From the brilliantly colored to the sensibly sparse, these faux trees and their authentic imitators provide a fashionable cover for whatever Santa brings. This season is your chance to show how ahead of the trendy-Christmas curve you can be while still staying under budget.

Trunk and Disorderly

A.C. Moore, Rockville, Md.

Leading feng shui Web site says one “should avoid trees that will completely block the light.”

$21.09

Droppin’ the Tannenbaum

Target, Hyattsville, Md.

The lights on this tree are fiber-optic. You can hear a needle drop.

$20.99

Space Needle

Merrifield Garden Center, Merrifield, Va.

Rotisserie? Earring hanger? Christmas tree? Yes. Yes. Yes. In what order is up to you.

$62.99

Petit Bushois

Home Depot, Brookland

The tag on this well-heeled Fraser fir advises cutting an inch from the base, leaving 28 inches of holiday merriment.

$21.14

Christmas List

Rockville Flower and Garden Spot, Rockville, Md.

Perfect red-state tree leans to the right without prompting.

$31.49

Over the Top

Teresa’s Garden Center, Ivy City

A perfect perch for your enormous tree-topper. Remember: The higher the angel, the closer to God.

$21.20

Ridin’ the Pine

East-West Highway Tree Stand, Chillum, Md.

Spacious hidden alcove leaves plenty of room for outsized ornaments.

$22.00

Art accompanying story in the printed newspaper is not available in this archive: Darrow Montgomery.