By Madelene Knaggs, New Windsor Master Gardener Volunteer
The holiday season has come and gone, but let’s take a minute to look back at some of the plants that played such a prominent role in our festivities. Whether we observed Christmas, Chanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, trees, herbs and plants were most likely a part of the celebration. Much has been written about the cultural aspects and origins of the plant life used as part of our celebration and seasonal decoration. This article will focus on the geographic origins, growing environment, and propagation of our holiday flora.
Evergreens
Christmas and Winter Solstice celebrations throughout the world use evergreens for both decorative and symbolic reasons. The “Yule” or “Christmas” tree is generally a decorated evergreen conifer tree, such as a pine, fir, cedar, juniper, or spruce. The tradition began with ancient civilizations in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The modern custom developed in 16th century Germany and became popular in other European nations and North America during the 19th century. The tree’s decorations and lights symbolized stellar objects, spirits of the dead, religious events, important figures, and sometimes provided edible treats.
An evergreen is a plant which has green foliage throughout the year and in most colloquial references it applies to coniferous evergreens such as pine, spruce, and fir. Although many characteristics can be used to distinguish one coniferous evergreen from another, let’s concentrate on the needles. Pine trees are easy to distinguish as their needles are bundled in sheaths of two, three, or five needles. If the tree has single needles along the branch, it’s a good chance that it is a fir or a spruce. Fir needles are flat and do not roll between your fingers while spruce needles have four sides and rolls easily between your fingers.
Although some people may go into the woods to find and cut a tree for their celebration, most trees are commercially grown. According to the National Christmas Tree Association it can take anywhere between 4 and 15 years to grow the typical 6-7 foot tree, but the average is 7 years. Spruce and fir are the most popular because of their shape, needle retention, and fragrance. Trees are harvested in the fall when temperatures begin to drop and trees are full hydrated. With proper “watering” a cut tree can last up to month or more indoors and provide festive beauty for the early winter season. So it is possible that you are still enjoying your Christmas tree now.
Holly
Holly (Ilex spp.) provides deep green and rich red color for the winter season. There are many species of holly including our native American holly (Ilex opaca) and common holly (llex aquifolium) which is native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In ancient cultures, the holly tree symbolized the waning sun which leads to the winter solstice. Holly was used to create wreathes to decorate homes. Placing a ring of holly on doors originated in Ireland. Holly decorations were believed to bring protection and good luck to the home’s residents in the coming year.
Hollies have simple leaves that are arranged alternately on the branches. Most hollies have leaves with wavy margins tipped with spines. Although most hollies are evergreens, some species like the native deciduous holly (Ilex decidua) lose their leaves in the fall. Hollies have small white or green flowers that are often overlooked, but their bright red berries provide beautiful winter color and are an important source of food for many bird species.
Most holly species are dioecious meaning that they have separate male and female plants. In order to produce seeds, you’ll need one of each. And if you want to have red berries, make sure you get a female plant. Hollies can be a great addition to your home garden. They do best when grown in full sun to part shade and prefer moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) add color and brightness to our winter décor. The colorful ‘petals’ of the poinsettia are actually not petals at all, but modified leaves known as bracts. Poinsettias are natives of Mexico and Central America where they are called ‘Flor de Nochebuena’ or the Christmas Eve Flower. Here in the United States, they are known as poinsettias after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a diplomat and amateur botanist, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828.
Poinsettias grow in temperate coastal climates and will suffer damage if exposed to temperatures below 50°F. The ideal indoor growing temperature for your poinsettias is between 65°F and 70°F and they should be placed in a south, east, or west facing window that receives bright daylight.
Poinsettias are an attractive green plant most of the year and come late spring they can be brought outside and either kept in containers or transplanted into a part-sun garden that gets four to five hours of sun a day. Getting your green poinsettia to change color for the holiday season is an onerous task and requires excluding light from the plant for period of time while still keeping the plant healthy. Click here for a complete guide to year-round poinsettia care. Good luck if you decide to try and get your poinsettias to re-bloom this coming winter!
Mistletoe
Mistletoe has long been associated with winter holiday traditions and is the common name for several families of poisonous, evergreen parasitic plants. In nature mistletoe can been found attached to and penetrating the branches of trees and shrubs alike. According to Norse legends, couples who met under hanging mistletoe were obliged to kiss. Here in North America mistletoe is commonly used as a Christmas decoration and is generally a plant from the genus Phoradendron.
Mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.) produces small berries that are a favorite wintertime snack for birds. The seeds then pass through the bird and are excreted high up in the trees where the birds roost. Its seeds are sticky to keep them from falling to the ground, where they would be unable to sprout and develop into mature plants.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) is a hybrid bred from plants native to the coastal mountains of Brazil. This popular holiday plant has beautiful blooms in early winter. Although full sunlight is beneficial during fall and winter, bright sun during the summer months can make plants look pale and yellow. Christmas cacti depend upon shorter day lengths and cooler temperatures to set their flower buds. Once flower buds are set do not let temperatures rise above 90°F or the buds will drop. The holiday cacti are tolerant of dry, slightly under-watered conditions and tend to thrive when pot bound. When properly tended, this blooming succulent can live for a 100 years!
Salvia
The salvia plant (Salvia fruticosa) also known as Greek sage is native to the eastern Mediterranean. Its structure resembles the description of the menorah found in the book of Exodus and is likely the floral candidate after which the menorah was modeled. Salvias are members of the mint family and have square stems and are usually strongly aromatic with leaves rich in essential oils.
If you want to add a salvia plant to your garden, there are many species to choose from. There are both annuals and perennials and come in a wide range of sizes and colors. Ornamental salvias produce beautiful flower spikes that attract a variety of pollinators with their sweet fragrance and colorful blooms.
Corn
Corn is one of the seven symbols used during Kwanzaa celebrations. Muhindi (moo-heen’-dee) means corn and represents children and the future. Corn was first domesticated by peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago and it is believed to have been derived from a wild grass known as teosinte (Zea mays parviglumis).
When most people think of corn they think of sweet corn, but most corn grown in the United States is actually field corn which unlike sweet corn, is harvested when the kernels are hard and dry. Field corn is used as livestock feed and used to make corn starch, whiskey, oils, margarines, and bio-fuels. The United States is the largest corn producer in the world and it is grown in most parts of the country including Alaska and Hawaii. Corn does best with warm, sunny growing weather (75–86°F) and moderate rains.
As you can see, plants play an important part in holiday celebrations and have very diverse horticultural origins and applications. As you continue to enjoy this winter season, think about planting or propagating these symbols as a way to personalize your holiday celebration next winter!