If you want a tree that does not prick, sheds less and stays fresh longer in a warm flat, choose a Nordmann fir. An ordinary spruce is the classic Latvian forest tree and smells stronger, but its needles are sharp and drop sooner indoors.
Below the two are compared point by point, so you can decide which suits your home better.
What a Nordmann fir is
In Latvian both are often just called "egle", but botanically the Nordmann is a fir (Abies nordmanniana), while the ordinary or Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the tree that grows in Latvian forests. Both are conifers, but their needles, branches and staying power indoors are different.
We sell only Nordmann Premium firs. We work with a grower that has been raising trees for more than 40 years, and we select and tag every tree ourselves. The trees are cut properly and rested for 5 days at outdoor temperature, and we keep them in a cold warehouse, never in the warm.
The comparison in one table
| Nordmann Premium fir | Ordinary spruce | |
|---|---|---|
| Needles | Soft, do not prick | Sharp, prick your hands |
| Shedding | 3 to 5 times less | Sheds more |
| How long it lasts | Up to 4 weeks with the trunk always in water | Starts dropping sooner in a warm room |
| Shape | Symmetrical, full on every side | Often sparser |
| Branches | Dense, decorations hold well | More gaps between branches |
| Scent | Gentler | Stronger |
| With children | Easy to decorate, needles do not prick | Decorate with care |
Needles and shedding
The biggest difference is the needles. A Nordmann Premium fir has soft, gentle needles, so children can help decorate and you will not scratch your hands walking past. It sheds 3 to 5 times less than an ordinary spruce, so you are not sweeping under the tree every day.
With the right care the needles hold for up to 4 weeks. The one condition is that the trunk always stands in water. If the stand runs dry, the cut seals with resin and the tree stops drinking. Read how to avoid that in caring for your tree in the first week and in our Christmas tree care guide.
Shape and decorations
A Nordmann Premium fir grows symmetrically, with dense, even branches. We pick every tree ourselves so it is full on every side, not sparse. Even heavier glass baubles and lights sit well on the dense branches.
An ordinary spruce often has more gaps between its branches. Some people like exactly that: the decorations hang more freely and the tree looks as if it came straight from the forest.
Scent
If a strong pine-forest smell matters most to you, an ordinary spruce gives more of it. A Nordmann Premium fir has a gentler scent. In many flats that is an advantage: it is not overpowering, and the room still smells like Christmas.
When to choose a Nordmann Premium fir
- You have small children who want to help decorate.
- The tree will stand in a warm flat for more than a few days.
- You do not want to sweep up needles every day.
- You want a symmetrical, full tree that holds decorations well.
When an ordinary spruce may suit you better
- A strong forest scent matters most.
- The tree will only be indoors for a few days around Christmas.
- You like sparser branches and a wilder look.
How to spot a good Nordmann fir
Not every tree sold as "Nordmann" is equally good. On a fresh tree the needles are flexible and do not snap when you bend them between your fingers. The branches spring back, and if you shake the tree gently only a few needles fall. The cut on the trunk should be pale and moist, not dark and dry.
We only deliver trees that genuinely meet Nordmann Premium quality. If your tree sheds its needles before Christmas, we replace it with a new one at no extra cost.
What a Nordmann Premium fir costs
Our Nordmann Premium firs cost from €74.97, and delivery in Riga and the surrounding area is included. All prices by size are in how much a Christmas tree costs, and you can pick your tree in the shop.
Questions people ask
Does a Nordmann fir smell?
Yes, but its scent is gentler than an ordinary spruce. If a strong forest smell is very important to you, a spruce smells more.
How long does a Nordmann fir last indoors?
With the right care a Nordmann Premium fir holds its needles for up to 4 weeks. The trunk must always stand in water.
Is a Nordmann fir safe for children?
Its needles are soft and do not prick, so children can safely help decorate. Choose LED lights, which barely warm the branches.
Do you sell ordinary spruce too?
No, we sell only Nordmann Premium firs, in five heights from 160-180 cm to 300-350 cm.
Does a Nordmann fir really shed less?
A Nordmann Premium fir sheds 3 to 5 times less than an ordinary spruce. Storage matters too: our trees stay cold until delivery, and at home the trunk should always stand in water.