The Quest for Climate-Ready Christmas Trees

Christmas trees may seem timeless, but growing them is becoming increasingly challenging in a warming world. In this episode, host Kendra Pierre-Louis talks to Priya Rajarapu, a Christmas tree extension specialist at Oregon State University, about how climate change is reshaping tree farming—from drought and heat stress to seedling survival—and the research efforts aimed at keeping this holiday tradition alive.

Recommended Reading:

Tweaks to U.S. Christmas Trees Could Help Them Survive Climate Change

How Weather and Climate Change Affects Christmas Tree Production

The OSU Christmas Tree Program

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Science Quickly is produced by Kendra Pierre-Louis, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.

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