Christmas tree flocking is artificial snow that is applied to a Christmas tree. Both real and manufactured Christmas trees can be flocked and the flocking can look close to real snow in some cases. Christmas tree flocking varies from mixtures made and applied at home, to pre-flocked artificial trees, to professional spraying at nurseries.

Many nurseries use flocking made from cellulose, a derivative of wood, water, spray adhesive and, in many cases, a fire retardant. If flocked trees are popular in your area you can often buy pre-flocked nursery trees or get your Christmas tree custom flocked when you purchase a tree from the nursery. Nursery flockers usually use a spray applicator attached to a hose to flock trees, but flocked trees are not available at all nurseries as flocking tends to be popular only in some regions and not others.

You can buy artificial trees with Christmas tree flocking already on them. There are many sizes and choices from all-over Christmas tree flocking to flocking just on parts of the branches. Flocking can yellow over time. Artificial trees that are both pre-flocked and pre-lit with Christmas lights are also available.

Christmas tree flocking mixtures made and applied at home began in the 1940s and 1950s and were popular in some parts of the United States. There were Christmas tree flocking kits you could buy that you created using your vacuum cleaner. The flocking was powdery and was not only available in white, but also in pastel blue and pastel pink. Making a mixture of soap flakes, starch and water with a bit of blue food coloring and applying that to the tree to look like a dusting of cold, fresh snow was another popular Christmas tree flocking method.

Today, Christmas tree flocking kits are sold in craft stores. Other flocked accessories are also sometimes made. For example, some flocking kits include glue, ornaments and Christmas tree flocking. The glue is placed on the ornament in a pattern and then the flocking is sprinkled on to stick to the glued areas. Christmas tree flocking used on garlands to decorate stairway banisters, mantels and wreaths often compliments the look of Christmas tree flocking used on the tree.