Price of real Christmas trees skyrocket – and we’re happy to pay the price

A perfect storm of fires, floods and even the war in Ukraine has sent the price of Christmas trees soaring, with some going for as much as $350.

Sydney-siders, including Bobby Ivanoff from Lindfield, lined the street and wrapped around the corner waiting to get their hands on a real Christmas tree going into the holiday season at Merlino's, in Wareemba. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Bullard

A perfect storm of fires, floods and even the war in Ukraine has sent the price of Christmas trees soaring, with some going for as much as $350.

Those in the market for a traditional Monterey pine tree can expect to pay up to 20 per cent extra this year, according to growers and suppliers, with prices for a 1.5m tree beginning at about $110.

Yet while the price of a traditional tree has skyrocketed across the country following the rise in fuel and fertiliser costs caused by the war in Ukraine, growers and suppliers say Australian customers appear happy to meet the asking price.

Last week, Merlino’s Christmas Trees opened its doors earlier than usual, after registering a 40 per cent decline in stock and fewer high quality pine trees to cut on its plantations west of the Blue Mountains.

Customers lined the street and wrapped around the corner waiting to get their hands on a Christmas tree at Merlino‘s. Picture: Simon Bullard

Robert Darrigo, who manages the family business in Sydney’s inner west, said rising fertiliser and fuel costs due to the war in Ukraine had led to a widespread shortage of trees, but customers were still prepared to pay big during the first weekend of summer.

“Prices have gone up here and across the country because of the new costs and [the] weather events.

“We’re dealing with back-to-back drought, bushfires and floods … It’s a big four-to-five year effort to develop these pines.”

Despite this, customers outside Merlino’s at the weekend, queued around the block for up to an hour to buy a Monterey tree, ranging from $110 for a 1.5m tree to $350 for a 2.7m specimen.

“The message is to get in early if you want value for money and a really high-quality tree, which is traditionally the US-style Monterey pine tree or European-style spruced tree,” Mr Darrigo said.

“Customers are mainly drawn to the traditional six-footer at $140, but the eight and nine footer trees are becoming harder to find because we need to focus on supplying the main market.

“So the supply is getting shorter, too.”

Laura Clarke and Dan McCabe, who queued to purchase a 1.8m Monterey tree at Merlino’s on Saturday, said they were happy to pay the extra $20 for a “real” Christmas tree and the “festive pine scent” that came with it.

“We saw there was a rise in the cost, but we’re very happy with the quality of the tree and we’re happy to pay a little extra for a six-footer that will easily last until the end of the month,” Mr McCabe said.

Matt Rollo, who travelled to Merlino’s from the other side of Sydney, said while rising costs would likely drive more people toward purchasing fake Christmas trees, he wasn’t ready to give up on his 1.8m Monterey.

“I think cost will always be a consideration, but we got in early this year to get the best possible tree and we’re happy with that. That bit of extra money is worth the cheer it brings.”

Matt Roll and daughter Quinn purchase their six-foot Christmas tree from Merlino’s.

Christmas tree farmer Will Cappello, who owns Willy’s Christmas Tree Farm in Sydney’s west, said he had lost between 3000 and 4000 trees during the floods in February and March.

He said the most popular 1.8m and 2.1m trees were selling for $130 and $160, marking a rise of $20 from last year’s prices because of lower supply and rising petrol and fertiliser prices.

“Normally we grow our own trees but due to the excessive rain in the last two years, fruit rot has damaged our trees so we’ve had to get some up from Melbourne,” Mr Cappello said.

“There’s definitely less supply … and more farmers are being pushed out because the price of land has gone through the roof.

“Tell the public to get in early because there may not be any trees left soon.”