Beautiful Alternatives to Traditional Christmas Trees
Not your typical Douglas fir — these species look and feel like classic Christmas trees while thriving as living trees you can plant and enjoy for years. Perfect for retail customers and Christmas tree farms & lots.
Looking for a festive Christmas tree that stands out from the usual cut Douglas fir, Fraser fir, or balsam? We offer excellent living alternatives that deliver the classic conical shape, dense evergreen foliage, and holiday charm — while giving you the option to transplant them outdoors after the season ends.
These are not typical northern firs. Instead, they are species and cultivars closely related in appearance and use to traditional Christmas trees, yet better adapted to many climates (especially warmer regions). They hold ornaments well, look stunning with lights, and can become permanent landscape trees.
Christmas tree farms and lots: We can fulfill orders quickly so you can offer customers fresh alternatives to Douglas firs without delays during the busy season.
Our Featured Living Christmas Tree Alternatives
Carolina Sapphire
A striking Arizona cypress cultivar with silvery-blue to teal foliage and a light citrus fragrance. It forms a beautiful conical shape that makes an elegant Christmas tree. Fast-growing, heat and drought tolerant once established, and perfect for southern landscapes. A true alternative that still looks the part of a classic holiday tree.
Leyland Cypress
One of the most popular Christmas tree choices in the Southeast. Dense, feathery green foliage with minimal needle drop and little to no strong resin scent — ideal for allergy-sensitive households. It closely mimics the look of traditional firs while growing quickly and works beautifully as a living tree.
Murray Cypress
A hardier, improved cultivar of Leyland Cypress often called the “fir of the South.” It features stronger branches that hold ornaments well, brighter green color, and better disease resistance. Minimal needle drop and a mild scent make it an excellent living Christmas tree alternative that thrives in warmer climates.
Thuja Green Giant
A vigorous hybrid arborvitae known for its rich green color, dense growth, and excellent disease resistance. It creates a full, classic Christmas tree shape. Often recommended as a superior landscape alternative to Leyland cypress, it thrives in a wide range of conditions and transplants well after the holidays.
Eastern Red Cedar
A native American evergreen with a rich history as a traditional Christmas tree across the South and Midwest. Its scale-like foliage and natural conical form deliver authentic holiday appeal. Tough, adaptable, and fragrant, it serves as both a beautiful temporary tree and a long-lived landscape specimen once planted.
Deodar Cedar
A graceful true cedar with a classic conical form, soft blue-green foliage, and a pleasant aromatic scent. Its horizontal branching and soft texture make it an elegant living Christmas tree. Well-suited to warmer climates, it transplants successfully and becomes a beautiful long-term landscape specimen after the holidays.
Festive Holiday Nellie Stevens in Containers
For something uniquely festive, we also offer Nellie Stevens hollies in containers. These broadleaf evergreens feature glossy dark green leaves and abundant bright red berries that scream Christmas. Perfect as a smaller tabletop or porch “tree,” or as a living decoration you can move indoors for the holidays and plant outdoors afterward. They add classic holiday color that traditional conifers can’t match.
For Christmas Tree Farms & Lots
Already running a Christmas tree farm, lot, or retail stand? Give your customers something different from the usual Douglas firs.
Our living alternatives — Carolina Sapphire, Leyland Cypress, Murray Cypress, Thuja Green Giants, Eastern Red Cedars, and Deodar Cedars — look the part of traditional Christmas trees while offering a unique, sustainable option your buyers will love. We also supply festive Nellie Stevens hollies in containers for added holiday variety.
- Ideal for customers seeking alternatives to classic Douglas firs
- Quick order fulfillment so you stay stocked during peak season
- Living trees that can be sold as “plant-after-the-holidays” options
- Strong visual appeal that helps differentiate your lot or farm
We can fulfill orders quickly. Contact us for wholesale availability, pricing, and delivery options tailored to Christmas tree farms and lots.
Sustainability Benefits of Transplanting Your Tree
Choosing a living tree and transplanting it after the season is one of the most sustainable ways to celebrate Christmas.
- Continued carbon sequestration — The tree keeps absorbing CO₂ and growing for decades instead of being discarded.
- Habitat creation — Once planted, it provides shelter and food for birds and wildlife.
- Reduced waste — No tree ends up in a landfill, avoiding methane emissions from decomposition.
- Long-term landscape value — Your holiday tree becomes a permanent privacy screen, specimen, or windbreak.
- Lower overall impact — One living tree used for years outperforms both annual cut trees and plastic artificial trees.
After the holidays, simply plant your balled-and-burlapped or container-grown tree in a suitable spot. With proper care, it will thrive and become a lasting part of your landscape — a green gift that keeps giving.
Ready for a Greener Holiday?
Whether you're a customer looking for a living alternative to Douglas firs or a Christmas tree farm or lot needing quick-fulfillment inventory, we have you covered. These species may not be classic Douglas firs, but they deliver every bit of the holiday magic — plus the satisfaction of a tree that lives on.
Find Your Living Tree TodayFarms & lots: We fulfill orders quickly — contact us for wholesale availability.