Hhhmmmm. If you want something that truly looks like a Christmas tree in the fir/spruce mould, no, nothing stops at 20 feet high. However, there are a number of hollies that can be quite permanently sheared to that size, with the right equipment. In the upper south you could go with American holly but some more uncommon hollies might be both more easily shearable and better looking plants. I've seen pictures of 'Scepter' looking cone shaped. All hollies are a little slow when young, but then so are most conifers besides pines bred for forestry. Also, 'Scepter' or certain HIghclere hollies won't be hard to decorate because the leaves are smooth. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1316017

I think I'll try that, leftwood. It can't hurt. Coincidentally, in this week's Bachman's Newsletter there was this: Ask the Expert: Is This The Year For a Living Christmas Tree? Many Minnesotans want a living Christmas tree that can be planted outdoors after the holidays (a very popular tradition in the south and west). Unfortunately, our climate is not conducive to such a tradition. There is one exception, if you're open to keeping the tree indoors. Commonly called "living Christmas trees", Norfolk Island Pine trees are the only evergreen conifers that will grow happily indoors. They are actually tropical plants and native to islands in the South Pacific. These beauties are prized for their soft, airy foliage and the unique layered branching. Norfolk Island Pine can be easily decorated with lightweight ornaments and Christmas lights (we recommend using the LED lights because of their lower energy usage and heat output). Whenever possible, keep your Norfolk Island Pine in a cool location (50-60º). They like bright light and, in winter, can tolerate direct sun. They like to be kept slightly damp. That goes against what Bobby and Belinda said on KARE11 News recently. They said you can have a (real) live Christmas tree here. I think it was their spot that said you could prepare a hole before the ground freezes.

Depending on how big you want the whole affair to be, I'd think about choosing a 6' tree, building a simple 18" high box about a foot smaller than the total spread of the bottom branches, and putting it on that. With a cloth draped over it, it will let you hang ornaments on the low branches more easily, and give you a nice stepped surface for presents underneath. Our ceilings are 11' high on the first floor, but as is typical in Victorian era town houses, the room is too narrow to accommodate a really big tree. So we bought a 7' tree, and we put it on the big round table that lives in our bay window. I bought a couple of lengths of inexpensive deep red low-pile velvet, and whipped up a cloth that drapes to the floor to cover it...no hemming, just folding it over in modest puddles...cut a small piece to drape around the stand, and it looks great. We close the shutters on the bottom half of the windows at night, so that it looks full height from the street. It's also about a hundred times easier to put up, and discourages the cats from making trouble!

Yes, you can grow Blue Spruce, but it's going to be a couple of years before it's big enough, unless you buy one that's already large. We use a live Norfolk Island Pine that I buy wholesale for $100 in a 15-gallon can. This year's tree is 12' tall.