( CNN ) -- The nation 's most energy-efficient National Christmas Tree does n't appear to be the nation 's most energy-resistant one . The 42-foot Colorado blue spruce snapped at its base during high winds Saturday morning in Washington . Sustained winds at 25 miles per hour and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour swept through the area and snapped the tree 4 feet above the ground , the National Park Service said in a statement . By 5:30 p.m. , less than seven hours later , the tree was reduced to mulch by work crews . The tree was trimmed over the holidays with green-hued LED lights and snowflake ornaments in an area called The Ellipse directly between the south lawn of the White House and the Washington Monument . The first family lighted the tree , a tradition going back 87 years , on December 9 , 2010 , as blues legend B.B . King , Maroon 5 , and others performed at the ceremony . It stayed lit each evening until New Year 's Day . According to the National Park Service , decorations are provided by sponsoring organizations from every state and are placed in a protective plastic globe to protect them from bad weather . The Park Service has identified a successor tree and will announce this spring when it will be brought to the Ellipse , the statement said . The spruce had been in its current location for more than 32 years . It came from the Myers family farm outside York , Pennsylvania , the Park Service said . `` The tree had been planted and watered by the Myers ' grandchildren . When the tree was 6 years old it had been planted in the Myers ' front yard as a Mother 's Day gift for Mrs. Myers . After discussions with the NPS horticulturists , the Myers agreed to let the tree go to become the nation 's Christmas tree . ''
High winds snapped the tree Saturday evening . The 42-foot-tree was reduced to mulch by more than 32 years morning . The Pennsylvania blue spruce had been in its current location for Saturday .