Christmas is less than three weeks away, but it seems like most folks are a bit slow in getting their trees up this year. Don’t delay any longer since trees that are shipped in early are best.
If you wait, the cut mainland trees will dry out and can become fire hazards. The advantage to imported trees is that they have a pine scent. This year tens of thousands of trees are arriving and unfortunately some unwanted hitchhikers as well. Some containers arrived with slugs, a garter snake, gopher and tree frogs.
Hopefully in a few years, we may actually have locally grown Douglas Fir and other traditional mainland trees available from local farms at high elevations. Researchers are testing the adaptability of these cold climate species on the up slopes of Hawaii Island. This could be a whole new farm enterprise for us since thousands of trees are imported every year.
However, if you want to support local farmers now, you might consider a living Christmas tree.
Favorites are in the Araucaria group. There are more than a dozen species. These include the Norfolk Pine, Monkey Puzzle Pine, Bunya Bunya, Hoop Pine, Cook Pine and several species from New Caledonia that are seldom seen outside their native islands.
Araucarias are not true pines at all but are a primitive conifers left over from millions of years ago. Theory has it that they were part of the tropical forests before Australia separated from New Caledonia and perhaps even South America. The common Araucaria we have in Hawaii is likely a hybrid between the Norfolk Pine and the Cook Pine since trees here often have characteristics of both species. The latter is from the Isle of Pines near New Caledonia and occurred in great abundance there.
Although they were heavily harvested for their excellent wood, there is a big reforestation project going on there since the trees help increase precipitation and improve watersheds. It would be ideal to reforest abandoned agricultural areas like the pineapple fields of Lanai and Molokai, thus attracting much needed moisture. The old saying, “Rain follows the forest and desert follows man”. This certainly seems true when we see vast areas of our islands that were once forest and now are arid grasslands. Perhaps our tropical pines could help reverse the trend.
So what we call the Norfolk Pine in Hawaii should be called the Tropical Hawaiian Pine since there are hybrids between the Norfolk and Cook Pine. These trees are popular in Hawaii as cut trees because it they stay fresh and green much longer than the traditional fir, spruce, or pine. In Hawaii some folks just don’t have the heart to cut the trees, so they buy them as living Christmas trees grown in containers. Prices are quite reasonable, especially since the tree may be used year after year. The trees are attractive used as interior container specimens or planted outdoors. In decorating the Norfolk Pine, it is important to keep adornment simple, since the tree itself is very ornamental. Over the years, we have planted hundreds of Tropical Hawaiian Araucarias at the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Kaloko Mauka. Those planted in the early 1980’s are now over 50 feet high, so give the trees plenty of room if you decide to plant them in your garden. If you have a tree that may be getting too tall, you can cut it to the desirable height and you will have a free tree! The remaining portion will often regrow to give you another Christmas tree in a few years.
Other cut trees on the market this year are the Firs, Mexican or Portuguese Cypress, Monterey Pine, and Spruce. Each of the common types of Christmas trees available has advantages that should be weighed. However, if you wait too long, remember the trees remaining may be a bit over the hill since they were probably cut quite some time ago. Exceptions are the trees grown at local tree farms. Imported trees have some disadvantages to consider. They tend to lose their needles quickly. And, one of the most common of the spruces, the white spruce, has a strong odor that is objectionable to some people. Firs, especially the Noble Firs, have rich green coloring and they generally hold needles much better than spruce trees.
Freshness is very important in selecting a cut tree. Don’t buy any tree that has browned needles. A discolored tree is beginning to dry out. Many people wait until the last minute to buy a Christmas tree so that it will have a good appearance on Christmas Day and through the remaining holidays. Actually, just the opposite may be true. Trees held at stores or on lots may not be kept under ideal cool conditions. It is better to buy from early shipments and place the tree in a bucket of water in the garage or storeroom. It will keep better than on the lot and you will probably have a better selection if you buy early.
Cut trees may be kept longer if a little soluble fertilizer is added to the water in which the tree stands. Don’t overdo it or the tree will dry out even faster than if you had used no fertilizer.
Some nurseries and garden centers on Island are carrying Norfolk Pine, Monterey Pine, Mexican Cypress, spruce, and others as living Christmas trees. Some are miniatures already decorated. These may be planted in the garden in mauka areas. Fir, spruce and some pines require cold weather found above 6,000 feet. Mexican Cypress and Monterey Pine will do well and look best at 3,000 to 6,000 feet elevation or higher. Araucarias, being mostly tropical grow well below 4,000 feet. The exceptions would be with species like the Monkey Puzzle Pine that come from cold climates of South America. This tree from Chile has been grown as far north as British Columbia along the west coast.
Araucarias do not have a pine scent so if you miss the piney fragrance, check out local stores and garden shops that sell mainland pines. They will often have cut branches available at little or cost to incorporate into your Christmas scene. As a last resort, if you must have that evergreen Christmas tree smell, consider pine scented room deodorants!
Norman Bezona is professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
