On Saturday, February 19, 2011, the National Christmas tree was felled after its trunk snapped in a windstorm which contained gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h; 43 kn).
National Park Service spokesman Bill Line noted the tree was at risk since it stood alone exposed to the elements and lacked the protection of other trees.
Knowing the tree was at risk and would eventually need to be replaced, a successor tree had already been selected.
The new tree was planted on March 19, 2011.
The new tree was a 26.5-foot (8.1 m) tall Colorado blue spruce which was obtained from an unnamed tree nursery in New Jersey.

On May 5, 2012, the blue spruce was declared dead by the National Park Service due to "transplant shock".
The agency said the exceptionally warm summer of 2011 and the winter of 2011-2012 also played a role.
The dead tree was cut down.
The NPS said it had already identified a Colorado spruce as a replacement.

On Saturday, October 27, 2012, a 28-foot (8.5 m) Colorado blue spruce from Virginia was planted as the new National Christmas Tree.
The Park Service decided to plant the tree even though Hurricane Sandy would pass near the D.C. area in less than 48 hours.
Park Service horticulturists felt the tree was safer in the ground than in the container in which it was shipped.
Wires were attached to the tree to help stabilize it, and a special base (hidden by mulch and soil) surrounded the roots to help prevent flooding.

For the first time in 50 years, the National Park Service did not have a Yule log during the 2012 Pageant of Peace.
The performance stage was made much smaller and shifted from the east side of the display area to the south (so that the National Christmas Tree provided a backdrop for performances).
Park Service personnel say that this interfered with the Yule log pit.
The model railroad, nativity scene, Santa's Workshop, and state trees and Pathway of Peace remained in 2012.
The Yule log pit remains, but is covered over by steel plates and 14 inches (36 cm) of soil and sod.

The lighting scheme for the National Christmas Tree was altered in 2013.
General Electric provided the lights, as it had since 1962, and for the fourth year in a row LED lights were used.
New round "sugar plum lights" in bright blue, green, and red colors were added in 2013 to enhance the tree's nighttime appearance.
 A garland of twinkling white 7-inch (18 cm) spherical ornaments were also added.
The ornaments were lit during the day as well to improve the tree's daytime visual interest.
The star-shaped tree topper was rebuilt for 2013 as well using a commercial lighting system to provide for brighter illumination.
The lighting scheme used 60,000 LED lights strung in 110 nets and 225 strings, and 265 spherical ornaments.
The lighting scheme weighed several hundred pounds, and used 5700 watts of energy.

CNN said in 2013 that the National Christmas Tree was the sixth most beautiful Christmas tree in the world.
The cable new channel listed 12 trees, and put the National Christmas Tree behind the tree erected in Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania; the Lego Christmas tree at Legoland Malaysia; the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City; the tree at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, France; and the "Floating Christmas tree" erected by oil company Bradesco Seguros in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2015 Christmas Tree was covered in amber and white lights that occasionally twinkled.
The state and territory trees had the same color lights and were decorated with ornaments made from the state or territory they represented.
On Saturday, February 19, 2011, the National Christmas tree was felled after its trunk snapped in a windstorm which contained gusts of up to 50 mph (80 km/h; 43 kn). National Park Service spokesman Bill Line noted the tree was at risk since it stood alone exposed to the elements and lacked the protection of other trees. Knowing the tree was at risk and would eventually need to be replaced, a successor tree had already been selected. The new tree was planted on March 19, 2011. The new tree was a 26.5-foot (8.1 m) tall Colorado blue spruce which was obtained from an unnamed tree nursery in New Jersey.
On May 5, 2012, the blue spruce was declared dead by the National Park Service due to "transplant shock". The agency said the exceptionally warm summer of 2011 and the winter of 2011-2012 also played a role. The dead tree was cut down. The NPS said it had already identified a Colorado spruce as a replacement.
On Saturday, October 27, 2012, a 28-foot (8.5 m) Colorado blue spruce from Virginia was planted as the new National Christmas Tree. The Park Service decided to plant the tree even though Hurricane Sandy would pass near the D.C. area in less than 48 hours. Park Service horticulturists felt the tree was safer in the ground than in the container in which it was shipped. Wires were attached to the tree to help stabilize it, and a special base (hidden by mulch and soil) surrounded the roots to help prevent flooding.
For the first time in 50 years, the National Park Service did not have a Yule log during the 2012 Pageant of Peace. The performance stage was made much smaller and shifted from the east side of the display area to the south (so that the National Christmas Tree provided a backdrop for performances). Park Service personnel say that this interfered with the Yule log pit. The model railroad, nativity scene, Santa's Workshop, and state trees and Pathway of Peace remained in 2012. The Yule log pit remains, but is covered over by steel plates and 14 inches (36 cm) of soil and sod.
The lighting scheme for the National Christmas Tree was altered in 2013. General Electric provided the lights, as it had since 1962, and for the fourth year in a row LED lights were used. New round "sugar plum lights" in bright blue, green, and red colors were added in 2013 to enhance the tree's nighttime appearance.  A garland of twinkling white 7-inch (18 cm) spherical ornaments were also added. The ornaments were lit during the day as well to improve the tree's daytime visual interest. The star-shaped tree topper was rebuilt for 2013 as well using a commercial lighting system to provide for brighter illumination. The lighting scheme used 60,000 LED lights strung in 110 nets and 225 strings, and 265 spherical ornaments. The lighting scheme weighed several hundred pounds, and used 5700 watts of energy.
CNN said in 2013 that the National Christmas Tree was the sixth most beautiful Christmas tree in the world. The cable new channel listed 12 trees, and put the National Christmas Tree behind the tree erected in Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania; the Lego Christmas tree at Legoland Malaysia; the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City; the tree at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, France; and the "Floating Christmas tree" erected by oil company Bradesco Seguros in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The 2015 Christmas Tree was covered in amber and white lights that occasionally twinkled. The state and territory trees had the same color lights and were decorated with ornaments made from the state or territory they represented.
National Christmas Tree (United States)