Nordmann Tree - the most decorated Christmas tree

Do you know the most decorated Christmas tree? The Nordman Christmas tree, because it's the best-selling Christmas tree worldwide. It is symmetrical, in the classic triangular shape, with branches arranged in such a way that there is room for globes and decorations, it is bushy and rich. Of the countries that sell Christmas trees, Denmark is probably the biggest, with 10-12 million trees sold each year. Let's find out more about the Nordmann Christmas tree and, more importantly, how Denmark has managed to achieve such sales.

The Nordmann Christmas tree - what makes it so special

Although the Nordmann fir may look like a northern fir by its name, it is named after the Finnish botanist Alexander von Nordmann, who discovered it in Georgia. The botanist was attracted by the dark green color, triangular shape, the richness of the branches, the long, soft needles and the discreet resinous scent.

The native range of the Nordmann fir is Turkey, Georgia, Northern Armenia, the mountains around the Black Sea and the Russian Caucasus. The scientific name is Abies Nordmanniana. The tree can reach 55-65 m in height and 2 m in diameter. It grows faster than other fir species and is disease resistant. The resin does not have the strong odor of other species and does not cause allergies in sensitive people. As a matter of interest, a 2m-tall fir has about 200,000 needles.

All the qualities outlined above, plus the fact that it stays fresh for a long time after cutting and the needles don't fall off, has made Nordmann a favorite Christmas tree, gradually replacing other species. It began to be cultivated, like flowers and vegetables in the Netherlands, "coming out" of the forest and into the agricultural zone. That's how tree farms came into being. Despite the fact that the discoverer of the Nordmann fir was Finnish, the country where the Nordmann fir has acclimatized best has been Denmark. Here there is an association of tree breeders - Danish Christmas Tree Association - which has about 4,000 members, all Christmas tree growers, the largest proportion being Nordmann fir.

How Denmark became Europe's leading supplier of fir trees

Members of the Danish Christmas Tree Growers' Association export between 10 and 12 million Christmas trees annually, mostly Nordmann and 4200 tons of wax and cones. The biggest importer is Poland, which has a whole industry that turns the material into wreaths, garlands and similar Christmas products, which it in turn exports all over Europe.

Although the first Christmas tree was decorated in Denmark in 1808The cultivation of Christmas trees only started after the Second World War. Now Denmark is the biggest grower and exporter of Christmas trees in Europe, and even the world according to some sources (others put it second in the world after the US, while remaining first in Europe). The sandier soil, mild coastal climate, frost-free springs and cooler summers have made the Nordmann fir very adaptable. The Nobel fir is also found on Danish farms, but the percentage is much smaller.

Over time the number of farms growing fir trees has increased and the number of trees sold has also increased. In 1999, out of 7 million fir trees sold, only approx. 600,000 were for Denmark, the rest were exported. The main external beneficiary was Germany where 60% of the exported fir trees were sold.

Denmark, Norway's tree supplier

The development of Denmark as the main supplier of Christmas trees may seem a little strange. It would have been much more plausible for countries like Sweden, Norway or Finland to be in this position, each with extensive forests and a well-developed forestry industry. Yet, incredible as it may seem, Norway imports almost all the Christmas trees it needs from Denmark.

But this is not about forestry, it is about agriculture. Denmark has chosen to grow a product and done it very well. The fact that fir trees feel good in the Danish soil and climate has meant that this part of agriculture has developed a lot. Mechanization was introduced and everything was done to the highest level.

It seems incomprehensible how farmers choose to invest in a business that turns a profit after a fairly long time. Because a Christmas tree doesn't grow in one year. And in order to grow properly it needs to be cared for all those years when there is no profit. It would be interesting to learn from a farmer what it means to have a tree farm.

How to grow fir trees. What is a tree farm.

Bernt Johan Collet has had a tree farm in Sydsjaelland for 50 years - Collet farm. He is one of Denmark's largest producers of fir trees, harvesting 600,000 trees a year and shipping them to 17 countries. He says the process is slow and it takes a lot of patience before you break even. The saplings take four years from sowing until they are removed and planted outside. Until then they grow in specially designed greenhouses. After that it takes another 8 years until the tree reaches the size at which it can be cut. So to become profitable, the farm needs 12 years.

To ensure continuity, 20,000 seeds are planted every day at the Collet farm. From these come plants that are selected to produce quality fir trees. They are first cared for in greenhouses, where they are given the conditions they need to grow properly. They are then replanted outside, with the space around them to grow harmoniously.

For a farm to develop well, you need the right knowledge and the right machinery. For example, planting is done with GPS machines so that the plant has enough room to grow and the land is not wasted.

They have 3 weeks to harvest and ship 600,000 Christmas trees worldwide

The busiest time on the Collet farm is harvest time. It's in late fall and lasts 3 weeks. During this short time the trees are harvested, packed, palletized, loaded onto trucks and shipped to 17 countries. Before being harvested, the cones are gathered, weeds are removed and the trees are marked. The number of employees has risen from 20 over the year to 260. They work in 3 shifts so that everything is ready on time. Around 1,000 trucks are loaded and shipped to Germany, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Poland and other countries in Europe and around the world.

Collet says there are many who ask him what he does for the rest of the year, and he's convinced they imagine the rest of the year is one continuous vacation for him. He assures them it's not, as the trees need constant care, spraying, cleaning and weeding. There's also work to be done in the greenhouses, where small plants need a lot of attention. Work on the tree farm is continuous, as it is on any agricultural farm.

Farmers also give us some tips on how to have a beautiful Christmas tree

Farmers give us some tips to make the most of Christmas trees:

• the tree should not be brought suddenly from very low outside to high inside. It should be acclimatized gradually and, if possible, kept in a cooler area before bringing it indoors;
• to last as long as possible, the stem should stand in a bowl of water. Before putting it in the pot, cut off at least 1 cm of the stalk for better absorption;
• The fir tree absorbs moisture and through needles, so it's a good idea to spray it with water from time to time. Do the same with potted trees;
• The tree should be kept as far away from the heat source as possible. The cooler it stays, the longer it will last.

Christmas trees bring us joy during this wonderful season. We love to sit with family and friends around it, sing carols and rejoice together. It's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? 🙂