A tree from North Carolina will once again grace the Blue Room at the White House this Christmas. Cline Church Nursery, Fleetwood, Ashe County, was selected for the honor. The National Christmas Tree Association chose them as the 2023 Grand Champion Grower.
The Association holds a contest every two years in which consumers, industry experts, and growers choose which nurseries will provide trees for the White House and the vice president’s official residence, continuing a 58-year-old tradition.
This year marks the 15th time a tree from the Tar Heel State was chosen as the official Christmas tree for the White House, more than any other state in the nation. The last time was in 2021 when a Fraser Fir tree was donated from Peak Farms, owned by Rusty and Beau Estes, from Jefferson in Ashe County.
“Ruby”, a 78-foot tall Red Spruce from North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, was chosen as the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
North Carolina is the second-largest Christmas tree-producing state in the nation and is known for the Fraser Fir – native to the Appalachian Mountains – and the most popular Christmas tree choice.
White House officials selected a 19-foot Fraser Fir on Oct. 9. The tree will be removed and shipped to Washington D.C., on Nov. 15.
This isn’t the first time Cline Church Nursery has received a special honor. In 2022, they were selected as Reserve Champion by the NCTA and presented a North Carolina Fraser fir Christmas tree for display in the vice president’s residence.
The 2024 White House Christmas Tree will also come from North Carolina. Cartner Christmas Tree Farm, Newland, Avery County, was selected as the NCTA’s 20224 Grand Champion Grower.