Christmas Tree Farms Near Houston: Cut Your Own

Christmas tree farms near Houston grow species you won't find most places in the country — Leyland Cypress and Virginia Pine replace the Fraser Firs that can't survive a Texas summer. Eight choose-and-cut farms within 75 miles of downtown are open from late November through mid-December, with saws provided, hayrides, and farm animals on most properties. Most charge by height; expect to spend $80–$200 for a 6–9 foot tree grown on Texas soil.

What Christmas tree farms near Houston actually grow

This is the part most people don't know: the premium Christmas trees sold in retail chains across America — Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir — were shipped from the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina or from the Pacific Northwest. Those species require cold winters and cool summers they'd never find in Houston.

The farms near Houston grow an entirely different roster. Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) is the workhorse — it thrives in East Texas acidic soil, reaches 6–8 feet in 3–6 years (versus 7–10 years for a Fraser Fir in the North Carolina mountains), and has a genuine pine scent. Farms shear it by hand twice a year, in April and July, to build the classic triangular shape.

Leyland Cypress is the surprising one. It is a sterile hybrid that doesn't exist in nature. Every Leyland Cypress alive was propagated from a cutting — all descended from six seedlings discovered by accident in 1888 on a Welsh estate, where two unrelated parent species (Monterey Cypress from California and Alaskan Cedar) cross-pollinated by chance. Because it produces zero pollen and no sap, it is the only Christmas tree option for people with pollen or sap sensitivities. It arrived in the United States in 1941 and is now the most popular Christmas tree in the Southeast.

Murray Cypress is a Leyland Cypress cultivar bred for disease resistance, used at Dewberry Farm. Carolina Sapphire and Arizona Cypress offer blue-silver coloring and handle Texas alkaline soil better than most conifers.

How we chose

Each farm on this list offers choose-and-cut service confirmed on its official website or official social page, and is within roughly 90 miles of downtown Houston. Opening dates listed are from each farm's most recently published schedule; call ahead or check the farm's own site before you go, since weather and early sell-outs can shift dates.

North of Houston

Old Time Christmas Tree Farm — Spring (~25 miles)

7632 Spring Cypress Road, Spring, TX 77379

The closest farm to downtown, Old Time Christmas Tree Farm covers 40+ acres of Texas-grown pine and cypress just north of Spring. Saws, measuring poles, and twine are provided; staff bales and loads your tree. For families, the big draw is everything else: a train ride through the property, a petting zoo, a giant slide, a bounce house, and Santa on weekends. Farm entry is free; rides and activities require a separate ticket (Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday). Pre-cut Fraser Firs are also available.

Open from around November 22; Mon–Thu 1–5:30pm, Fri–Sun 9am–5:30pm. Check oldtimechristmastree.com for current season dates.

Spring Creek Growers — Magnolia (~35 miles)

23803 Decker Prairie-Rosehill Rd, Magnolia, TX 77355

The farm that serious tree people talk about. Spring Creek Growers is a fourth-generation family farm — the property dates to 1921 — and has won the Grand Champion Christmas Tree of Texas five times. The cut-your-own fields grow Virginia Pine (6–13 ft, typically $82–$319) and Leyland Cypress (6–12 ft, typically $86–$282). Container-grown Leyland Cypress start at $185 if you want a tree to plant in the yard after the holidays.

Extras: antique-tractor hayrides, barnyard animals, duck races, a treehouse, and a vintage bakery with hot cocoa and spiced cider. Open November 21; Sat 9am–5:30pm, Sun 10am–5:30pm, Tue–Fri 2–5:30pm, Black Friday 8am–5:30pm. See springcreekgrowers.com.

Family Roots TX — Hockley (~37 miles)

19020 Becker Road, Hockley, TX 77447

Virginia Pine is the main cut-your-own species; saws and measuring sticks provided. Prior season listings have included hayrides, a petting zoo, and arts and crafts — check familyrootstx.com for what's current before you visit. Open Fri–Sun starting November 21 (Fridays 2–5:30pm; Black Friday 10am–5:30pm; Sat–Sun 10am–5:30pm) through December 13. See familyrootstx.com.

Oh What Fun It Is — Willis (~55 miles)

1030 Oak Ridge Road, Willis, TX 77378

Fifteen acres of Virginia Pine, Leyland Cypress, and Arizona Cypress north of The Woodlands. A quieter option — a petting zoo and campfire, no train. Check bullockchristmastreefarm.com for current pricing. Open from November 22; Wed–Fri 2–5pm, Sat–Sun 9am–5pm, closes December 21 or when sold out. See bullockchristmastreefarm.com.

Double Creek Farm — Livingston (~75 miles)

1288 Oakdale Loop, Livingston, TX 77351 · 936-967-3912

Worth the longer drive for hayrides, duck races, a bounce house, a fire pit, and a selection of Virginia Pine and Carolina Sapphire — plus imported Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, and Blue Spruce from Michigan. Priced by the foot: typically $14/ft under 10 feet, $10/ft at 10 feet and above. Open specific weekends late November through mid-December; call 936-967-3912 to confirm 2026 dates.

South and southwest of Houston

Holiday Acres — Manvel (~30 miles)

8919 Mustang Bayou Road, Manvel, TX 77578

The south-side choice, with 1,000+ trees — Virginia Pine, Leyland Cypress, Arizona Cypress, and Carolina Sapphire — plus pre-cut Fraser Firs. Free hayrides, complimentary hot chocolate and mulled cider, a campfire, farm animals, and a play area all come with tree purchase. Tree shaking and baling included. Open Thu–Sat 9am–5pm starting around Black Friday (November 27). See theholidayacres.com.

Dewberry Farm — Brookshire (~40 miles)

7705 FM 362, Brookshire, TX 77423

One of the Houston area's most popular agritourism destinations, known for its large-scale holiday light displays. The Christmas tree operation runs on select weekends and grows Murray Cypress — a disease-resistant Leyland Cypress cultivar. Staff provides saws and will cut for you; tree shaking and baling are free for trees under 11 feet. Buying a tree earns 20% off the farm's A Berry Merry Christmas event. Check dewberryfarm.com in November for specific 2026 dates.

Martin Farms — Bellville (~65 miles)

1772 Highway 159 East, Bellville, TX 77418

The most boutique option on the list: Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress for cut-your-own, Fraser Fir imports from North Carolina, hayrides, and a culinary boutique alongside the tree operation. Open the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve or until sold out; Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm (after December 1: Sat–Sun only). See martinfarmstexas.com.

Save this: before you go

• Call or check the farm's website the week of your trip. Weather, early sell-outs, and private events can change hours. Most farms recommend arriving early on weekend mornings.
• Wear closed-toe shoes. You are walking in a working farm field.
• Know your ceiling height before you go. Most farms provide measuring poles, but knowing whether you need 6 feet or 9 feet saves time.
• Texas-grown trees hold up indoors. Leyland Cypress and Virginia Pine have lower moisture requirements than Fraser Fir and last well in a warm house if watered regularly.
• Pollen or sap allergy? Ask specifically for Leyland Cypress or Murray Cypress — sterile hybrids that produce zero pollen and no sap.
• Want a plantable tree? Spring Creek Growers sells container-grown Leyland Cypress starting at $185; plant it in the yard after the holidays.
• Bringing the dog? Family Roots TX, Old Time Christmas Tree Farm, and Double Creek Farm welcome leashed dogs per their published policies; confirm before you drive.

More to do while you're out

Plan a full day by pairing your tree trip with lunch in Tomball or The Woodlands for the north farms, or Katy for the southwest farms. For more winter-season ideas, the Houston Christmas events guide and Houston Christmas lights guide cover the full season. If the kids need more outdoor time, free kids activities in Houston is worth bookmarking.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

When do Christmas tree farms near Houston open?

Most Houston-area farms open the weekend before Thanksgiving or on Black Friday. Spring Creek Growers in Magnolia and Family Roots TX in Hockley open November 21; Holiday Acres in Manvel opens around November 27; most others open the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Most close by December 21 or when they sell out.

What kind of Christmas trees grow near Houston?

Houston-area farms primarily grow Leyland Cypress and Virginia Pine — the only Christmas tree species that survive a Southeast Texas summer. Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Douglas Fir cannot grow here; every Fraser Fir sold in Houston was shipped from North Carolina or the Pacific Northwest.

How much does a cut-your-own Christmas tree cost near Houston?

Prices vary by farm and size. Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress typically run $80–$320 for a 6–12 foot tree. Oh What Fun It Is in Willis is one of the more affordable options, with prices starting around $47.50. Double Creek Farm in Livingston prices by the foot ($10–$14 per foot).

Is Leyland Cypress a good Christmas tree?

Yes. Leyland Cypress holds its shape well, is easy to decorate thanks to dense branching, produces no pollen and no sap, and lasts well indoors when watered regularly. Its main trade-off compared to Fraser Fir is a lighter scent.

Do I need a reservation to cut my own Christmas tree near Houston?

Most farms are walk-up — no reservation needed to choose and cut. Dewberry Farm in Brookshire operates on limited specific weekends, so check dates in advance. Holiday Acres in Manvel offers optional photography session reservations, but the tree purchase itself requires no booking.

Are any Christmas tree farms near Houston dog-friendly?

Family Roots TX in Hockley, Old Time Christmas Tree Farm in Spring, and Double Creek Farm in Livingston welcome leashed dogs per their published policies. Always confirm before you drive, as policies can change between seasons.