Where To Get A Live Christmas Tree In Tampa

TAMPA, FL — If you’re planning to put up a live Christmas tree this year, it’s a good idea to scope out what will be available from Hillsborough County Christmas tree lots.

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

Great Lakes Christmas Tree Farms is a retail and wholesale distribution center at 5302 E Diana St. in Tampa and at the Tampa Bay Farmers Market, 10001 N Armenia Ave., Tampa. The Sansone family has been providing Tampa residents with their live Christmas trees for more than 30 years including Black Hills spruce, Northern Carolina Fraser fir, Michigan blue spruce, Oregon Douglas and Noble firs, Michigan white pine and Canada balsam fir, along with poinsettias in a variety of colors. Great Lakes Christmas Tree Farms is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Green Mountain Christmas Trees is located at 9715 N 56th St., Temple Terrace. The family-owned tree lot has been serving the area for 22 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, handmade wreaths and centerpieces. It is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday.

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. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m..

Tree Brothers Christmas is now open at Keystone Prep High School, 18105 Gunn Highway, Odessa, the Oldsmar Flea Market, 180 N Racetrack Road, Oldsmar, and The Grove At Wesley Chapel behind the new Starbucks. Hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Dec. 23.

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.

Dave's Christmas Tree Lot at 106 E Lumsden Road in Brandon has been the community's source of live Christmas trees since 1998. It 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. There are two locations: the Winthrop Town Center tree lot is at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview, and the East Bay High School lot at 7710 Old Big Bend Road, Gibstonton. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The tree lot offers Fraser firs, Black Hills spruce, concolor firs and blue spruce. Cathy Roberts also creates and sells centerpieces, swags and wreaths along with birch reindeer, snowmen and other holiday creations. The lot also distributes free candy canes and coloring books to kids.

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.

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.

This is the first year Raprager Family Farms, 16907 Boy Scout Road, Odessa, has sold fresh-cut Christmas trees. The farm is selling live Christmas trees for $49, which is below cost, for a 6- to 7-foot tree. Residents can drop by daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. or schedule a time by emailing service@raprager.com. The farm also has several sizes of poinsettias for sale.

Cut Your Own Tree

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 17 tree farms in Florida where residents can cut their own Christmas tree, which include Southern red cedar, Virginia pine, sand pine, spruce pine and Leyland cypress in Florida.

Christmas tree harvesting does not upset the ecology because more trees are planted than harvested each year and, while growing, Christmas trees provide environmental benefits such as wildlife habitat and increased soil stability.

The Florida Department of Agriculture said purchasing a homegrown Florida tree is also good for the environment because less fuel is used in transportation and it supports the farmers of the state.

Blue Acres Christmas Tree Farm, 20638 Moreland Drive, Spring Hill, is open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The farm will be closed Tuesday through Thursday. The family-owned tree farm specializes in Florida native Carolina sapphires, Southern red cedars and Sand Pines. The farm provides bow saws to cut the trees and no reservations are required. Blue Acres also sells fresh-cut handmade Fraser fir wreaths, raw honey and seasoned firewood by the trunk load for $20 for up to 45 pieces. Military and first responders with identification will receive $5 off any tree. Email blueacreschristmastrees@gmail.com or call 352-422-6375.

Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, 3325 Trieman Blvd., Dade City, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The farm offers cut-your-own long-needle pine and Southern cedar trees as well as Northern imports including Fraser firs and Bal Fra (a hybrid balsam and Fraser fir). Cut-your-own field-grown trees are priced at $36 for a 6-foot tree, $6 per foot for 9-foot trees and $7 per foot for trees taller than 9 feet. The family-owned business also offers live potted Southern cedars, Leyland cypress and Carolina sapphires. Ergle Christmas Tree Farm also sells five colors of Christmas cacti and offers concessions on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lazy Lay Acres Christmas Tree Farm at 14920 Swift Road, Dade City, is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lazy Lay Acres Farm allows families to cut down their own sand pines and red cedars. In addition, the farm ships Fraser firs from North Carolina and offers potted Leyland cypress trees and fresh-made wreaths. Kids can interact with the farm animals and take hay rides for $5 per person. Additionally, the farm offers candied apples, cotton candy, fresh-boiled peanuts and split firewood. Email jewellay@lazylayacres.com or call 352-567-6808.

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