Tree Talk: Holiday plant traditions

In addition to Christmas trees, there are other plants that have become traditional during the holiday season. Poinsettias are native to Mexico, but are grown in commercial greenhouses under special conditions, to prepare them for distribution before Christmas. The plant was introduced to the U.S. in 1828 by J. Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. More than 75 million poinsettias are sold during the Christmas season each year, making it the top-selling potted flowering plant in the U.S. The pretty red portions of the plant we enjoy are actually leaves, while the tiny yellow clusters in the center of the plant are the flowers. Avoid purchasing plants showing yellow pollen from the flowers, as those plants are past their prime. The flowers should be green and just about to bud. Poinsettias are a finicky plant, with a preferred temperature range of 65-70 degrees. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. They like bright light, but will not tolerate a hot window.

Holly fits in well with the season with its glossy green leaves and vibrant red berries. Ancient cultures considered this a sacred plant because it retains its leaves which remain green in harsh winter weather. Branches were hung in homes to offer good luck and protection. In eastern and central U.S., this woody shrub grows to 30 feet tall and is native to bottomlands and swampy margin areas, hardiness zones 5-9. It requires a sunny location with an acidic soil – so it’s not a landscaping choice for the Northern Plains, although there are cultivars that can withstand temperatures to minus 25. The berries are winter food for wild turkeys, cedar waxwings, mourning doves, goldfinches and cardinals.

Mistletoe is another plant tied to Norse mythology and Celtic folklore, now associated with friendship, and the tradition of “kissing beneath the mistletoe.” In reality, mistletoe is a parasitic plant which finds a host in a long list of tree species, including many trees in the warmer zones of the U.S. Mistletoe seeds are formed inside white berries that are eaten by birds. The seeds are “recycled” through the birds’ digestive system, sometimes landing on the branch of a perfect host tree. Mistletoe germinates and attaches itself to the host which then provides the habitat and all the nutrients needed for the mistletoe to thrive. Eventually, that plant might offer a sprig of mistletoe which plays a small romantic part in the inspiration of a kiss.