Charlie Brown may be able to get away with a sparse tree at Christmas, but for businesses, the tree that graces the lobby needs a little more prestige. Tall, full, and perfectly proportioned, a corporate Christmas tree is like a runway model — so beautiful you’re not certain it’s real. Finding these needly gems requires planning. After all, perfection doesn’t just grow on…never mind.

Planning is simple, but many people put it off. Unfortunately, the later you wait to choose a tree, the less likely you are to get it. Decide what trees you want then order early. Nurseries start taking orders for trees as early as August. The larger the tree wanted, the earlier it has to be ordered.

Noble firs, Fraser firs, Douglas-firs and Grand firs are popular Christmas trees. Unfortunately, almost everything about our climate in Southern California works against these evergreens: the salinity of our waters and soils, the dry climate and lack of frequent rains, hardpan soils, and our Santa Ana conditions. So to find a perfect Noble fir, travel to the Pacific Northwest, where cold temperatures, acidic soil, rain, and mountain air create prime Christmas tree growing conditions.

That’s where Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (MWN) goes to order its trees. “We have two growers from Oregon,” said Tom Ewing, special projects consultant at MWN. “They will send people out into their tree fields to hand tag trees and hold them for our clients.” So if you want a 15-foot Douglas-fir, the nursery notifies the grower who immediately reserves the tree. When the holidays arrive, the tree is cut and shipped to the nursery.

Noble firs, Abies procera, are a favorite with many companies, and the most expensive, commanding nearly $300 for a 15-foot tree. Their short, bristly needles, full shape, towering height and strong fragrance are impressive, even unadorned. When decked with tinsel and ornaments, this stately tree makes even the Scroogiest, Grinchiest people gasp with admiration.

There are nearly 50 species of Abies, but less than a dozen species generally are used in landscaping, and only a select few become Christmas trees. Like the Noble fir, the Fraser fir, Abies fraseri, has grown in popularity in Southern California. It features short needles that are shiny on top and silvery underneath. It is a small to medium size tree with a narrow, spire-like crown, with dull green to gray bark. Because of its traditional looks and ability to retain freshness, the Fraser fir is popular as both a residential and commercial Christmas tree.

Douglas-firs and Grand firs are also popular corporate Christmas trees. A little less expensive, but equally impressive. The Douglas-fir is named for David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who introduced many conifers to Europe. It is the most popular Christmas tree for the home, and has the strongest fragrance.

Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga, is actually the name of an entire genus of trees that contains six species — two native to North America and four native to Asia. Because of its similarity to other genera, Douglas-fir has kept botanists at odds as to what to call it. At various times in history it has been named a pine, a spruce, a hemlock, and a true fir. In 1867, because of its distinctive cones, it was finally given its own genus — Pseudotsuga — meaning false hemlock. The hyphen indicates that Douglas-fir is not a member of the Abies genus.

Only one Douglas-fir is native to the Pacific Northwest. Its common name is identical to that of the genus, reflecting its importance. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is Oregon’s state tree.

Plantation Douglas and Plantation Noble firs are common varieties sold in our area. “Plantation” refers to the fact that the trees have been sheared, causing additional branching and substantial fullness.

Grand firs, Abies grandis, resemble the Noble in stature, are dark green, but have flat needles with a lighter color underneath, giving them an attractive color variation. Grand firs have a thinner bark that makes them more susceptible to fire. So before delivery, all corporate Christmas trees are made fireproof. The process involves spraying the trees with a state approved retardant chemical. The application must be made by a person certified by the State Fire Marshal’s office, then tagged with a certification number. The trees must carry this tag whenever displayed in a public building or area.

The common residential Christmas tree sizes, five to six feet, are typically four to five years old; trees up to 15 feet tall have probably been in the field eight to ten years. Because of their size, these larger trees require special stands, too.

Commercial property owners, homeowners associations and property managers often need enough trees to fill all their various locations. Ordering through a wholesaler may be the best bet. “It doesn’t have to be a lot of work,” Ewing said. “Property managers and such can come in and order all the trees for all their lobbies in about fifteen minutes. We notify the grower and the trees are shipped down.”

Aside from MWN, The Pinery Christmas Tree Company provides trees, as does Del Mar Christmas Trees. Some property managers let their landscape maintenance service handle the tree details. For instance, TruGreen LandCare will pick out a tree, deliver it, decorate it, then remove it when the holidays are over.

Make sure your corporate Christmas tree reflects the holiday spirit of your business. But take advantage of a nursery or landscape contractor to simplify the process, and choosing a tree, or trees, will never be easier.