Fir trees are of many species that come from two genuses: Abies and Picea. On the Iberian peninsula only two species of Abies occur naturally. They are Abies alba in the northern Pyrenees and Abies pinsapo, endemic to the Ronda and Grazalema mountain ranges.

Greenhouses sell many varieties of fir tree, and the best for using as Christmas trees (especially with regard to their ability to withstand a period indoors) are the following:

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Noble or red fir (Abies procera): Has grayish-green needles. Holds on to them well, with little care needed.
Serbian spruce (Picea omorika): Needles are short, with gray underside, which makes them look frosty.
Norway spruce: (Picea abies): The most typical Christmas tree, but it withers badly if the air is too dry.
Blue spruce: (Picea pungens): There are several bluish-toned varieties. Their needles are very sharp, making them painful for children and pets.

When buying:
Make sure the tree has a firm ball of soil around its roots.
It should come in a pot or wrapped tightly.
It should have well-formed branches starting at the bottom of the tree and a dense coat of needles.
Do not buy trees in which the trunk splits into two at the top. The trunk should be single, straight and not dried out.
Shake the tree and make sure the needles don't fall off.

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It is best to transfer the tree to a somewhat larger pot, preferably with acidic soil. Put off bringing it into the house and decorating it as long as possible. When decorating it, be careful not to damage the tip, where people tend to place a star. Also, remember that if you decorate it with lights you cannot spray the tree with water.

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If it is going to be inside the house, place the tree in a bright spot, away from sources of heat and drafts. If possible, lower the temperature of the room a bit. Water regularly without forming puddles, and keep a container of water or a humidifier nearby. Ventilate the room daily.

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In general, firs are large trees with branches that spread out a considerable distance. They only grow well and reach their full beauty if they have plenty of space to develop and the lower branches are not pruned. So if you buy a Christmas tree with the idea of planting it after the holidays, make sure you have enough space. If not, you'd better dump it when the town hall collection truck comes around, or think of some other decorative foliage that you can later throw away.