(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — For most people, the holiday season is all about joy, beauty, and the twinkling glow of a perfectly adorned Christmas tree. But not every tree gets to bask in the glory of glittering ornaments and festive admiration. For some, the season of cheer is marked by bent trunks, missing branches, and a permanent lean to one side. These are the trees no one wants—the sad, forgotten evergreens left behind year after year.
At tree farms and lots around the country, these imperfect trees are quietly pushed to the back. Crooked saplings with uneven branches are passed over as shoppers hunt for tall, full, and flawless specimens to anchor their living rooms. “They’re the misfits,” says one local tree lot owner. “It’s sad because they’re still good trees, just not perfect.”
While many of these so-called “ugly trees” end up chipped into mulch or discarded altogether, some find a second chance thanks to families like the Ashbrooks. The Bremerton, Washington, family has made it their mission to rescue these sad trees each year, turning them into the centerpiece of their quirky holiday tradition.
But even with good-hearted saviors like the Ashbrooks, the fate of most misshapen trees is grim. Tree growers face a tough reality: consumers are driven by aesthetics, and an off-kilter tree is often a financial loss. “Every year, I see dozens of these trees left behind, and it hurts,” admits a nearby Thousand Oaks tree farmer. “They’re grown with just as much care as the perfect ones, but they don’t make the cut.”
The overlooked trees are a reminder that even the holiday season has its imperfections. For the Ashbrooks and others who embrace their flaws, these “ugly trees” are a symbol of resilience and joy. But for most of these evergreens, the season ends not with glittering lights, but with a woodchipper.
As the holidays roll on, perhaps it’s time to look past the perfect silhouette and give some love to the underdogs of the evergreen world. After all, even the saddest tree can shine with a little care and attention.
