North Carolina’s top choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms
Head to the best Christmas tree farms in North Carolina for a memorable holiday adventure.
The first snowfall of the season in North Carolina means that Christmas is just around the corner. While it may be a little too early to start jamming out to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas,” it’s just the right time to shop for your family’s perfect Christmas tree. Western N.C. is home to several of the state’s top Christmas tree farms in towns that can turn into a scenic day-trip.
According to an Axios article from the 2024 holiday season, 96% of the state’s Christmas trees come from Western N.C. Our state is also the United States’ second-largest Christmas tree industry in terms of sales and profits. One of the major reasons N.C. is known for its Christmas trees is the prized Fraser fir, which has needles that shed less, flexible yet strong branches, a forest green color, and a fragrant scent.
N.C.’s Fraser fir is so renowned that it has been the most popular species out of all the trees chosen as the official White House Christmas tree. It seems to be former President Joe Biden’s favorite, as White House officials under his administration chose the Fraser fir as the official tree in 2021, 2023, and 2024.
Hurricane Helene severely affected the Christmas tree industry last year, resulting in Christmas tree farms losing roughly $125 million from damages. Nevertheless, several of the farms proved to be as resilient as the Fraser Fir itself and continued to sell trees. Many Christmas tree farms even donated a portion of their proceeds to post-Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
This year, Western N.C.’s tree farms are rebounding even stronger despite still facing some setbacks. Last year, Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Avery County lost around 6,000 to 8,000 trees in a landslide from Hurricane Helene. Helms Christmas Tree Farm in Lincoln County lost its taller 10 and 12-foot trees during Hurricane Helene due to severe wind blowing them down.
While it usually takes six years for those taller trees to grow, there are still plenty of beautiful trees that are available for sale now. Whether it is for the President of the United States or a resident in Raleigh, Christmas tree farms in North Carolina are bound to have the perfect holiday centerpiece for anybody.
Come for the trees and stay for the cozy cabins in the Smoky Mountains
Imagine taking in the views of beautiful forest green-colored Fraser firs set against the backdrop of dusky blue mountaintops—all from the comfort of a cozy cabin. While this just sounds like a guided visualization from your meditation class, you can actually experience this at Smoky Mountain Tree Farm. Located just a half-hour from Asheville, in Waynesville, N.C., this Christmas tree farm specializes in Fraser Fir trees, with employees who will bale and tie the tree to your car.
The farm opens on Nov. 22 and will remain open until Dec. 24, accommodating any last-minute tree shoppers. Once the farm opens for the season, you can visit any day of the week (with extended hours on the weekend). There are several different sizes of trees available, as well as pre-cut trees, wreaths, and garlands for sale.
What sets this Christmas tree farm apart from many others is a recent addition to the property: Christmas Tree Cabins. The owners of Smoky Mountain Tree Farm built a cabin you can rent for a mini-vacation. The cabin comes fully equipped with a kitchenette, DirecTV, and WiFi.
If you’re into skiing or snowboarding, the cabin is also near the Cataloochee Ski Area.
Enjoy complimentary hot cocoa and hayrides in Boone
Families with kids are bound to enjoy Christmas tree shopping at Clawson’s Choose and Cut, which is currently open every day until Sunday, Dec. 14, and offers the famed Fraser fir trees. The family-owned farm has employees who will “cut, tag, bale, and tie down your tree.” Employees can also drill a hole in your tree to help make it easy for you to put it on a stand.
While you shop for the perfect Christmas tree, you and the family can warm up with some complimentary coffee and hot cocoa. Kids will especially enjoy the free hayrides and getting to pet the cute barn animals. Speaking of cute, you can also get a professional photo shoot for $50/hr and add a new family picture to go with the Christmas tree.
The farm additionally offers garlands, wreaths, and tree stands. The Clawson family also owns the nearby Panoramic View Christmas Tree Farm, which is open on select days and offers the same family-friendly activities.
Buy pre-flocked and pre-cut trees from this conveniently located Raleigh farm
Working a 9-to-5 in RTP leaves little time to plan a day trip to most of the Christmas tree farms, which are mainly located in Western N.C. If you’re in the Triangle area and want to go to an easily accessible Christmas tree farm, look no further than Boyce Farms in North Raleigh.
Boyce Farms is open until 7 p.m. every day, which is great for those who want to shop for a tree after work. Located near the Falls Lake State Recreation Area, you can even fit in a crisp fall hike before you shop for Christmas trees if you prefer to keep it as a weekend activity.
The farm currently has a limited supply of choose-and-cut trees, including White Pines, Leyland Cypress, Blue Ice, and Carolina Sapphire. However, the farm also has an abundant supply of pre-cut Fraser fir trees. If you like the look of a white Christmas, there are also pre-flocked trees ready for sale that will get you into the holiday spirit with the look of a snowy tree.
According to the farm’s Instagram account, the owners have also opened up a new coffee shop on the premises that also serves popcorn and hot cocoa.
Choose and cut an Eastern Red Cedar tree from this Eastern N.C. farm
If you live in Eastern N.C., it can be tricky trying to get a fresh Christmas tree. Luckily, there is a farm that is just an hour away from Wilmington. Justice Farms, in Jacksonville, N.C., offers choose-and-cut White Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, and Leland Cypress trees. The farm also has pre-cut Fraser Firs available for sale.
Employees bale all the trees and can also tie the tree to your car as an additional service. Justice Farms also has an on-site gift shop, aptly called “Santa’s Shop,” which can serve as your one-stop Christmas shop. From traditional Christmas tree lights to the more eclectic hot pepper jelly, there is a wide variety of holiday-themed goodies.
The farm also sells handmade wreaths that would be the perfect addition to your front door. The only catch is that the farm is only open on Sundays from 9 am to 4 p.m., but it may still save you a longer drive if you live in the Coastal Plains region.
Skip the trip and order delivery through this Sparta-based tree farm
Time can fly, especially during the holidays when you’re juggling those Partiful invites to Friendsgiving dinners with fun family reunions. If you’re short on time and can’t fit in a drive to a tree farm, the good news is that you can still get a Christmas tree delivered right to your door. Wishon Evergreens in Sparta, N.C. offers an easy online ordering process that can be completed in just a few clicks, and shipping is even free!
All you have to do is click on this link and choose the height of the Fraser fir tree you want, which ranges from 4 to 7 feet. Wishon Evergreens also sells Christmas wreaths and garlands on their website.
Whether you’re like Frosty the Snowman and want to make an overnight trip out of tree shopping, or you identify with the Grinch and want the tree without the fuss of driving in the cold, there are plenty of amazing tree farms throughout N.C. that have your perfect showstopper Christmas tree.
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