N.C. farm returns 'fir' seasonal sales at area Christmas tree lot

Set under red and white tents, dozens of Fraser fir trees, even in a parking lot, give one the feel of walking through a forest.

That's how Matt Scott, 21, with Cardinal Tree Farms wants you to feel when you arrive at the Christmas tree lot near Super Kmart off U.S. Highway 52 in North Charleston.

Cardinal Tree Farms, headquartered in West Jefferson, N.C., has sold Christmas trees throughout the Charleston area for more than a decade.

Scott, who runs the North Charleston lot, has been with the company about five years.

Every year, Cardinal Trees sets up shop the Monday before Thanksgiving and opens for business on Thanksgiving Day.

Many trees will be sold in the days leading up to Christmas. Scott says individuals shopping for trees should look for a tree with a healthy green color displayed in water.

Those trees will survive the longest, he says.

Most of Scott's work takes place between March and December. He and about 30 employees of Cardinal Trees work the 325 acres of tree farmland in West Jefferson, which is more than an hour northwest of Charlotte and about 320 miles from Charleston.

In the summer, he's busy fertilizing and shearing the trees in preparation for harvesting in the fall.

The work can be labor intensive, but Scott enjoys working outdoors for a living.

"Being able to grow these trees and provide a service for others is nice," he said.

Scott lives in Charleston during the Christmas tree sales season. He stays in a camper parked next to the Christmas tree lot. It allows him to keep a close watch on things.

In his time with the company, Scott has come to appreciate the Lowcountry and has even considered living here full-time.

"I like Charleston," he says. "I like the feel of it."

Mitchell Poe, managing partner for Cardinal Tree Farms, echoed Scott's sentiments.

For several years, Cardinal Trees used to operate lots in North Carolina and South Carolina. They no longer have lots in North Carolina, but they still supply trees wholesale to second- and third-party Christmas tree salespeople.

"We just love the people and historic atmosphere, so we centralized our Christmas tree business here (in the Charleston area) and have been here ever since," Poe said.

Poe's father, Paul Poe, who still helps harvest trees, founded the company more than 40 years ago. Providing fresh farm-direct trees distinguishes the Christmas trees purchased from Cardinal, Mitchell Poe says.

"We've gotten a great customer base," he adds. "Some of the same people come back year after year."

Reach Jasiri Whipper at 937-5540 or jwhipper@postand courier.com.