Nordmann vs Fraser vs Norway Spruce
We've grown and sold all three - here's the honest comparison we give people at the pitch, and why we now only sell the two firs.
| Nordmann Fir | Fraser Fir | Norway Spruce | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needle retention | ★★★★★ - the "non-drop" tree | ★★★★ - excellent | ★★ - drops sooner; buy in December |
| Scent | ★★★ - gentle, fresh | ★★★★ - lovely citrus-pine | ★★★★★ - the classic Christmas smell |
| Needle feel | Soft and glossy - kind to kids & pets | Soft, with silvery undersides | Sharper - gloves help when decorating |
| Shape | Full and broad | Naturally slim - great for small rooms | Bushy and traditional |
| Price | from £50 | from £50 | Not stocked by us |
| Choose it if… | You want the tree up for 5+ weeks with zero fuss | Space is tight but you still want a real fir | The scent is Christmas and you'll keep it watered |
Fir vs spruce: what's the actual difference?
Two of the three trees above are firs - the Nordmann and the Fraser, both Abies - and one is a spruce, the Norway (Picea). That is the real fork in the decision, and it comes down to how the needles are built.
Fir needles are flat and soft, blunt at the tip, and join the branch individually on a little suction-cup base. Roll one between finger and thumb and it won't turn. Spruce needles are four-sided and sharp, set on tiny woody pegs that stay behind on the branch after the needle drops - roll one and it spins easily. Those pegs are why a bare spruce branch feels rough and a bare fir branch feels smooth.
That structure is also why firs hold their needles so much better in a heated room, and why the Nordmann overtook the spruce as Britain's default Christmas tree. The trade-off is scent: the spruce is the one that genuinely smells like Christmas, and it is comfortably the cheapest of the three.
The practical rule: if the tree is going up in late November and staying past New Year, buy a fir. If you love the smell, are happy to buy in December and will keep the stand topped up, a Norway Spruce is a lot of tree for the money.
Why we only sell firs: most of our customers want their tree up from the start of December and still looking good at New Year, and a spruce rarely manages that in a centrally heated home. So we've dropped spruce and stick to Nordmann and Fraser Firs.
The thirty-second version
Most people should buy a Nordmann Fir. It's the UK's favourite for a reason: soft needles, superb retention, a full classic shape. Pick the Fraser Fir if your room is snug - it's the slimmest of the three and arguably the best-smelling fir. A Norway Spruce gives you the traditional tree your grandparents had and the strongest scent in the business - we don't sell them any more, so if you buy one elsewhere, bring it home in December and keep the stand topped up.
And if you'd rather never buy a tree again: a potted living Nordmann comes back every year.
Most popularNordmann Fir
The UK's favourite - soft, glossy and famously non-drop.
from £50Choose size & order
Best for small spacesFraser Fir
Slim, beautifully scented and perfect for smaller rooms.
from £50Choose size & order
Living treePotted Nordmann Fir
A living Christmas tree in a pot - keep it, replant it and bring it back every year.
from £25Choose size & order