Exotic firs thrive on Christmas tree farms

KINGS VALLEY, Ore. -- Most of the 8 million Christmas trees harvested in Oregon this year will be traditional noble or Douglas fir trees.

But a type of European fir, prized by growers for its hardiness, is slowly taking root in the state, which is the country's No. 1 producer of Christmas trees.

The Nordmann fir, a native of the Republic of Georgia, and the closely related Turkish fir are becoming increasingly popular in Oregon's Christmas tree industry.

"They just seem healthier and stronger than the nobles. They look really good for us," said Betty Malone, who runs Sunrise Tree Farm in Benton County with her husband.

Nordmann and Turkish firs make up 3 percent to 5 percent of the harvest in Oregon.

"It's pretty easy to figure that within 20 years, they'll be 20 to 30 percent of production," said Rick Fletcher, an Oregon State University Extension Service forestry agent.

Europe's premier Christmas tree varieties "don't appear to have a lot of pest problems," Fletcher said. "They appear quite resistant to the root diseases we have."

In nature, the noble fir grows only in areas that are at least 2,000 feet above sea level. The foreign types are easier to grow in lower lands with wetter soils, but also can handle drier soils. The foreign trees have been slow to take root in Oregon, partly because of the difficulty in procuring seeds.