Maritta Perry Grau
Frederick County Master Gardener
(12/1) December is probably one of the most tradition-bound months of the year. We hang mistletoe in strategic spots and wreaths on our front doors, put up Christmas trees, tack stockings to the mantel; burn Hanukkah candles in the menorah, spin the dreidel, buy bags of "gold"-covered chocolate coins and other presents; and seek out gift plants, just to name a few traditions. Probably every family has its own unique traditions, whether the family is celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa.
But did you ever wonder why a particular plant is so strongly associated with this winter season? Is it just the advertising? Just the demand for the plant? Family tradition? These days, we rarely know anything about the long-ago traditions, most of which were once part of celebrations of the winter solstice, symbolizing, good luck, peace, fertility, and eternal life, among other things.
And what the heck are you supposed to do with the plant once January and February come? It’s too cold to plant most things outside (although our family has been known to buy balled-and-burlapped live trees, keep them in the house for only a week, and then hurriedly plant them outside in a hole dug weeks ago; most are still growing in our yard).
If you get one of those plants that brighten up your winter décor into January and beyond, you might want to call a master gardener or check on the University of Maryland extension website to get some pointers on caring for it. And just for fun, find out what old traditions that plant represents. But in case you don’t have time to do any of that research, below are a few hints to help you out with four favorite holiday plants.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)
You probably are familiar with this plant—the bold, bright, large flower grows on a thick stalk with strappy leaves and is often given as a winter season present. The Greek mythology associated with this plant tells the story of a shy shepherdess, Amaryllis, who fell in love with a shepherd named Alteo. The Oracle of Delphi advised her to pierce her own heart with a golden arrow every day until Alteo noticed her. Of course, he didn’t notice until a beautiful red flower nurtured by blood from her heart sprouted. So the flower is supposed "to serve as a metaphor for inner strength and resilience," according to the website gardenia.net.
In caring for the plant, once you’ve planted the bulb, put it (in the container, of course) in a bright window and in temperatures of 70E–75E F; once the flower forms, move it to a place with less direct light and lower temperatures of about 65E F. Water thoroughly when you plant the bulb, but after that, just water when the soil dries, says the website gardeningknowhow.com. You can consult the University of Maryland extension service or some other gardening sites to find ways to keep your amaryllis growing for years to come.
Mistletoe (Viscum album; American mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum)
Mistletoe is the common name for several families of poisonous, evergreen, parasitic plants often found high in trees; since they are parasitic, mistletoe roots often penetrate the branches to which they cling and suck out the nutrients. Even so, many ancients–Greeks, Druids, Celts, and the Norse–considered mistletoe a sacred plant and hung mistletoe in their homes to encourage good fortune and peace, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s website. Because it was so vibrant and green even in the dead of winter, mistletoe was also associated with fertility, says the website Plants of the Winter Solstice. And like the poinsettia noted below, most reliable medical websites don’t recommend mistletoe for anything except perhaps an excuse to kiss under!
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Although the poinsettia is thought to have been used by Aztecs in certain rituals and dyes thousands of years ago, its popularity as a holiday flower is sort of a johnny-come-lately. In the early nineteenth century, botanist Dr. Joel Poinsett was captivated by these "Mexican flame flowers" when he served as the United States’ first ambassador to Mexico. He grew some in his South Carolina greenhouse, then started sending them as gifts to friends and nurseries throughout the country. By the mid-twentieth century, they had become quite popular.
You might not realize it, but those bright red "flowers" (they may also be pink, white, striped or marbled) are actually bracts, or specialized leaves. The flowers are those small, beady clusters in the center. While the poinsettia is probably not as poisonous as its reputation indicates, there is no good scientific evidence to support medicinal uses, according to web.md and other reliable medical sites. In fact, because of its latex-based sap, poinsettias are still on Santa’s no-no list, as they can cause stomach upset and rashes if ingested, whether by humans or by pets.
Your poinsettia will probably be happiest indoors. Make sure it grows in well-draining potting soil; receives bright indirect light, perhaps near a sunny window and at 65–75E F; and is watered when the soil surface is dry, less frequently when it goes dormant.
Holly (Ilex, various species)
Holly was prized in ancient times and like the other plants mentioned above, associated with the winter solstice because its leaves stay green such a long time when brought inside. Ancients in Britain believed holly had protective powers when it was hung inside their homes; it was supposed to ward off evil, bring good luck during the winter solstice, and be a symbol of fertility, eternal life and rebirth.
Today, hollies are primarily prized for that lasting green and their brilliant red berries. The berries are produced only on the female holly; both male and female trees are needed pollinate the flowers. If you have at least two trees/bushes, but no berries, then most likely, your trees are either all males or all females. When you buy a holly, you may be able to tell its sex simply by its masculine or feminine common name. Otherwise, you’ll have wait until spring to early summer, when the holly flowers bloom and you can then examine the blossoms. The male hollies have more prominent stamens than do the females, according to gardeningknowhow.com.
One warning: make sure the holly you purchase is an American one; others may be invasive. "American holly is a great alternative to invasive, non-native hollies. American holly can be distinguished by its relatively flat, nearly symmetrical leaves that curl down slightly at the leaf tip. The leaf of American holly is usually less shiny, and broadest near the middle of the leaf," according to the Maryland Invasive Species Council.
Read other winter related gardening articles
Read other articles by Maritta Perry Grau
