A new National Christmas Tree was planted in President's Park on Saturday. The tree branches were bound for transport and will be unbound over the next few days/NPS

A nearly 30-foot tall white fir from Pennsylvania now stands as the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President's Park in Washington, D.C.

The 27-foot tree from Middleburg, Pennsylvania, was donated by Hill View Christmas Tree Farm, and will be the first white fir to serve as the National Christmas Tree. The National Park Service transported the tree from Pennsylvania to the Ellipse on Friday and planted the tree Saturday morning with a crane.  

Since 1973, the National Christmas Tree has been a living tree that people can view year-round in President’s Park — one of America’s 423 national parks. The Park Service selected a white fir because it is more resilient to needle cast disease, a fungal disease that affects spruce trees and causes their needles to turn brown and fall off. The previous tree, a Colorado blue spruce planted in October 2019, succumbed to needle cast disease.   

Transplanting and maintaining such a large tree is challenging and requires careful planning and mild weather conditions. Late October is an ideal time for planting, but there is still a chance of transplant shock. Park Service horticulturists will keep a close eye on the tree’s health and ensure its transition is as easy as possible.  

Presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place annually in President’s Park. The event features a countdown to the official lighting of the new National Christmas Tree and musical performances and national performers.