Last updated on November 13th, 2024 at 11:54 am
Ocala National Forest is one of the few places in Florida where you hike into the woods and cut down a Christmas tree.
When you get the $10 permit, you can chop down a Christmas tree in a designated forest. Rangers provide a map to the sites where you can cut your tree.
Ocala National Forest Christmas Tree Permits will be available for purchase on Christmas Tree Permits go on sale on Nov. 18, 2024. and tree harvesting ends Dec 24.
This year, all permit requests are being handled online.
Unlike tree farms, these sand-pine trees have not been treated for bugs, so small harmless beetles may crawl out once the tree is in your home. Sand pine trees are the only native Florida Christmas tree. They’re not commercially sold, except at local Christmas tree farms, because the branches are too weak for heavy ornaments.
Environmentalists point out that real trees are better than artificial trees for the earth. The fake trees end up in landfills eventually, whereas most real trees are composted back into the soil. Also fake trees use a large number of carbon emissions to manufacture and ship from China.
Local real trees are even better for the environment. Most Florida trees are brought in from North Carolina in refrigerated trucks, and that takes a lot of carbon to sustain compared to local trees.
Call (352) 625-2520 for more information about Ocala National Forest Christmas trees.
Ocala National Forest web page about cutting your own Christmas tree.
Here?™s a YouTube video of someone cutting one down.
More about the Florida sand pine.
From Florida Rambler: Things to do in Ocala National Forest
Florida also has Christmas tree farms
In Central and Northern Florida, you can also buy Christmas trees from farms where they are grown. The farms grow a variety of types of pines — red cedar, Virginia pine, sand pine, spruce pine and Leyland cypress.
This page provides a locator map for Florida Christmas tree growers who are members of the Florida Christmas Tree Association. Many offer potted trees, pre-cut trees and choose-and-cut trees. Some also offer wreaths, arts and crafts, gifts, and family activities such as hay rides.
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