Natural Ways to Add Holiday Color

It will soon be the night before Christmas, and many a creature will be stirring in the house. Fortunately, it is not likely to be a mouse.

The stockings are hung… somewhere in the abode with the hopes that Saint and Mrs. Nicholas got all their shopping done. The tree, either real or synthetic, represents the holiday, but there are other plants which have appeared to decorate home, hearth, and hallways.

Some plants are substitutes when the more popular foliage is not available. Others are colorful and brighten the home at the beginning of winter.

Amaryllis and Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus) can be found at retailers and in nurseries. Both plants grow from bulbs and produce showy, bright-colored flowers.

Both plants are “forced” to bloom at this time of year which is out of their natural sequence. Light exposure in grow-houses is artificially controlled to mimic spring and stimulate their bloom cycle.

Native hollies have been traditionally used for Christmas greenery, but there are other options which fit the holiday’s color scheme and can be easily acquired in the wild or at retail establishments. All it takes is a little imagination and creativity. Many can be used in the home landscape or garden after the holiday.

After the holiday season they will return to their natural bloom cycle, if they are properly maintained during their holiday residence in a pot as an interior plant. Both can be installed in regional landscapes, except for coastal areas. Neither plant is salt tolerant.

Christmas Cactus is another plant available in stores currently. This succulent does not produce needles, but it does grow colorful flowers in a variety of red shades in time for Christmas.

Partial or filtered sun exposure will produce the best results. It does require regular watering, especially if the furnace is blowing warm, dry air.

A true tropical, it will not survive panhandle Florida’s winters, but it is an excellent patio plant in summer.

Norfolk Island Pine is another interior plant used to celebrate the holiday. While not a pine tree, it is an evergreen native of Norfolk Island in the south pacific.

Its pinelike appearance and manageable size when young make it an ideal substitute for decorating as a Christmas tree. To flourish it must be located near a window for ample sun exposure.

While it is a slow growing conifer, it has the potential to reach over 200 feet in height when mature. Most are used as patio plants after they become too large to remain in home interiors.

Norfolk Island Pines do not tolerate the typical winter weather of north Florida, and most fall victim to a freeze once they are relocated outside.

Small Rosemary plants (Salvia Rosmarinus) are sometime used for holiday greenery and decorated for
Christmas. Their pleasant fragrance is a change from the typical piney scent of cedars and firs.

Another benefit of this plant is it can be used as a kitchen herb in the off season. It can be cultivated outside and performs best with full sun exposure.

Traditionally, yews and junipers have been used for seasonal greenery inside the home and in the landscape. Depending on the species of each, they grow over a wide variety of USDA Hardiness Zones.

Both are relatively low maintenance landscape shrubs across panhandle Florida and can be trimmed for use inside during the holidays.

For the ultimate traditionalist there is a pear tree, preferably with a partridge in it. As the carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” indicates, a partridge (locally called quail) in a pear tree is the ultimate decorative (and costly) gift for someone special.

Whatever one’s preference, hopefully it will make the holiday more enjoyable.

About the author
Les Harrison

Les Harrison is a longtime resident of north Florida, having attended public schools in three counties. He has a Bachelor Degree from the University of Florida in Journalism and a Master’s of Science from Auburn University in Agricultural Economics. He is the author of more than 2000 newspaper and magazine stories and journal articles. During his career, he held positions in private, government and educational (university level) sectors. He holds the title of Extension Agent Emeritus. He can be reached at harrison.gl@gmail.com.

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