SANBORNTON, N.H. (AP) – A local tree farmer is offering seekers of the perfect Christmas tree some options from far afield.

Robert Girardin, a retired math teacher, has spent the last 15 years experimenting with exotic species from countries such as Turkey, Korea and China. Popular Christmas trees for sale at his Willow Pond farm include the Chinese meyer spruce and the Korean fir-balsam

“People are looking for a tree with shorter needles,” Girardin said, noting that the long needles of the more traditional Scotch pine make it difficult to decorate.

In contrast, the meyer spruce from China has short, soft needles and branches that don’t droop, he said. The Korean fir offers buyers unusual white highlights and doesn’t lose its needles.

Girardin grows 68 varieties of tree, which he and his wife also use to make wreaths, swags and garlands including one that smells of citrus. He said business has grown so rapidly that his cut-your-own operation is now by invitation only.

Despite the interest in exotic trees, Belknap County forester Sumner Dole and Dan DeHart of the New Hampshire State Nursery in Boscawen say native species will continue to dominate.

DeHart said family tradition often dictates the choice of Christmas tree, which makes it more difficult for new species to make inroads.

The vast majority of Christmas trees planted by growers continue to be the traditional varieties, but Girardin’s exotics are appealing.

“Those that he’s working with don’t have the insect pests that others have and have a different needle texture which makes them desirable,” Dole said.

“It takes 10 years to raise a tree, so you have to know that people will want it when it matures,” Girardin said.