What Is a Snow-Tipped Christmas Tree?

What snow tipping means

A snow-tipped Christmas tree is a green artificial tree with a white, powdery coating applied to the ends of its branches. The finish sits on the outer needle tips, so the tree keeps its green base and picks up a light dusting of snow. It is one of the most popular decorative finishes for anyone who wants a winter look without covering the tree in heavy white flocking.

Snow tipping is a type of partial flocking. Unlike a fully flocked tree, which is covered from trunk to tip, a snow-tipped tree leaves most of each branch green under a lighter white layer. To compare the two looks, see flocked vs frosted vs snow-tipped.

Where snow tipping is applied

Manufacturers apply snow tipping to the branch tips in a few ways. Some dip the tips into a white coating, others spray a light finish over the outer silhouette. The result is that the tree's outline catches the white, while the inner branches stay green. This creates depth: the eye reads the green interior as the body of the tree and the white tips as the snow line.

The upper half of the tree and the ends of the outer branches usually carry the most material, because those are the surfaces that catch light and echo how snow settles on a real tree. When you set up the tree, check that the tipping is distributed evenly. For more on how finishes cover a tree, see tree glitter and snow coverage.

What snow tipping adds to a green tree

Snow tipping adds three things to a green tree: contrast, depth and a seasonal mood. The white tips brighten the tree's outline, so the green appears richer behind them. The contrast also makes the branch structure stand out, which is useful on a tree with a natural, open shape.

The look works especially well with the right lights. Warm white LEDs give the snow a soft glow, while cool white lights lean into a crisp winter feel. For guidance on matching lights to a snow finish, see light color for flocked trees. ENERGY STAR certified LED light strings use about 92 percent less energy than conventional incandescent strands, so they are a sensible choice for a tree that is lit for long evenings.

Materials and durability

Snow tipping is a decorative coating, not a structural part of the tree. The material is usually the same kind of flocking used on fully flocked trees, applied only to the tips. It is soft to the touch and can shed a little, especially when you first unpack the tree or when branches are bent.

To keep the finish looking good, handle the branches gently when you set up the tree, and avoid rubbing the tips together. A small amount of loose white dust on the floor is normal for a tipped tree. For more on how flocking is made and how it ages, see flocking materials and does a flocked tree shed.

Snow-tipped vs flocked vs frosted

Snow-tipped, frosted and flocked trees are often grouped together, but they are not the same. A fully flocked tree has white material over most or all of each branch, giving a heavy snow look. A frosted tree has a thinner, lighter coating that tints the needles. A snow-tipped tree sits between them: the green stays visible, and only the ends of the branches are white.

If you want the strongest winter effect, a fully flocked tree may suit you better; if you want a gentle dusting on a green tree, snow tipping is the closer match. For a shiny, icy alternative to white snow, see glitter-tipped trees. For help choosing a tipped tree, see our best flocked pre-lit Christmas trees.

Safety and care notes

Snow tipping does not change the basic safety rules for an artificial tree. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends keeping your tree at least 3 feet away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents, and making sure the tree does not block exits.

The National Christmas Tree Association notes that roughly one tenth of one percent of residential fires involve a Christmas tree, real or artificial, and that overloaded outlets and faulty wires are the most common causes of holiday fires in residences. The white finish also does not affect the electrical safety of pre-lit lights.

Look for a certification mark on the light string, such as the ETL Listed Mark, which shows that a product has been independently tested to applicable safety standards by Intertek, an OSHA-recognized nationally recognized testing laboratory. For a fuller safety overview, see Christmas tree safety standards.

What to pick for your use

Questions

Is a snow-tipped tree the same as a flocked tree?

Not exactly. Snow tipping covers only the branch tips, while flocking usually covers more of each branch. A snow-tipped tree keeps most of its green, with a white layer only on the outer ends. See flocked vs frosted vs snow-tipped.

Does snow tipping come off?

Some shedding is normal. The white coating is a soft finish, and a little loose dust may appear when you first set up the tree or when you bend branches. Handle the tips gently to keep the coating in place.

Can you put lights on a snow-tipped tree?

Yes. Warm white and cool white lights both work well. LED strings are a good match because they are cool to the touch, and ENERGY STAR certified LED light strings use about 92 percent less energy than incandescent strands, so they are easy on the electricity bill during long evenings.

Will the snow tipping hide the green needles?

No. The tipping is only on the tips, so the green remains visible below the white layer. The effect is a light dusting, not a full cover.

Do snow-tipped trees need special care?

Keep them away from heat sources. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends at least 3 feet from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents, and no blocking of exits. Also keep your hands off the tips when storing the tree.