Live Potted Christmas Trees

Potted Christmas Trees: Buying & Care Guide

A potted Christmas tree is a living Christmas tree: it arrives rooted in soil, so it keeps growing after the holidays. It brings holiday cheer to a home or office and makes a holiday gift that lasts well past the season. Unlike fresh-cut Christmas trees, live potted ones can be repotted and enjoyed for many holiday seasons ahead. You can also relocate your real Christmas tree outdoors, plant it in the garden, or keep it on the porch for year-round greenery. Live Christmas trees in pots also hold their needles, so your floors stay clean through the holidays.

Our potted Christmas trees include the fragrant Rosemary Tree, the lemon-scented Lemon Cypress Tree, and the compact Dwarf Alberta Spruce, in sizes that fit a tabletop.

Explore Our Live Christmas Trees in Pots

Explore Lively Root's collection of live Christmas trees in pots and find the perfect addition to your holiday decor. Our potted trees come in different types and sizes to suit any space, adding natural beauty and charm to your celebrations. Bring home a tree that lasts beyond the season today!

Lemon Cypress Tree

• Characteristics: The Lemon Cypress Tree has soft, golden-green foliage with a fresh lemon scent and a natural cone shape, ideal as a small tabletop Christmas tree.
• Level of care and growing needs: Bright, direct light for 6 to 8 hours a day; water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
• Pet-friendliness: Toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it out of reach.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

• Characteristics: The Dwarf Alberta Spruce is a compact, slow-growing spruce with dense needles and a classic Christmas tree shape. It tolerates life in a container well.
• Level of care and growing needs: It is an outdoor conifer: keep it indoors for no more than 7 to 10 days, in bright light below 70°F, then move it back outside.
• Pet-friendliness: Non-toxic to pets, though the short needles can cause discomfort if eaten.

Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree

• Characteristics: The Norfolk Island Pine Christmas Tree (Araucaria heterophylla) boasts an upright trunk with symmetrical branches, typically featuring 5 per whorl. It can grow to 3 to 5 feet tall, adding an elegant, evergreen touch. 
• Level of care and growing needs: It is easy to care for and requires bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. 
• Pet-friendliness: Non-toxic but can cause mild discomfort if ingested by pets. 

Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree

• Characteristics: The Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree (Cuprocyparis leylandii) features soft, feathery, dark green foliage and a naturally symmetrical shape that makes it perfect for holiday decoration.
• Level of care and growing needs: It is a low-maintenance plant and prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. 
• Pet-friendliness: Generally considered non-toxic to pets. 

Rosemary Christmas Tree

• Characteristics: The Rosemary Christmas Tree (Salvia rosmarinus) has a dense, evergreen appearance and a fresh, pine-like fragrance, mimicking that of a small holiday tree. 
• Level of care and growing needs: It is easy to maintain and requires full sun and well-drained soil. Water when the top layer of soil is dry.  
• Pet-friendliness: Safe for pets, but large amounts might cause mild gastrointestinal issues if ingested. 

How to Care for a Real Christmas Tree

Watering, Light, and Humidity

Keep your live Christmas tree hydrated by watering when the top inch of soil feels dry, but avoid waterlogging. Every tree here wants bright light, and Lemon Cypress and Rosemary need direct sun, so a south-facing window is best. Maintain moderate humidity, as dry air can lead to stress and browning. Misting can be beneficial for topiary holiday plants like rosemary.

Temperature and Placement Tips

Live Christmas trees thrive at moderate temperatures, between 60 and 70°F (15 to 21°C). Keep them away from heaters and drafts, as these can dry out the tree and cause needle drop. Proper placement of your potted Christmas tree helps maintain a healthy, festive appearance throughout the season.

Repotting and Pruning Guidelines

Some trees, like Norfolk Island Pine, may need repotting as they grow. Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes. Prune dry or damaged branches to maintain shape and encourage growth, especially for topiary varieties like Lavender and Rosemary Christmas trees.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Needle drop and yellowing leaves are often caused by improper watering or dry hot air. Adjust watering and placement to improve your festive plant's health. Wipe leaves with a damp cloth or use mild insecticidal soap to address pests like spider mites.

Living Christmas Tree Care After the Holidays

Outdoor conifers like spruce need a slow transition. Before bringing one inside, give it 2 to 3 days in a cool garage or covered porch; after the holidays, give it 3 to 7 days there before moving it outdoors. If the ground is not frozen, plant it in a hole twice as wide as the root ball and water weekly through its first season. Rosemary and Lemon Cypress can stay in their pots in a sunny window, or outdoors where winters are mild, and a Norfolk Island Pine is a tropical houseplant that can stay indoors all winter.

Enjoy This Holiday Season With a Live Potted Christmas Tree

Enjoy this holiday season with the beauty and warmth of a live potted Christmas tree. After the holidays, repot it or plant it outside, a sustainable alternative to fresh-cut trees.

For a gift, consider a Norfolk Island Pine or a Leyland Cypress Christmas Tree: both are easy to share with loved ones and keep growing into next year. Place them in living rooms, entryways, or offices to create a welcoming holiday atmosphere.

Complete your seasonal decor with a Holiday Wreath or Fresh Cedar Garland from our Christmas plants collection, or order a fresh-cut Fraser or Balsam Fir through our Christmas tree delivery. Transform your space into a cozy, festive retreat, perfect for the holidays.