Here's Where To Buy Your Own Fresh Christmas Tree In Tampa

TAMPA, FL — People in the Tampa area who prefer fresh-cut Christmas trees shouldn’t have any trouble finding them in 2022, according to a survey of Christmas tree growers by an industry trade group.

The prediction by the Real Christmas Tree Board comes after a survey of 55 wholesalers that supply two-thirds of the market for fresh trees and 1,500 U.S. adults ages 21-49.

“The real Christmas tree industry met demand last year, and it will meet demand this year,” Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said in a news release. “This is essentially a year without surprises.”

Families that love exploring Christmas tree farms in search of the perfect tree and then cutting it down themselves don't have many options in Florida.

The most popular Christmas trees for cutting and decorating for the holidays simply don't grow in Florida's humid environment and inhospitable soil, including the Fraser fir, the Douglas fir, the balsam fir, Scotch pine and blue spruce.

Most of these trees are grown in the five top Christmas tree-producing states — Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

However, it's not impossible to start a family tradition and cut your own tree in Florida.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, there are 16 tree farms in Florida where families can cut their own Christmas trees, although the varieties grown in Florida aren't the prettiest, fullest or most aromatic.

In Florida, red cedar, Virginia pine, sand pine, spruce pine and Leyland cypress can be grown specifically for use as Christmas trees. But it's a lot of work for the growers, which is why farms are so few and far between.

Each year, the young trees must be shaped or pruned to encourage the tree to branch more quickly and gradually achieve the full, bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas trees. It takes three to six years to grow a well-shaped tree that is 6 to 8 feet tall.

The closest farms to Tampa Bay are in Pasco County.

Blue Acres Christmas Tree Farm, 20638 Moreland Drive, Spring Hill, has choose-and-cut sand pines and red cedars, along with fresh-cut Fraser firs, potted Carolina sapphire trees and handmade wreaths. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The family-owned farm also sells local raw honey in quantities of 12 ounces to 12 pounds, seasoned firewood by the trunk load with up to 50 pieces for $20, and offers swings and corn hole for the kids.

Those with a military, law enforcement or first responders ID will receive $5 off any tree.

Santa and his elf will be at the farm on Dec. 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so be sure to bring your camera for this free event. Email blueacreschristmastrees@gmail.com or call 352-422-6375.

Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, 3325 Trieman Blvd., Dade City, is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the holiday season.

The 25-acre Ergle Christmas Tree Farm was founded by Omar Ergle, an agriculture teacher in Dade City, in the 1970s and is now run by his daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Tom Harris

The Harris family grows long-needle pine and Southern cedar trees that families can cut themselves. But for those who prefer a more traditional variety, the Harrises import Fraser firs and bal fra firs (a hybrid balsam and Fraser fir) from the North.

Lazy Lay Acres Christmas Tree Farm at 14920 Swift Road, Dade City, which is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., allows families to cut down their own sand pines and red cedars. In addition, the farm ships Fraser firs from North Carolina.

Click here for other cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in Florida.

Whatever cut variety of Christmas tree you choose, the Florida Department of Agriculture said to make sure it's fresh. The needles should be resilient. The tree should have a good fragrance and good green color.

Christmas Tree Lots

Seasonal Christmas tree lots, some of which support nonprofit groups, churches and schools, can be found throughout Tampa Bay.

There are few residents in Brandon and Valrico who haven't visited Dave's Christmas Tree Lot to purchase their Halloween pumpkins, choose their live tree at Christmas time or pick up a cord of firewood for those chilly winter nights.

Dave Morrow's Christmas tree lot at 106 E Lumsden Road in Brandon has been the community's source of live Christmas trees since 1998, nearly 25 years.

"We love our community, value family fun and take pride in turning family traditions into lasting memories," Morrow said.

Not only does Morrow provide high-quality, fresh trees but he's committed to helping the community's schools (his own kids attended Alafia Elementary School) and gives back a percentage of every tree sold to a school family to the PTAs in Valrico, Brandon and FishHawk Ranch.

Morrow offers "cold-cut" Christmas trees including Noble and Fraser fires and black spruce, along with ruby red poinsettias, handmade wreaths and garlands.

Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mike's Christmas Trees has been a mainstay in Brandon, Riverview and Apollo Beach for more than 20 years. The always-ebullient owner, Mike Roberts, was a well-loved personality in the community. He and his family ran the Christmas tree lots at Winthrop Town Center on Bloomingdale Avenue and at East Bay High School in Apollo Beach.

Sadly, Roberts died after battling cancer in 2019 but his wife, Cathy, is carrying on his legacy, offering the freshest trees at the best prices possible.

The Roberts were both born and raised in Michigan, the Christmas tree capital of the U.S. Every year, the couple would tour tree farms in their native state, hand-picking every tree that they would haul by truck 1,400 to Brandon and Apollo Beach every November.

The Roberts not only offer advice on caring for the trees through the holidays but always make sure the children receive free candy canes and coloring books.

Cathy Roberts also has a knack for creating centerpieces, swags and wreaths that she sells along with the Roberts' famous birch reindeer, snowmen and other holiday creations.
According to Cathy Roberts, this year families will find a variety of Fraser firs, Black Hills spruce, Concolor firs and blue spruce, to name a few, at Mike's Christmas Trees.

The Winthrop Town Center tree lot is at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., at Watson Road, Riverview.

The East Bay High School lot is at 7710 Old Big Bend Road, Gibstonton.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Great Lakes Christmas Tree Farms is a retail and wholesale distribution center at 5302 E Diana St. in Tampa that has been providing Tampa residents with their live Christmas trees for more than 30 years including Black Hills spruce, North Carolina Fraser fir, Michigan blue spruce, Oregon Douglas fir, Michigan white pine, Canada Balsam fire

They provide the trees for some of the city's major tree-lighting events including a 120-foot Christmas tree that had to be lifted with a crane.

In addition to their lot on Diana Street, the Sansone family sells their trees at the Tampa Bay Farmers Market, 10001 N Armenia Ave. Tampa. They also offer a variety of handmade wreaths, garland and some of the largest, most vibrant potted poinsettias around.

They're open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Green Mountain Christmas Trees is located at 9715 N 56th St., Temple Terrace. The family-owned tree lot has been serving the area for 21 years, providing blue spruce, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Noble fir, Black Hills spruce and white pine from table-top size to 11 feet tall.

Green Mountain also offers fresh poinsettias and handmade wreaths and centerpieces. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Gallio Family Christmas Trees is located at 4518 S Manhattan Ave., Tampa. The Gallio family has been selling Christmas trees in Tampa for more than 20 years. They also offer delivery and set-up, tree stands, fresh wreaths and handmade misfit reindeer.

Tree Brothers Christmas is located at 18105 Gunn Highway, Odessa, at Keystone Prep High School, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and at the Oldsmar Flea Market, 180 N Racetrack Road, Oldsmar.

Organic Farmers Market of Forest Hills at 1207 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, offers fresh-cut Fraser firs, Douglas firs, Noble firs and Black Hills spruce trees. Call 813-944-8654 for tree lot hours.

Winterland Christmas Trees is located at 3009 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, but, according to its Facebook page, has Christmas tree lots at 16070 State Road 54, Odessa, 2158 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel, 110 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Call 828-216-1185 for hours and more information.

BG's Trees has three tree lots with a variety of types and sizes open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1400 Georgia St., Bartow; 3002 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City; and 921 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven.

The Plant City Optimist Club Christmas Tree Lot is at the corner of Maki Road and West Alexander Street just outside Plant City High School. It is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Live trees are also available for purchase at Lowe's Home Improvement Center, Home Depot, Walmart and even at some grocery stores. Click here to find the nearest location.

Potted Trees

Ergle Christmas Tree Farm and other tree sellers are also offering an increasingly popular Christmas tree option: live, potted Christmas trees.

If they follow the growing instructions and re-pot their tree as it grows, families can continue to decorate them year after year.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a big fan of live Christmas trees. Northern varieties can be transplanted to progressively larger pots as they grow while living trees suited for Florida like red cedar, Arizona cypress, Leyland cypress, Torulosa juniper, sand pine, and, in South Florida, Norfolk Island pine, can be planted in your yard after Christmas by following this advice from the UF/IFAS.

Home improvement stores, including Lowe's and Home Depot, are also offering potted Christmas trees along with the popular varieties of cut trees imported from the North.

Real Trees May Be Pricier

Trees, like everything else, may cost a little more this year. Tree growers answering the Real Christmas Tree Board’s survey said growing costs have increased. About 36 percent of respondents said costs were up 11 percent to 15 percent compared to last year, while 27 percent said costs increased 16 to 20 percent. Another 10 percent said the year-over-year increase in production costs was more than 21 percent.

As a result, 71 percent of growers said they would likely increase wholesale prices. That means trees could cost anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent or more.

Consumers seem to be taking the expected price hikes in stride.

“While our grower survey tells us wholesale prices are likely to be higher for real Christmas trees this year, our consumer survey tells us people expected as much,” Gray said in the news release.

“The good news is fans of real Christmas trees say they believe the trees are worth the price, and they are willing to pay more this year if necessary to get one — and that’s not a surprise either.”

Growers’ expectations of a healthy season are also tempered by fears of supply chain disruptions, the No. 1 concern of 44 percent of growers. About 35 percent said their top concern is that inflation-strapped consumers will cut real Christmas trees from their lists this year. About 21 percent of respondents cited labor availability concerns.

The Origin Of Christmas Trees

The origin of the Christmas tree can be traced to long before the advent of Christianity, according to History.com.

In ancient times, it was commonly believed the sun was a god. It appeared to be sick as daylight waned in the winter, but evergreens thriving during winter were a reminder that the sun would become strong again and lush greenery and warmth would return.

Evergreen trees were seen as a symbol of eternal life among ancient Egyptians, Hebrews and Chinese. Pagans throughout Europe used evergreens in their homes to represent fertility and new life.

Christmas trees were first used by devout Christians in Germany. The 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther is believed to have added lighted candles to trees. He was composing a sermon as he walked home on a winter evening and was struck by the sight of stars twinkling above the evergreens, and recreated the scene in a tree in his family’s main room.