North Carolina State University Christmas Tree Research and Extension Programs

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Christmas tree production in North Carolina is made up of two distinct regions – the mountains where Fraser fir is predominately grown, and the piedmont and coastal plain where a wide variety of conifers are grown including Leyland cypress, Virginia pine, white pine, eastern red cedar, and others. Christmas tree research and extension programs at North Carolina State University cover all aspects of production and marketing and are collaboratively conducted across several departments and two colleges. Work is conducted on the main campus in Raleigh, as well as the Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center in Mills River near Asheville.

Specialists with programs impacting Christmas trees include:

• Dr. John Frampton, Christmas tree geneticist
• Dr. Ron Gehl, soil scientist
• Dr. Fred Hain, entomologist
• Dr. Dennis Hazel, Christmas tree specialist for eastern species
• Dr. Eric Hinesley (semi-retired), Christmas tree research
• Dr. Kelly Ivors, plant pathologist
• Dr. Joe Neal, weed scientist
• Jeff Owen, Christmas tree specialist for western North Carolina
• Dr. Charles Safely, economist
• Dr. Jill R. Sidebottom, mountain conifer integrated pest management
• Stacy Tomas, agritourism

For more information on individual programs, see individual project leaders’ web sites.

Contacts for Christmas Tree Research and Programs

NC State University and NC Cooperative Extension Christmas Tree Website
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/Christmastrees/

Web Crafter: Anne S. Napier ~ Email: anne_napier@ncsu.edu

Updated November 19, 2008