Often referred to as evergreens, Christmas trees include different species of firs, spruces and pines, all of which stay green year round. These trees are grown and harvested in 45 different states.
Across the country, over 300,000 acres are dedicated to growing Christmas trees. In 2018, more than 32 million Christmas trees were purchased to display in homes and public areas throughout the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Today, 98% of Christmas trees are grown on farms, and unlike artificial trees made from plastics, real Christmas trees can be recycled to provide benefits to the environment.
A Christmas tree can take up to 15 years to grow to 6 feet tall, so for each tree harvested, Christmas tree farmers plant one to three more seeds. On average, trees are harvested at about seven years old.
Scroll through the slideshow to learn 13 things you probably didn't know about Christmas trees.
