Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - December 2, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. - On NBC Television

While not officially a National Christmas Tree, New York City's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is the biggest, brightest, most famous Christmas tree on our planet. It's lighting is an annual television event. The tree is nearly always a Norway Spruce and grown by enthusiasts hoping for the honor of having their tree chosen to be displayed at Rockefeller Center. The event takes place just after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

There is - or are - several official national trees. I am still not certain as to which is the most official, but there are at least four trees that can make that claim: National Christmas Trees - All the Confusion

A tree is probably the most common, naturally growing or cultivated, living organism you will ever encounter on a daily basis. Most people I know have a real desire to learn more about a tree including looking at a tree in hopes to identify that tree. With this in mind, I have put together a list of things to think about and tools that will help you identify a tree.

Treehugger - Getty Image

You might want to consider Norfolk Island pine as your next living Christmas tree and turn it into a house plant after the Holiday season. I love Norfolk Island Pine or Araucaria heterophylla as they make a great house plant and turned into a little Christmas tree. There are a few tricks to growing it for maximum success so read my Norfolk Island Pine management feature.

Here are several quotes from the experts:

Extension Nursery Specialist Dr. Leonard Perry says: "If you want to invest in a houseplant with a future, buy a Norfolk Island pine. It requires minimal care, and because it grows slowly will remain small and attractive for many years indoors."

Horticulturist Rosie Lerner says: "The Norfolk Island pine has grown in popularity as a live indoor Christmas tree. Its lush green twigs of soft needles provide a lovely backdrop for festive holiday ornaments."

Norfolk Island Pine - Getty Image

It is reported that the Osage Indians made their hunting bows from this beautiful and hard wood, and it is also used to make furniture. From April to June, Osage-Orange puts out its inconspicuous green flowers but these are followed by the very conspicuous fruits.

The fruits are four to five-inch-diameter, rough-textured, heavy green balls which ripen to yellow-green and fall in October and November. These fruits are inedible, the juice acid and milky, but squirrels relish the small seeds buried inside the pulp. When the fruits drop, they can be very messy and, for this reason, male, fruitless trees should be selected if you plant this tree.

Virginia Tech's department of dendrology has more information on Osage-orange.
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