Christmas tree production in North Carolina is made up of two distinct regions – the mountains where Fraser fir is predominantly grown, and the piedmont and coastal plain where a wide variety of conifers are grown including Leyland cypress, Virginia pine, white pine, and eastern red cedar. Christmas tree research and extension programs at North Carolina State University cover all aspects of production and marketing and are collaboratively conducted across several departments in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Natural Resources (CNR). Specialists are housed on the main campus in Raleigh as well as at the Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center in Mills River near Asheville, though the work is conducted throughout the state wherever Christmas trees are grown. The success of these programs is due to the efforts of the local County Extension Agents and a team of interested, innovative growers that have supported research through the years. Some sections of the Research Publications have listings for both Fraser fir and other species.

Research Publications

Production

• General Information
• Genetics
• Propagation
• Fertility
• Seedlings and Transplants
• Shearing Christmas Trees
• Environment and Water Quality
• Harvest and Post-Harvest
• Marketing

Pest Management

• Insect and Mite Management
• Disease Management
• Ground Covers and Weed Management
• Deer Management 

Specialists with Programs Impacting

Christmas Trees

• Dr. John Frampton, CNR, Christmas tree geneticist
• Dr. Fred Hain, CALS, Professor Emeritus, Entomologist
• Dr. Dennis Hazel, CNR, Christmas tree specialist for eastern species
• Dr. Eric Hinesley, CALS, Professor Emeritus, Horticultural Science, Christmas tree research. List of Christmas tree research publications
• Dr. Joe Neal, CALS, weed scientist
• Jeff Owen, CNR, Christmas tree specialist for western North Carolina
• Dr. Jill R. Sidebottom, CNR, mountain conifer integrated pest management

For more information on individual programs, see each project leader’s
web sites.

Contacts for Christmas Tree Research and Programs