11 Sustainable Christmas Tree Choices

Select a living Christmas tree as you’d choose plants for your garden―go with what you love, and have room for.

You can use the same tree in a container for four to seven years, depending on how fast it grows. If you intend to plant it outdoors eventually, choose a variety that thrives in your climate. And be sure that you have a sunny spot for it.

Look for landscape-grade trees (not sheared), in 5-, 7-, and 15-gallon cans.

Abies lasiocarpa ‘Glauca Compacta’. Sunset climate zones A2, A3; 1–9, 14–17.

Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’. Zones A1–A3; 1–11, 14–21.

Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’. Zones 3b–9, 14–24.

Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue’. Zones A2, A3; 1–10, 14–17.

Abies nordmanniana. Zones 1–11, 14–24.

Pinus heldreichii leucodermis. Zones 2–11, 14–24.

Picea pungens ‘The Blues’. Zones A2, A3; 1–10, 14–17.

Pinus parviflora ‘Blue Angel’. Zones 2–9, 14–24.

Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’. Best in zone 17.

Picea glauca albertiana ‘Conica’. Zones A2, A3; 1–7, 14–17.

Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’. Zones A2, A3; 1–10, 14–17.

• Plan ahead. Buy a variety that thrives in your zone. After the holidays, keep it in a container to reuse year after year, plant it in your garden, or donate it to a local park. If you plan to plant, make sure you have space to allow for the tree’s growth.
• Do not disturb. Leave the tree in its nursery container for at least the first Christmas. You don’t want to add transplant shock to the stress of an indoor stay.
• Limit its time inside. Display the tree indoors no longer than 10 days, keeping it away from heater vents, fireplaces, and drafts.
• Water regularly. The easiest method for live Christmas trees: Place ice cubes atop the soil. As they melt, they slowly release water, which is gradually absorbed by the roots.
• Take it outside. Most trees can live outdoors for several years in large containers. Water regularly, when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. When new growth starts in spring, feed with a granular, controlled-release fertilizer.

Shine theory

Go ahead, gild that little tree. But stick to ornaments in a single metallic finish for a polished outcome. Tuck in twigs spray-painted gold and doused with glitter for extra shimmer.

Tree: Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii leucodermis).

For those with a serious plant addiction, a tree hung with terrariums is reason for a Hallelujah Chorus. This conifer’s sturdy branches easily support the succulents, tillandsias, and activated charcoal that fill each orb.

Tree: Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue’).

Decor: Hanging sphere vases, $11; paxtongate.com.

Trade glass icicles for a sweeter variety: rock candies in bright colors, hung with embroidery thread wrapped around their wooden handles. Clear lights and a fiberclay pot keep the look unfussy.

Tree: Limber pine (Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’).

Decor: Rock candies, $12/set of 12; hammondscandies.com.

A trio of trees calls for simplicity—just one type of ornament on each. Felted yarn balls, thick wool yarn, and a string of lights give this grouping a touch of modern Scandinavian style.

Trees (from left): Korean fir (Abies koreana ‘Horstmann’s Silberlocke’); Dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca albertiana ‘Conica’); Dwarf blue subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa ‘Glauca Compacta’).

A tree looks even prettier in a basket: Place its trunk inside a bucket, well-secured with large rocks and filled with water, then place the bucket inside a burlap-lined basket.

Support a Forest Global ReLeaf, a tree planting program sponsored by American Forests, has planted more than a million conifer seedlings this past year in 14 reforestation projects around the West, including in areas ravaged by wildfires. For every $1 donation, American Forests (americanforests.org) plants a tree.

Send a seedling Give a gift tree that’ll keep on giving, and growing, at Mom and Dad’s place or in a friend’s yard. Seedlings of Colorado spruce, deodar cedar, or giant sequoia (about $25 each) are available from NewGrowth, Inc., an Oregon Nursery. Plants are 1 to 2 feet tall, 2 to 3 years old; they’re gift wrapped using recyclable containers and ribbons. newgrowth.com or 800/605-7457.