If I can find the potted replantable type of real tree I will get it, but they are hard to come by anymore, generally pricy and usually under 4ft tall. None of that mattered before we had kids. But I no longer have the time or money to search out & pay for them, not to mention keep the watered and clean up aftet them, so it's been fake for the past 8-9 years & I'm good with that. We got a pre-lit this year and I'm delighted with it.