Alpine Fir – Abies lasiocarpa
Narrow crown, dense canopy. 20ft tall & 15ft wide, 3ft trunk diameter; 100+ft tall under ideal conditions. Very slow growing at low elevations; growth often limited to 3-5in annually. Fragrant; smell describes as earthy, woody, sweet.
Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Austrian Pine – Pinus nigra
Pyramidal shape when young, matures into more rounded dome shape; 40-60ft tall & 20-40ft wide, 2-5ft trunk diameter. Medium growth rate; 1-2 ft per year in ideal conditions. Fragrant; strong scent, described as fresh, highly resinous, slightly citrusy.
Zeynel Cebeci, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Baby Blue Spruce – Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue’
Slower growing than the native Colorado spruce, this semi-dwarf selection is useful for smaller landscapes and confined spaces. Slow growing, 15 to 30 ft. tall, 15 ft. wide. Full to partial sun. Dense, eye-catching silvery blue-green foliage holds its color well. Growing only a few inches per year, it develops a broad, pyramidal form. Evergreen.
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bosnian Pine – Pinus leucodermis
Unique purple-blue cones when young, maturing to brown. Dense, pyramidal tree makes a fine landscape specimen or windbreak. Evergreen. May reach 40- 70ft tall & 10-20ft wide, 6-7ft trunk diameter. Slow growth rate, 1-1.5ft annually; can take 50 years or more to reach full maturity
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Colorado Blue Spruce – Picea pungens ‘Glauca’
Dense foliage, narrow to broad pyramidal shape. 30-60ft tall & 10-20ft wide, 3-5ft trunk diameter. Slow to medium growth rate; 1-2ft per year. Can live to 80 years in the home landscape. Exceptional grey- blue color is maintained by a waxy layer on the outer surface of each needle. Strong, slightly sweet “fresh” pine scent.
Opioła Jerzy (Poland), CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Colorado Green Spruce – Picea pungens
Dense foliage, narrow to broad pyramidal shape. 30-60ft tall & 10-20ft wide, 3-5ft trunk diameter. Slow to medium growth rate; 1-2ft per year. Can live to 80 years in the home landscape. Strong, slightly sweet “fresh” pine scent (similar to blue spruce).
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cork Bark Fir – Abies lasiocarpa arizonica
Broad upright/conical shape with short needles. 50-75ft tall & 50ft wide, 1-4ft trunk diameter. Slow growth rate, .5-1ft per year. Can be used as a softer alternative to Colorado blue spruce. Distinctive scent is described as citrusy, orange-like, fresh, sweet, & balsamic.
Bryan Ungard from Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Douglas Fir – Pseudotsuga menziesii
Western North American native evergreen tree. Not a true fir, in the Pine family. Medium to fast growth rate; 1-3ft per year 40-80ft tall & 12-20ft wide, 5-6ft trunk diameter. Strong, sweet, clean, piney-fresh scent with citrusy notes.
Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, via Wikimedia Commons
Dwarf Alberta Spruce – Picea glauca ‘Conica’
A perfect cone-shaped dwarf conifer displaying dense green needles. Grows 8 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide. Full to partial sun. Excellent as a miniature Christmas tree in natural form, or as an artistically pruned topiary. Makes a formal statement in the garden. A superb container specimen. Evergreen.
Lazaregagnidze, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grand Fir – Abies grandis
Native to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. 135-180ft tall & 20- 35ft wide, 6ft trunk diameter under ideal conditions. Medium to fast growth rate, 1- 3ft per year. Less shade tolerant than other conifers. Strong scent described as citrus-like, woody, earthy, fresh, slightly sweet.
Crusier, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Incense Cedar – Calocedrus decurrens
California native. Narrow conical or columnar shape. 40-60ft tall by 8-12ft wide or greater, with a 4ft trunk diameter. Fast to hit 20ft, growth slows thereafter. Wood and foliage both provide a strong, spicy-sweet, pleasant scent.
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lemon Cypress – Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Wilma Goldcrest’
This small, evergreen conifer displays bright yellow foliage with a lemon scent. A selection of the CA native Monterey Cypress. Columnar habit, reaching 6′ tall in 10 years. An excellent container plant or color accent for your garden. Prefers well-drained soil and moderate water. Protect from cold winds.
Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 US https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/deed.en, via Wikimedia Commons
Noble Fir – Abies procera
Slow to moderate growing conifer. Known for its beauty. Keeps well. Smooth grey bark. Good stiff branches for holding ornaments. 130-230 feet tall by 6.5 ft. trunk diameter. Mild to strong scent described as fresh and woodsy; described as a “classic Christmas tree scent.”
mamamusings on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Norway Spruce – Picea abies
Native to Northern and Central Europe. Pyramidal shape and short, dark-green needles. 40-60ft tall & 25-30ft wide, 3-5ft trunk diameter; can be taller. Medium to fast growth, 1-3ft per year. Strong scent described as fresh with a hint of citrus and distinctive pine fragrance.
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Serbian Spruce – Picea omorika
Narrow pyramidal shape; dark-green needles with streaks of white on upswept branches. 50-70ft tall & 20-25ft wide, 3ft trunk diameter. Slow to medium growth rate, .5-2ft per year. Can live to 50-60 years; sometimes less as a street tree. Moderate to strong scent is described as piney and citrus-like.
Crusier, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Turkish Fir – Abies bornmuelleriana
Tree has conical shape with conically arranged, soft, deep-green needles. 50-80ft tall & 10-15ft wide, 2-12ft trunk diameter. Slow to medium growth, 1-2ft per year. Can live to 50+ years. Mild scent.
Don Pedro28, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons