Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Mississippi State University (MSU) scientists are making significant strides to rejuvenate the state’s struggling Christmas tree industry. With the sector experiencing a downturn in recent years, researchers are focusing on developing disease-resistant tree varieties and exploring innovative growing techniques to help Mississippi’s tree farms recover and thrive.
Once a major producer of Christmas trees, Mississippi grew more than 330,000 trees at its peak in the mid-1980s. Today, however, the state’s industry has contracted, with only 30 farms still operating. Despite this, these farms continue to supply thousands of trees each year and have begun pairing sales with agritourism to attract customers. With an increasing demand for updated research and disease-resistant varieties, particularly as older growers retire, the work being done at MSU has become crucial for the industry’s future.
Joshua Granger, a Forestry Associate Professor at MSU, has been at the forefront of this research. He explained that Christmas trees have often been a neglected area within the forestry sector. “Christmas trees are considered a gray area in the forestry industry. Is it horticulture? Is it landscaping? Or is it forestry?” Granger said. When he joined MSU, there was little research on the subject. However, working with the Southern Christmas Tree Association, Granger has begun developing studies that aim to help local tree farmers.
One of the most exciting developments has come through a partnership between MSU and Shady Pond Tree Farm in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The farm’s former owner, Clark Gernon, discovered a unique variety of Leyland cypress that appeared resistant to Passalora sequoia, a rapidly spreading fungal pathogen that harms other trees. Gernon’s discovery has led to a new research initiative. “This pathogen attacks the foliage either top-down, bottom-up, or inside-out until it all turns brown and dies,” said Gernon, explaining the damage done to his trees.
Granger and his team, including Assistant Professor Ashley Schulz, have been rooting plant material from the newly discovered Leyland cypress, which is being studied at MSU’s greenhouse. The goal is to propagate the trees and assess their long-term viability. “It was Mr Gernon’s dream to have researchers study the tree and qualify it as a unique cultivar or species,” Granger explained. “He passed away last Christmas Eve, but we are carrying out his wish through our work on campus.”
In addition to the Leyland cypress, Granger is investigating other species of trees to assess their potential for Christmas tree farming in the South. While the Leighton Green Gernon variety shows promise, its white-blue needles may appeal to a more niche market, as many consumers prefer dark green trees. Among the species being tested are spruce pine, Atlantic white cedar, Arizona cypress, and hybrids of Leyland cypress. Once the trees mature, MSU researchers will test them with consumers and assess their performance indoors over extended periods.
Granger is also working with Joby Czarnecki, an associate research professor in MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. Together, they are using advanced scanning technology to detect early signs of Passalora sequoia in Leyland cypress stands. This technology could lead to more precise spraying protocols, saving growers both time and money. “Right now, growers are using a standard spraying protocol, regardless of whether the tree needs it or not,” Granger said.
MSU’s Hiram D. Palmertree North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona has also been actively involved in researching Christmas tree farming practices. Jeff Wilson, an associate professor of ornamental horticulture with the MSU Extension Service, recently completed a three-year study on nitrogen application rates for three common tree species used in Southern Christmas tree farms.
“There had not been any research on Christmas trees in Mississippi since the late ’70s or early ’80s, but there is a real need for it today,” Wilson said. The study was commissioned by the Southern Christmas Tree Association and supported by a specialty crop block grant from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Wilson’s research will help farmers better manage their crops and increase profits, especially as younger generations enter the tree farming business and adapt to changing market conditions.
Granger hopes that these studies will serve as the foundation for future research efforts. “This was just one small nitrogen study, but there’s a long list of different studies we could do that would benefit growers across the state,” he said. With the growing interest in agritourism and the need for sustainable farming practices, MSU’s research could provide the tools needed to revitalise Mississippi’s Christmas tree industry.
As the industry looks to the future, these ongoing studies at MSU represent a beacon of hope for Mississippi’s Christmas tree farms. With advancements in disease resistance and more effective growing techniques, the state may soon witness the revival of a once-thriving industry, providing new opportunities for farmers and families across the state.
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Tags: Christmas tree research, forestry research, Mississippi Christmas tree farms, softwood tree species, woodworking industry, woodworking USA
