Editor's Note: The Center Magazine re-interviewed Pauze in October 2024, and we updated a selection of the below quotes about this year's Christmas Tree.

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 over 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 holiday season.

You make it sound so easy. What’s the process like for finding the Rockefeller Center Christmas 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.

The process [for this year’s Tree] began in July 2020. I came from getting gas after staying overnight Tree searching. I saw the beautiful Norway Spruce as I drove down the road, and it was right in front of me. I knocked on the door and met Earl Albert. I asked if he would someday consider donating the Tree to Rockefeller Center. His answer was immediately yes.

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 perfect all around. It has that wonderful Christmas Tree shape all the way to the top.

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

EP: I would drive by every so often to check in on the Tree. In the spring of this year, I decided to call Earl and ask if I could start feeding it and watering it. I came up quite often to feed the Tree, and every time I got out of the car, I smiled and knew it was the right one for Rockefeller Center.

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.