Of all the New York City holiday traditions, filing into Rockefeller Center to see the famous Christmas Tree continues to be a source of perennial magic. No matter what’s happening politically or culturally, through pandemics or pandemonium, the sense of awe, excitement, and nostalgia always packs a delightful punch of emotion.

Year after year, there’s a calming reassurance in knowing this stories-high spectacle will land smack in the middle of town. But one mystery remains in this worldwide mainstay: How does the Tree get to the plaza every year? And better yet, who finds it?

Enter Erik Pauze, the head gardener for Rockefeller Center and veritable Santa Claus of Christmas trees. Each year for the past three decades, Pauze has been instrumental in the scouting, nurturing, and transporting of the Norway Spruce that transforms into the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. No pressure.

From logistics to procuring what will be that perfect specimen of holiday joy, Pauze is at the center of the operation (he’s in charge of the rest of Rockefeller Center’s sublime gardens, as well). Though he’s long been at the helm of this process, upon reflection he says not much has changed about the way things are done — fitting, as the tradition of the Tree has looked the same for about as long, save for the Swarovski-encrusted star that has sat atop the Tree since its induction in 2004. Fun fact: The latest star introduced in 2018 features over 3 million crystals as well as LED lights.

It’s easy to imagine a job like this would be shrouded in the technical elements, but Pauze explains the most gratifying part of the job has little to do with the Tree at all. We chatted with the (incredibly busy) horticulturist as Rockefeller Center gears up for the 2022 holiday season.

You make it sound so easy. What’s the process like for finding the Tree each year?

EP: It’s somewhat different every year. Typically, the timeline is that all year, almost every day, I’m thinking about this year’s Tree, next year’s Tree, and maybe the Tree after that.

This year, someone sent me a photo of a tree in Glens Falls, New York, so I went to go check it out. On the way to go see it, I passed another tree in a vacant lot [in Queensbury], and thought to myself, ‘I need to come back to this tree.’  After I finished with the other tree, I went back, walked up and down both sides of the street, and took a few pictures. I then did some calling around to find out who the owner of the tree was and made an appointment to inspect it closer.

Every year, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a Norway Spruce—why this type of tree, and what made this year’s Tree fit the bill?

EP: What I look for is a tree you would want in your living room, but on a grander scale. It’s got that nice, perfect shape all around. And most of all, it’s gotta look good for those kids who turn the corner at 30 Rock; it needs to instantly put a huge smile on their faces. It needs to evoke that feeling of happiness.

The Norway Spruce is great for the scale it can achieve, it can hold the lights on its branches, and it stands there nice and proud as the Tree should. This year’s tree is 82 feet tall and 50 feet in diameter; when I saw it over the top of a couple of stores, I hoped the bottom looked as good as the top. When I got closer, I knew it was perfect… I figured, let’s get this one to Rockefeller Center.

Tell me about what happens once you’ve found the Tree.

EP: We found this year’s Tree back in May. After that, I went up several times — as I do with all the other trees — to water it and feed it and measure it. Moving the Tree is an operation in and of itself that can take months to plan and execute — from wrapping each branch of the Tree so it doesn’t bend or snap to compressing the width down so it’s fit for travel.

Having done this so many times, what’s your favorite part of the process?

EP: The scouting process is my favorite because you get to meet and connect with so many great people along the way, many of whom I’m still in touch with today. My other favorite part is seeing the final outcome of the Tree in place at Rockefeller Center with all its decorations. I remember being a young kid and my parents taking me down to New York City to see the Tree, walking up Fifth Avenue and seeing it and being so impressed.

So, what do you look for in your own Christmas tree?

EP: As if I’m the one who picks it! I just have the pickup truck to take it home.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in November 2021; it has since been updated for accuracy.