Aren't they all pines? What's the difference? I've been known to be fussy when it comes to picking out a Christmas tree.

No, I'm not looking for "the" perfectly shaped tree, but I do know what I want when I go looking for a real tree. I want something that's fresh and holds its needles when it starts to dry out.

My quest for the perfect tree is trying to find the right type and size of tree, not the best shaped tree that has no imperfections.

My very favorite type of Christmas tree is the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). Unfortunately, it's not readily available in the Northwest. This tree was at the top of my list when I lived in New York, but alas it's grown predominantly in the eastern U.S. and is not usually found here. That's too bad because it's a beauty with a delicate, finely textured appearance. Along with other pines, it's long keeping and seldom drops its needles.

Another of my favorites is the noble fir (Abies procera Rehd.) This popular, but usually expensive type of Christmas tree, is a beauty with its silvery blue-green needles that twist upwards giving the bottom of the twigs and branches a somewhat flattened appearance. In addition to being quite beautiful, the noble fir keeps its needles for a long time. I especially like it because the stiff branches take the weight of heavy ornaments without drooping and have enough space between them for displaying large ornaments.

While not in my top two, Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris) is still an excellent Christmas tree. It has great needle retention and stays fresh for three to four weeks if supplied with water. It does not have the soft look of the white pine and is usually sheered to be dense and bushy.

Another great runner-up on my list is the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). It's also the most popular type of tree in the country, including the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. It's even exported to parts of Asia.

One tree I try to avoid is blue spruce (Picea pungens) or any other spruce. That's because spruces tend to drop their needles in warm rooms. Plus the one-half to 1-inch needles are sharp and stiff. However, the twigs are stiff enough to support heavy ornaments and the tree has a pleasant woodsy odor.

* Marianne C. Ophardt is a horticulturist for the Washington State University Extension Office in Benton County.