Christmas Tree 2026: No Shortage Despite the Drought, but Prices Are Rising

No Christmas tree shortage in France this winter, despite the drought of summer 2026: the industry confirms it, as the trees destined for garden centres in December have largely withstood the heat. Prices, however, are expected to climb, mainly due to transport and wage costs. And the purchase date matters more than usual this year.

Christmas tree shortage in 2026: what the industry says

Losses do exist, but they concern trees that would not have been sold this year anyway. In the Morvan region, one of France's main production areas, some growers report 80 to 90% losses among young saplings planted in 2026, scorched by heatwaves. Jean-Christophe Bonoron, a grower in the Nièvre and chairman of the French Natural Christmas Tree Association (AFSNN), acknowledges the damage but rules out any nationwide shortage, as two or three-year-old saplings have resumed growing.

In Normandy, one grower puts his losses at nearly 100,000 euros, according to La Voix Le Bocage on actu.fr, and admits that a second year like this would force him to stop. Replanting has already begun, with more planned for spring 2027. In other words, the bill for this summer will come due in five or six years, when these saplings would have reached the size of a typical living-room tree.

Transport and wages are driving prices up

The price rise expected in December 2026 has little to do with the weather. The AFSNN considers the drought's impact on prices to be minimal, pointing instead to four much heavier factors:

• rising transport costs affecting all trees produced in Europe;
• wages across the industry, which weigh on prices charged to retailers;
• cheaper sellers catching up, aligning with higher market prices;
• replanting costs, which some growers are passing on this season.

The trend is already visible on shop floors: in La Presse de la Manche, a garden centre in the Cotentin announced that its prices would follow those of its suppliers. No official percentage has been published, though, and the industry's chairman speaks of a "reasonable" increase without putting a figure on it. For reference, the French bought 6.4 million trees in 2022, including 5.7 million natural ones, at an average price of 30.47 euros, according to data from the horticultural trade body VALHOR. With no official figures available, we'll say it plainly: expect a few euros more than last year, not a price surge. If this is a concern for your budget, the approach for spreading out your Christmas spending works just as well for your tree.

When to buy it so it lasts until 24 December

A cut tree looks good for three weeks at most, says Jean-Christophe Bonoron. Buying in mid-November means sacrificing the one week that matters most, Christmas Eve week: the ideal window falls between 5 and 10 December. Autumn rainfall also plays a role, as trees need to rehydrate before being cut.

A few tips for choosing well:

• give the tree a gentle shake, heavy needle drop is a sign it was cut long ago;
• check for browning branches on exposed sides;
• choose a freshly re-cut trunk, placed in a stand with a water reservoir;
• keep it away from radiators, as dry air speeds up needle loss.

Every year, we see the same tension within families: the urge to decorate kicks in by late November, while the tree calendar says December. The two can easily be separated, and Christmas decorations on shelves from October can fill the house while the tree stays with the grower a little longer. All that's left is to fill the space beneath it: a family Christmas list shared as early as November avoids duplicate gifts and leaves December free for everything else.