• Artificial fir trees offer long-lasting Christmas cheer.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Fir trees are widely available as fresh-cut and artificial Christmas trees. Fir trees have soft-textured foliage and flattened needles. Look for an artificial tree that closely resembles the color, shape and needle style of its fresh counterpart, with sturdy wire branches that can easily support ornaments. Artificial Christmas trees are available in a wide range of sizes and styles.
  
  

Douglas Fir

• The Douglas fir's full shape and deep green color make it a favorite choice for a Christmas tree. Its long, thick needles and large number of branch tips provide a rich backdrop for Christmas ornaments, although its fullness does not accommodate large ornaments as well as a more open-branched tree. Its needles radiate in all directions from the branch, adding to its thick foliage.
  
  

Fraser Fir

• The Fraser fir was named for John Fraser, a Scottish botanist. It has strong branches that angle slightly upward, which give the tree a compact appearance. The Fraser fir's needles turn upward in a "U" shape on its upper branches, emphasizing the lifted branches. Its dark blue-green foliage and pyramid shape make it a popular choice for Christmas trees.
  
  

Balsam Fir

• Dark green, upward-sloping branches form the layered teardrop shape of the balsam fir. It has a pronounced tip and splayed needles on its dense branches. Its cones are small and somewhat smooth. The balsam is prized as a Christmas tree because of its color and shape, and is widely available as an artificial tree.
  
  

Noble Fir

• The noble fir has strong, slightly downward-sloping branches that can accommodate large or heavy ornaments. Its grayish-green color stands out among other evergreens. The noble fir's natural shape is that of a full teardrop. The noble fir produces large, heavy pinecones, which sometimes are replicated on artificial trees. Noble fir greenery often is used for garlands and wreaths.
  
  

Concolor Fir

• The concolor fir, also known as the white fir, has a full, bushy appearance with thick, curved needles on its upper branches. It has golden green foliage and large, barrel-shaped cones. The tips of the branches are numerous and splayed, offering ample room for ornaments and other Christmas tree decor.
  
  

Grand Fir

• The grand fir is one of the largest fir varieties. Its upward-growing branches feature long, glossy needles that create lush, thick foliage. Its cones are yellowish-green and generally not easily visible because of the dense foliage. The grand fir isn't as commonly used for a Christmas tree as the other firs, but many artificial tree manufacturers offer a variety of grand firs.