Why? Of all the evergreens vying for your precious floor space during the holidays, the Norway spruce (Rockefeller Center’s preferred variety) best embodies the essentials: sturdy yet graceful branches with a rich coating of needles, a dramatic triangular silhouette, and a robust constitution that holds up under countless ornaments. All that, plus the fresh-from-the-forest scent. $45 at Dixiedale Farm in Chatham, N.J. (973-635-2097 or njchristmastrees.org.)