The Atlas Obscura Podcast 12 Days of Wonder: Tumbleweed Christmas Tree
Dec 4, 2025
Jody Crago, the museum administrator from Chandler, Arizona, shares the quirky tradition of the city's tumbleweed Christmas tree. Nestled in the desert, Chandler turns a local nuisance into holiday cheer with a massive 25-foot tree made of tumbleweeds. Jody reveals the process of collecting, decorating, and lighting this unique symbol while exploring the plant's fascinating biology and its Russian origins. The conversation highlights the challenges and community spirit that keep this unconventional tradition thriving amidst urban growth.
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A Tree That Only Appears Traditional At Night
- Chandler's 25-foot tree looks ordinary at night but reveals its true material by day.
- The tree's daytime appearance exposes that it's built from tumbleweeds painted white and glittered.
From Russian Thistle To Ubiquitous Nuisance
- Tumbleweeds are invasive plants originally called Russian thistle that arrived in the 1870s.
- They spread fast and caused major agricultural and modern-day problems like blocking roads.
Origin Story From A Practical Problem
- The tumbleweed tree began as a 1957 solution after downtown light poles were replaced.
- By 1959 the town dubbed it the Great Tumbleweed Tree and it became a signature tradition.