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SAN DIEGO, CA — 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.

If you want to see a perfect Christmas tree, scoot over to the Hotel Del Coronado, which this year began a new tradition of decorating a live cut tree on the Windsor Lawn. The stately 30-foot Noble fir is one of several trees the hotel decorated for the holidays. “We ordered these trees directly from a tree farm in Southern Oregon” said Lauren Ash Donoho, spokesperson for the hotel. The 3,200 lb. tree is covered with 30,000 white lights and was hand lifted into place.

“We have a standing order for our Christmas tree,” said Bill Bowlus, horticulture buyer for the Hilton San Diego Resort on Mission Bay. “We always get a Noble fir because I think they’re the prettiest tree around. They hold their shape, and smell wonderful.”

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.

Noble firs are a favorite with many companies, and the most expensive, commanding nearly $300 for a 15-foot tree. But 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.

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.

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 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 applied by a person certified by the State Fire Marshal’s office. The trees are tagged with a certification number provided by the State Fire Marshal. The trees must carry this tag whenever displayed in a public building or area.

Not all business buy direct from growers in Oregon. Locally, Bowlus got his fresh cut corporate Christmas tree from Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (MWN) — who in turn get their trees from the Northwest. “We have two suppliers from Oregon,” said Tom Ewing, marketing manager at MWN. “Signature Tree, which is a subsidiary of Color Spot, and Noble Mountain Tree Co. They will send people out into their tree fields to hand tag trees and hold them for our clients.” The larger the tree wanted, the earlier it has to be ordered.

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.

“It’s a lot of work, but worth it,” said Ruth DeMara, client services officer of the Golden Triangle branch of Rancho Santa Fe National Bank. She and the staff stayed late the night their tree was delivered to have a decorating party. “It’s fun. We enjoy it, and our clients really appreciate the atmosphere. And I love the smell of fresh pine.”

Ruth got her nine-foot Noble fir from MWN too, though other local companies stock the large trees business prefer. The Pinery Christmas Tree Company provides them, 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. Not a bad idea. Wonder if they’ll do that for regular homeowners…

 

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