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HOLIDAY PLANT CHOICES The holidays are upon us, and we in the horticulture world have more plant options than ever. The classic red poinsettia is receiving some fierce competition, even within the poinsettia family. These euphorbias have now been cultivated to give showy displays of salmon, spotted colors, crinkled leaves, and even purple! Christmas ain’t what it used to be. The color palette has also expanded into the zygocactus group commonly known as Christmas cactus. We are now seeing varieties with variegated leaves, lavender flowers, bicolor flowers, upright and hanging forms and re-blooming types. These plants are very long-lived, and bring joy to families for generations. It is not uncommon for me to meet folks who claim they have had their grandmother’s plant for more than 60 years! The holiday plant of choice in Northern Europe is the cyclamen. These bulbs can handle cool temperatures and low light. Again, the available colors are amazing, and new varieties even have fringed leaves. During the warm months, these plants may retreat into the bulb and reappear in fall—be careful not to add it to the compost until you’re sure it’s compost-worthy. Speaking of bulbs, let’s not forget the myriad of amaryllis. The colors seem limitless, and we are seeing interesting miniature varieties, such as “Pink Floyd” and “Papillio”, with intense For those of you who dislike the smell of paper whites, there is now an odorless variety called “Inball”. These bulbs in the narcissus family are mostly grown in Israel, and if forced in water usually will not re-bloom. You have a better chance for that if they are forced in soil. Give them lots of sun to prevent stretching and falling over. Don’t ignore other colorful décor provided by azaleas, kalanchoes, ornamental peppers, and Norfolk pines. Mix and embellish these plants with sprigs of evergreen, ivy and ferns for a more creative display. The sky is the limit! Celebrate with diversity, honoring the plant kingdom and the gardener within. PEACE AND JOY
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floriferous color and multi-stems. The old standby colors are now being grown in South Africa in giant sizes, and one bulb can produce up to 16 flowers. Keep in mind that these are tropical, and enjoy a warm, sunny spot.