allocate a piece of land for trees. It is vital that you pick the right variety at the start to give your trees the best possible chance of thriving.

As you can see, many factors affect how long it takes for a Christmas tree to grow!

The most important thing is that you pick the right tree type for your soil type and climate. There is no point expecting a fast-growing Leyland cypress to thrive in a cold climate, and a Balsam fir will not thank you for being planted in a warm area.

Christmas Tree Growth Rate FAQ

If you’re thinking about growing Christmas trees, we’re sure you have plenty of questions! Here is our guide to how fast Christmas trees grow, and everything else you might want to know.

How Fast Does a Christmas Tree Grow?

Trees do not grow at a continuous rate throughout their lifetime. So, when thinking about how fast a Christmas tree will grow, we need to look at the different life stages.

The first stage is when the tree germinates from a seed and grows into a sapling. This is a long and slow process, and it can take up to 4 years for a tree to get to just 1 foot tall. Now you will understand why a lot of Christmas tree growers prefer to purchase saplings rather than grow trees from seed!

The second stage is when the tree will grow at the fastest rate. Once the sapling is planted out, it will start to put on a huge growth spurt – pretty much like when children hit their teenage years! This means that, in the right conditions, a Christmas tree could grow up to 4 feet in one year.

As a tree gets closer to its mature height, the rate of growth will start to slow down. Most of the varieties commonly used for Christmas trees are actually trees that will grow to a great height, so if left unchecked they will grow at a fast rate for several years!

How Long Does It Take to Grow a 5ft Christmas Tree?

People in smaller homes very commonly opt for a 5-foot Christmas tree. This is one of the most popular sizes of Christmas tree, as it will fit easily into the average family home. But how long does it take for a Christmas tree to reach this size?

Fast-growing varieties may reach 5 feet in just four years after being planted out as a sapling. Slower-growing trees will take longer than this, but they are more likely to have a full, dense shape.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a 7ft Christmas Tree?

Families in larger homes may decide to get a bigger tree, with 7-foot trees one of the second most popular sizes. These taller trees are also often the festive tree of choice for businesses such as restaurants and food stores.

A 7-foot Christmas tree will take between 8 and 12 years to grow from a sapling. If you are growing from seed, expect to add at least 3 years onto this timeframe.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Christmas Tree on a Christmas Tree Farm?

If you’re thinking of allocating some of your land to start a Christmas tree farm, this can be a good way to bring in some extra cash for your homestead. Once you have bought your saplings the main cost of running a Christmas tree farm is in the manual labor, so if you can do the work yourself then you should make a healthy profit!

From the point at which you plant your saplings, you should have enough decent-sized trees to start selling them after eight years. By this time, you will have a range of trees between 5 and 7 feet tall, but some will still be smaller than this.

Expect to replace about an eighth of your trees with new saplings each year to ensure a continuous supply. You will also need to control weeds under your trees, and undertake regular pruning and shaping to create perfect conical Christmas trees.

Can You Keep a Christmas Tree Alive All Year?

If a Christmas tree has been cut down above the root, then unfortunately that is the end of life for that tree. It will last plenty long enough in your home to give you a glorious festive display, but once the new year arrives it will start to drop its needles and fade away.

But what if you want a year-round Christmas tree – is there an alternative option?
Nowadays it is much easier to get your hands on a Christmas tree with the roots still attached. This means that, once Christmas is over and done with, you can plant your tree outside where it will hopefully thrive.

Alternatively, plant your rooted Christmas tree in a pot when you purchase it. This option works well for smaller trees, which can live year-round in your yard in its pot. Then all you need to do is carry it in when it is time to put your decorations up!

The only problem with this system is that your Christmas tree will continue to grow, and it can get pretty large. Regular pruning will help to keep your tree in shape, but after several years you may need to abandon this tree and start again with a new small one.

Do you grow your own Christmas trees? What sort of growth rate have you seen? What’s your favorite variety of Christmas tree? Let us know in the comments!

Want to know more about growing Christmas trees, either for yourself or as a commercial Christmas tree farm? Check out this great book below!

Top Pick

Growing Christmas Trees for Pleasure and Profit

Christmas Trees for Pleasure and Profit is for anyone who enjoys being and working outdoors and is seeking a profitable hobby or small business venture.

Robert Wray has updated this fourth edition to include the latest techniques and tools for harvesting trees, new methods of transport, the most recent data on herbicides, and advice on how to run a Christmas-tree business today.

Get More Info

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12/25/2021 12:34 am GMT

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