Bring festive delight home with real tiny Christmas trees! Perfect for small spaces, they add natural charm and a comfy holiday vibe.
If you live in a small space but want some festive greenery, a real mini Christmas tree is a great idea. These little trees look beautiful during the holidays and, with good care, can stay green for years. They bring a bit of nature into your home and brighten it all year long. You can pick small types for indoors or young trees you can plant outside later. Here are some of the best options for real tiny Christmas trees.
Small or young plants make great real mini Christmas trees for the holiday season. Whether you want one for your porch or living room, they’re a festive choice. These plants can grow indoors, but if they get too big, you can move them outside. Many of these mini Christmas trees grow slowly, so you can use them as holiday decorations for years. Some also do well in larger pots and can become part of your houseplant collection.
Real Tiny Christmas Trees for Festive Vibe
1. Amber Gold Arborvitae
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis ‘Jantar’
USDA Zones: 4-8
This plant can grow up to 12 feet tall (3.7 meters) and spread about 3 feet wide (0.9 meters). It grows at a steady pace and can be kept as a houseplant for many years. Like other types of Arborvitae, Amber Gold is easy to care for. It does well in full sunlight or partial shade.
The soil needs to drain well, and you should water the plant when the top 2 inches (5 cm) feel dry. Avoid letting water collect around the roots. Young plants can be sensitive to chemical fertilizers and may get burned leaves. Instead, use compost tea to feed the soil. Another small variety is Fire Chief, which also grows slowly and has beautiful reddish leaves.
2. Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Botanical Name: Picea glauca var. albertiana ‘Conica’
USDA Zones: 2-6
This slow-growing evergreen has the classic shape of a small Christmas tree. Even when fully grown, it will keep its pyramid shape. The blue-green leaves are especially beautiful. You can trim the foliage to keep it shaped into a topiary.
It grows about two inches (5 cm) each year. This means the dwarf Alberta spruce can be moved to bigger containers as it grows. Eventually, it must be placed outside in a sunny spot where it will thrive for many years.
3. Gold Cone Juniper
Botanical Name: Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone. ‘
USDA Zones: 5-7
Gold Cone juniper grows slowly and can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. Its slow growth makes it a great choice for a small Christmas tree for many years. The foliage is green with amber tones, dense, and tiny, giving it a soft look.
In spring, new growth is a bright gold color. With its upright shape, the Gold Cone juniper is great for small decorations during the holidays.
4. Pinpoint Blue False Cypress
Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
USDA Zones: 5-7
Blue false cypress is a slow-growing evergreen. It can reach 6 feet (1.8 meters) in 10 years and grow up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) when fully mature. It has a nice upright shape with soft, feathery branches and leaves.
When growing false cypress, keep in mind that they don’t like to be too wet. Only water when the soil is nearly dry. They need bright light and well-draining soil. When they get too large for indoors, plant them outside to enjoy for many years.
5. Tuscan Blue Rosemary
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’
USDA Zones: 8-11
This plant isn’t a typical Christmas tree, but its evergreen needles give it a similar look. It works well as a mini live Christmas tree and has a bonus – you can use its fragrant, flavorful leaves in cooking.
If you’re growing rosemary all year, you can put it outside during the summer. Just remember it doesn’t survive in very cold weather, so bring it inside before frost arrives. In spring, you’ll see pretty blue flowers on its stems.
6. Boulevard Cypress
Botanical Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boulevard
USDA Zones: 4-9
This evergreen naturally grows in a pyramid shape, making it look like a classic Christmas tree. It grows slowly and is easy to care for, making it great for beginners. Its soft, silvery-blue leaves add texture and can be trimmed into a topiary shape.
It grows best in partial shade but can also do well in full sun. To keep a Boulevard cypress healthy, plant it in well-draining, loamy soil. Keep the soil moderately moist, but let it dry out a bit more in the winter.