With Christmas tomorrow being Christmas, ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri). This is a top choice for Christmas trees due to its classic pyramid shape, dark blue-green needles with silvery undersides, pleasant scent, and strong, upward-angled branches that hold heavy ornaments well. It’s even referred to as “Cadillac of Christmas trees,” and is frequently used for the White House. The ones that are purchased by consumers are most typically farmed. This is because it as a native species is endangered. It is native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States and at higher elevations from 3,900 feet to 6,680 feet. It is endemic to the Appalachian Mountains, where it grows in 48 populations on seven mountain regions in the range. Its population was hit hard by the balsam woolly adelgid, an invasive species from Europe, with over 80 percent of mature trees having been killed. However, with knowledge and conservation efforts, as of 2020, the number of adult trees has increased over the previous 30 years!