Abstract
Seedlings from five different seed sources of blue spruce Christmas trees were planted at five sites throughout New Jersey. Two sites in northern New Jersey and one in central New Jersey had significantly higher survival rates than the two in southern New Jersey. Additionally, the two sites in northern New Jersey had significantly faster growth rates than those in southern and central New Jersey. There were no significant differences in survival rates between seed sources. In terms of growth rates, however, seedlings from seeds obtained in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico grew significantly faster than seedlings from the other seed sources tested. This forther growth rate is predicted to shorten the time needed to reach marketability size by one to five years.