Coniferous Trees
For the Holiday Home and Yard
– Norman Douglas
Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
Also called conifers, or coniferous trees, evergreens are one of the two main tree families, the other being deciduous trees. The difference really boiling down to just needles versus leaves. Deciduous trees grow fruit and flowers, and shed their leaves in the fall. Conifers, on the other hand, produce cones and grow needles, which stay “ever-green” all year long.
Naturally, we love to have something green in our lives all year round, but there’s more to love about evergreens than just their colour. For us, it simply isn’t Christmas without that fresh, alpine fragrance in our lives. Thankfully, with so many different species of evergreen trees and shrubs, there are tons of ways to incorporate the look and smell of fresh evergreens into your home – whether that may be a live tree or two growing in your yard, or a few boughs for your holiday decor. Here are our top evergreen picks for home, hearth, and horticulture.
For the Yard
Live evergreens tend to take a backstage to your garden in the warmer months, but as soon as the snow hits the ground, they become a centrepiece in your landscaping. Live evergreens adorned with lights instantly transform a frozen yard into a winter wonderland. Here are the best choices for Manitoba homes.
Crystal Blue Spruce – These disease-resistant trees have striking, intense blue-coloured needles and look stunning against modern home designs.
Colorado Spruce – A handsome, sturdy evergreen with that classic “Christmas tree” look.
Hetz Midget Cedar – A short and sweet variety that looks great as “mini” globes to line a walkway.
Little Giant Cedar – At 3-4 feet tall and wide, this little tree makes a great impact in the landscape with globed form and vibrant foliage.
Skybound Cedar – These dense cedars can make great privacy fencing or a wonderful statement in your landscape.
Calgary Carpet Juniper – We simply adore these multi-purpose shrubs, which add life to everything, from rock gardens to holiday vignettes.
For the Home
If you’re just looking for an evergreen to visit for the holidays, you’ve got options galore! Here are our favourites based on aesthetics and aroma.
Scotch Pine – A long-needled, sturdy and fragrant tree that keeps its needles long after cutting.
Fraser Fir – One of the most popular Christmas tree varieties for their great scent and strong boughs. It also holds its needles for an exceptionally long time!
Tips for Christmas Tree Success: Saw a few inches off the trunk before bringing inside and keep it well watered to slow needle loss. Check water levels daily for the first week to get a good sense of what it will need. To feed your tree and prevent rotting, consider grabbing some Tree Preservative to add to your water, as well, for lasting performance.
For the Mantel
From ornate wreaths to candle-lit centrepieces, every holiday decor scheme can benefit from a few evergreen boughs. Here are a few that are attractive and easy to work with.
Noble Fir – These also make great Christmas trees, but they’re even better for
Christmas crafting. Their short needles and sturdy branches make stately, traditional-looking holiday handicrafts.
Common Juniper – A Manitoba-native species, their silvery-blue berries and attractive green needles are great for wreaths and decorations with a more contemporary rustic look.
Western Cedar – These gentle giants offer fantastic scaled, flat needles with a soft appearance that is perfect for giving your decor a smooth finish.
White Pine – With long, slender, light green needles, a bough from this beauty is sure to offer the perfect softened touch to any evergreen mantel.
