Holiday travel often ends with a familiar ritual: bringing a Christmas tree indoors and hoping it stays green long enough to outlast the festivities. This year, reports from Europe suggest some people are experimenting with an unexpected method to keep their trees fresh longer.
According to reporting by the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (BR), some Christmas tree customers are said to be adding Viagra to the water of their trees in an effort to extend their lifespan. The broadcaster highlighted the claim in a segment of its “Abendschau” program, describing how the potency drug is being used in a way few would have imagined.
The idea is rooted in the pressures placed on Christmas trees during the festive season. Once indoors, trees are expected to stand straight, look full, and hold their needles through days of warm rooms and twinkling lights. For travelers returning home for the holidays or hosting guests, a wilting tree can feel like an unwelcome sign that celebrations are ending too soon.
In the BR report, a Christmas tree vendor said customers had told him they were using Viagra to help trees stay upright and fresh. While the segment framed the practice as unusual, it also suggested the idea has been circulating quietly for some time, particularly among those determined to keep their tree looking its best through Christmas and beyond.
The concept is not entirely without precedent. In 2023, four Danish scientists explored whether common medications could revive cut Christmas trees. As reported by the medical journal “Ugeskrift für Læger,” the researchers tested small spruce branches placed in jars of water mixed with different substances.
The experiment involved 60 spruce twigs divided into three groups. One group received water mixed with sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Another group was given acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. The final group received a placebo, described as effervescent tablets with a lime flavor.
The branches were monitored daily under laboratory conditions designed to simulate stress. While all samples eventually wilted, the differences were measured in how long the branches maintained their stiffness. The study found only minimal variation, but the branches treated with higher concentrations of sildenafil lasted the longest, wilting after about 36 days.
For travelers interested in seasonal traditions, the story offers a glimpse into how science, folklore, and holiday habits intersect. Christmas trees are a common sight in homes, hotels, and public spaces across Europe and North America during December. Keeping them fresh is both a practical concern and part of the emotional landscape of holiday travel.
Despite the curiosity sparked by the reports, experts remain unconvinced. A pharmacist interviewed in the BR segment suggested it would likely be cheaper to simply buy a second fresh tree than to obtain a prescription drug. Skepticism was echoed by the Hamburg Chamber of Pharmacists.
“Viagra is a medication for people, not for Christmas trees,” said a pharmacist from the Hamburg Chamber of Pharmacists, according to BILD.
Traditional advice for keeping a Christmas tree fresh remains unchanged. Nordmann firs and blue spruces typically last longer indoors than other varieties. Spruce trees, while popular, often shed their needles within a week. Keeping the tree away from radiators and ensuring it is watered daily are widely accepted ways to extend its life.
For travelers staying in rented apartments or hosting holiday guests, these practical tips are often easier to follow than unconventional experiments. The reports also raise questions about access, cost, and appropriateness, particularly given that Viagra is a prescription medication in many countries.
Ultimately, the choice appears to rest with consumers. Whether relying on careful watering, choosing hardier tree species, or experimenting with unorthodox solutions, the goal remains the same. As holiday travel winds down and gifts are opened, many would agree that a fresh-looking tree is simply part of creating a warm and memorable end to the year.
