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Contact: Katie Liming, 703-399-4547
The National Park Service (NPS) removed the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in President’s Park this morning and will plant a new tree this fall prior to the 99th National Christmas Tree Lighting.
The former tree was a 30-foot Colorado blue spruce from Palmyra, Pa. planted in 2019. The tree needed to be removed after developing needle cast, a fungal disease that affects spruce trees and causes their needles to turn brown and fall off.
Since 1973, the National Christmas Tree has been a living tree, cared for by NPS horticulturists. The National Christmas Tree can be viewed year-round on the Ellipse in President’s Park — one of America’s 423 national parks.
Last updated: May 3, 2021