If you live in a small space and want cheery greenery, a real mini Christmas tree is just the item you need. A miniature real Christmas tree performs its duty faithfully during the holidays, and then – if treated with care – it can provide lush greenery for years. Growing a live tabletop Christmas tree brightens the home and will add a touch of outdoors every day of the year. Choose dwarf forms for the interior, or get baby evergreen tree varieties which can be planted outdoors once they outgrow the holiday season indoors. Here are some of the best live mini Christmas tree types.
Choosing the Best Real Mini Christmas Tree Types
Dwarf or young plants make a great real mini Christmas tree during that festive season, whether you’re after a festive holiday porch plant or something you can keep in your main living room. They may be grown as houseplants, but if they reach a size too large for the home, they can then be grown outdoors. Many of these real small Christmas tree options have a slow growth rate, meaning they will also be useful as holiday decor next year, and the year after that. And a few will even be perfectly happy in larger pots as part of your houseplant collection.
1. Boulevard Cypress
(Image credit: Green Promise Farms)
This evergreen has a lovely pyramid shape naturally that lends itself to the traditional form of a Christmas tree. It is considered a slow growing plant with ease of care perfect even for novice growers. The soft, silvery blue foliage has textural appeal and may be clipped into a topiary.
It prefers partial shade but will also perform well in a sunny location. For the best health when growing a Boulevard cypress, available from the Gardening Know How Shop, plant it in well draining, loamy soil, that percolates well. Keep the soil moderately moist but a bit drier in winter.
2. Amber Gold Arborvitae
(Image credit: Nahhana / Shutterstock)
This plant can mature to 12 feet (3.7m) in height with a spread of three feet (0.9m). But its growth is moderate and can be enjoyed as a houseplant for several years. Like other Arborvitae cultivars, Amber Gold is a low maintenance plant. It thrives in full sun or partial shade.
Well-draining soil is a must, but the plant should be watered when the top two inches (5cm) of the soil is dry to the touch. Do not allow water to sit around the root zone. Young plants can be sensitive to synthetic fertilizers and develop foliage burn. Use compost tea to add nutrients to the container soil. Another small variety is Fire Chief, available from the Gardening Know How Shop, which is similarly slow growing and creates a gorgeous reddish tone.
3. Tuscan Blue Rosemary
(Image credit: Dutch_Photos / Shutterstock)
While not a traditional conifer usually used for Christmas trees, the evergreen needles still present a similar vision. This herb is useful as a live mini Christmas tree but has an added bonus – you can cook with the fragrant, tasty leaves.
When growing rosemary as a year-round plant, you can move the plant outdoors for the summer. Just bear in mind that it is not hardy in very cold climates and should be brought back indoors before frost. In the spring, you can enjoy pretty blue flowers adorning the stems.
4. Gold Cone Juniper
(Image credit: Green Promise Farms)
Gold Cone juniper is a slow growing plant that will eventually reach six feet (1.8m). But due to its lazy growth, it is perfect for many years as a real small Christmas tree. The stunning foliage is green with amber tones. The foliage is dense and tiny, lending the plant a soft appearance.
In spring, the new growth appears as vibrant gold. With its upright growth pattern, Gold Cone juniper which is available from the Gardening Know How Shop, is perfect for tiny decorations during the holiday season.
5. Pinpoint Blue False Cypress
(Image credit: Yulia Babkina / Alamy)
Blue false cypress is another evergreen with a slow growth rate. However, it can reach six feet (1.8m) in 10 years, with an ultimate maturity height of 12 feet (3.7m). It has a lovely upright form with soft feathery branches and foliage.
Just bear in mind when growing false cypress that these plants will suffer if kept too moist. Only water when the soil is almost completely dry. They need bright light and well draining soil. When they get too big for the home interior, plant them outdoors for years of enjoyment.
6. Dwarf Alberta Spruce
(Image credit: Green Promise Farms)
This slow-growing evergreen has the classic form of a mini Christmas tree. Even when mature, it will retain the pyramid shape. Blue-green foliage is particularly attractive and it may be sheared to maintain size or even turned into a topiary.
It grows about two inches (5cm) per year. This means that the dwarf Alberta spruce, available from the Gardening Know How Shop, can easily be moved to larger containers as needed. Eventually, it will need to be moved outdoors to a sunny location where it will thrive for decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Trees are Best for a Festive Tabletop Display?
For instant gratification, you can order a live tabletop Christmas tree. There are many sellers who will provide holiday containers and even decorations on dwarf evergreens and conifers. Two outstanding choices are Candy Cane Swirl Decorated Christmas Tree and Nature’s Finest Decorated Christmas tree from Jackson & Perkins, both available from the Gardening Know How Shop.
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This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.
