Beyond Poinsettias

November 27th, 2018

   The old-favorite red poinsettia is no longer the only way to color your holidays.

Red poinsettias are still our favorite Christmas plant, but it’s far from the only choice.

   Although this red-bracted Mexican import is still America’s top-selling potted plant, lots of other plant choices have elbowed their way into the Christmas market.

   Watch in these coming weeks as garden-center plant benches color up with the likes of everything from amaryllis bulbs to December-blooming orchids to roses forced into flower.

   It’s amazing how much variety growers have been able to throw at us at a time of year when you’d think most plants would be hibernating.

   Through the magic of greenhouse heat, artificial lighting, and the ability to fly in plants from all parts of the globe, we have almost as much color choice in December as in May.

   People like color in their lives.

   It brightens our darkening days, reminds us of warmer times, and is especially useful in decorating the house for the holidays.

   Poinsettias and other plants also make ideal hostess and holiday gifts.

   In other words, the demand is there.

   Once upon a time, red was the Christmas color – and to a lesser extent, white (not coincidentally the two main colors of poinsettias).

   These days, anything goes, from lavender cyclamens to poinsettias spray-dyed purple, blue, and even orange.

   Believe it or not, one the hottest holiday plant sellers lately is cactus. Not the more traditional Christmas cactus with its red or hot pink trailing arms of bloom, but mini barrel cactuses with blooming “heads.”

   They come in a variety of hot colors (including red), but they’re definitely not your Grandmother’s Christmas plant.

   Also quickly catching on as a popular holiday seller: orchids.

   Many of these classy flowers have the good sense to bloom in December, which makes them a natural for gift-giving. Besides having an elegant look and luxurious reputation, their prices have come down in recent years, making them ideal as gifts that seem costlier than they really are.

   Orchid choices range from the easy-to-grow moth orchid (Phaelaenopsis) to the shoe-shaped lady’s slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum) to the corsage or Christmas orchid (Cattleya).

White euphorbia and red poinsettias make a beautiful combo.

   A third interesting choice that’s becoming a staple is the white euphorbia – the same plant sold as a garden annual in spring. The variety ‘Diamond Frost’ started it off, and there’s now more compact and heavier-blooming options, including a pink-tinted one.

   Euphorbias produce mass quantities of dainty white flowers, giving the illusion of a ball of snow. Garden centers sometimes pair it in big pots with red poinsettias.

   Amaryllis and paperwhites have long been the main two bulbs grown for the winter holidays, but hyacinths are elbowing their way into the fray. These spiky, fragrant bloomers of white, blue, purple or pink also are fairly easy to get to bloom, and they can be started at home or bought potted and already in flower.

   If you like paperwhites but not their scent, look for a non-scented variety called ‘Inbal’ that some sellers carry.

   As for amaryllis, the latest twist is a raft of different colors and a version with spidery-looking petals instead of the traditional trumpet shape.

   Joining poinsettias from the tropics and sub-tropics are a boatload of blooming beauties, some familiar, some not. These include:

   * African violets. They’re fuzzy-leafed long-bloomers with flowers of pink, white or purple.

   * Cyclamen. Variegated-leaf plants with red, pink, hot-pink or lavenders atop succulent, protruding stems.

Kalanchoes of many colors are available in December in full bloom.

   * Bromeliads. Strappy-leafed tropicals with spiky flowers of mostly gold, red or orange emerging from a central cup.

   * Kalanchoe. A succulent plant with phlox-like clusters of small flowers of many colors.

   * Peace lily. Bushy green plants that send up white flowers somewhat reminiscent of a satellite dish.

   Even shrubs are getting into the act more and more.

   Among the types you’re most likely to find in the coming weeks are blooming roses (primarily red or white), azaleas (red, white or pink) and hydrangeas (pink, white and blue).

   And while you’re browsing, don’t overlook houseplants with white-edged or similar white-and-green variegated leaves. These have that wintry look, kind of like they’ve just been dusted with a light snow.

   Some examples you’re likely to run across: frosty ferns, variegated ficus trees, ‘Silver Frost’ Chinese evergreen, dieffenbachia and variegated ivy.

   There’s no reason you have to stick with just single specimens of any of these.

   Build yourself an impressive holiday display by grouping several choices that look good together in one large pot.

   Finish it off with a few pine cones from the yard, and yes, maybe even an old-fashioned poinsettia or two.