Farmer Tom’s Famous Sussex Fir
£44.00 – £156.00
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Farmer Tom’s Sussex Fir (otherwise known as the Canaan Fir) is a variety of Balsam Fir originating from, and found principally in, Canada but now growing here in Sussex. Some consider it to be a hybrid of the true Balsam Fir and the Fraser Fir – and it exhibits traits of both trees. It has a great orangey scent (similar to the Fraser), a slimmer profile and good needle retention, and is very popular over in the US. Uncommon on these shores, you won’t find it at many UK outlets. Similar to the Fraser Fir, Sussex Firs grow in a bit more of a wobbly fashion as compared to the Nordman or Norway Spruce. Read more.
Height guide
Companies and growers measure Christmas trees in lots of ways, so on our website we’ve tried to keep it relatively simple: our measurements in feet are a minimum height to the top of the tree. So, if you order a 6ft tree it will be at least 6ft from the base of the trunk to the tippy top – typically, it will be a bit taller. Don’t forget to account for this potential extra height.
The long bit on the top of the tree (where you put your star or fairy) is called the ‘leader’. This can be quite long on some trees and much shorter on others – just natural variance – so growers account for this when measuring by taking a height to halfway up the leader (halfway between the top set of branches and the top of the tree). Just to confuse things a bit further, the industry standard is centimetre ranges. Here’s a handy conversion:
| If I order a… | Height to halfway up leader: |
| 4ft tree | 125-150cm |
| 5ft tree | 150-175cm |
| 6ft tree | 175-200cm |
| 7ft tree | 200-225cm |
| 8ft tree | 225-250cm |
| 9ft tree | 250-300cm |
With natural products it’s not a perfect science, so these ranges act as a guide and your tree may be a little outside of the ranges in either direction.
Stand
If you’re putting your tree in any sort of stand, that will add some height to the tree, so don’t forget to factor it in to the overall measurement! If you need a stand, we sell them here.
Tree width
Bear in mind that the taller your tree, the wider it will be at the base. Nordman Firs and Norway Spruces in particular get quite big and bushy as they get taller, so make sure you’ve got space!
Comments From Happy Buyers
10 reviews for Farmer Tom's Famous Sussex Fir
Your perfect match?
✅ You’re looking for a tree that will keep its needles well
✅ You want a tree on the narrower side
✅ You want a tree that smells great
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Tree Guide: Farmer Tom’s Famous Sussex Fir
The Sussex Fir is our own take on the Canaan Fir (Abies Balsamea var. Phanerolepis… let’s stick to Sussex Fir), which itself is a variety of the Balsam Fir. Some consider it to be a sort of hybrid between the Balsam and the Fraser firs, and its characteristics and appearance is very similar indeed to the Frasers we grow here on the farm. The Canaan grows a little further north than the Fraser, being natively found from West Virginia up into the southernmost parts of Canada.
Characteristics
The Canaan grows around 1-2ft per year and up to around 50ft tall at the most. It’s a little more hardy than its close relatives (the Balsam and Fraser), growing in a broader range of conditions. In the sunny South East of the UK it does very well.
The Canaan tends to have a blue-green colour, but this can be a little different from tree to tree with some being a brighter green. The branches, like the Fraser, are stiff and quite upward-pointing. The Canaan will grow cones during the year but these will typically be shed well before the Christmas season.
Christmas Tree Credentials
Our Sussex Fir is a favourite because of its:
- Citrus scent
- Compact shape
- Strong branches (good for decorations)
- Dense appearance
- Good needle retention
Farmer Tom Says:
Edel (verified owner) –
Beautiful deep green colour. Delighted with the tree and the service.
Lisa (verified owner) –
Third year I have ordered a tree, first time I’ve ordered this type and best yet. Beautiful shape with soft branches. Best thing is that the tree has been up for a week and it has hardly dropped. Would definitely recommend and I will be buying again. Thank you.
Tim (verified owner) –
Awesome shape and divine smell from this stunning tree! Really happy with the service and quality!
Jennifer (verified owner) –
A stunning tree, beautifully shaped and smells heavenly. The aroma catches you as soon as you enter the house. Looked a little sparse initially but once the branches dropped it was perfectly formed. 6 foot is the perfect size for my 12′ by 13′ livingroom. Quite possibly the loveliest tree I’ve had to date.
Jo (verified owner) –
The perfect Christmas tree. Returning third time this year.
Alison (verified owner) –
Loved this tree! Great shape and scent.
Matty (verified owner) –
just THE best real Christmas Tree i’ve ever bought. No needle drop! And great customer service, Thank you :o)
Sian Wright (verified owner) –
A simply fabulous fir tree! Perfect shape, divine smell and minimal needle loss. All adds up to one of our very best Christmas trees and a very happy family. Website is also great, informative and easy to use, and the service is excellent. Have just placed my order for this year’s tree and my daughter has caught the bug and ordered one too! Thank you so much 🙂
David Thorpe –
A big thank you to everyone, especially Will and Adam, who helped to make sure I received a fabulous Sussex Fir tree in rather challenging circumstances!
Arina –
Beautiful tree, and wonderfully fragrant. I might like it even more than the Fraser, which says a lot.