Mistletoe, amaryllis, poinsettia: What to know about the plants of Christmas
It is hard to believe that we are about to start another decade. The last decade afforded me the opportunity to write 240 “Over the Garden Fence” columns. Together we covered a wide variety of topics and it was fun to explore the breadth of gardening and related topics. As we approach the end of another year I thought that I would reflect on Christmas past, the plant material that surrounds us at Christmas and the symbolism of each of them.
Growing up in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, Christmas was a time of magic in our home. There was my mom’s beautiful but simple Christmas decorations, music such as Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” on 78 records played on the Stromberg-Carlson, my dad and Irish relatives singing all the beautiful Christmas songs at family gatherings, the old Lionel train set and the wonderful anticipation of Christmas Day. How did Santa make it down the chimney with a fire blazing away?
My mother always decorated the house with a myriad of plant material at Christmas, including the traditional evergreen wreath on the front door highlighted at night with a single, simple flood light that cast a mysterious glow in the room that my brother and I shared. It was in that room that we were sure that we heard Santa Claus land on the slate roof with his sleigh and reindeer. Santa also put up a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, as my brother and I were asleep dreaming of Daisy Red Ryder BB guns or a bow and arrow set.
Mistletoe dates back to the Druid priests that used this Christmas flower 200 years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. They revered the flower because the plant, even when devoid of roots, remained green during the cold months of winter.
Kissing under the mistletoe is a Christmas tradition followed ages ago. However, despite its pretty appearance and association with an affectionate gesture, mistletoe berries are actually toxic to humans. There are two types of mistletoes. The mistletoes that are commonly used as a Christmas decoration (Phoradendron flavescens) are native to North America and grow as parasites on trees from New Jersey to Florida. The other type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is of European origin. My mother always had a piece of mistletoe hung in the archway between rooms that really gave meaning to “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus underneath the mistletoe last night.”
I remember that my mother also had a beautiful red flowered Christmas Cactus. The pendulous stems of the Christmas Cactus make it a great choice for hanging baskets and they can be a great addition to the festive season. The colors of the cactus blooms are very flamboyant and they come in a wide variety of colors including red, purple, orange, pink, fuschia and cream.
Despite the name, the Christmas rose isn’t actually a rose. It’s more closely related to the buttercup. These white wildflowers tend to bloom on the European mountains in the winter. The association these flowers have to the Christmas season is derived from a European Christian tale. A shepherdess named Madelon watched the Wise Men and shepherds on their way to meet baby Jesus, equipped with presents. However, she didn’t have anything to offer him. An angel appeared to console Madelon and brushed the snow at her feet away to reveal a cluster of Christmas roses, so Madelon would have a gift for Christ.
Ivies are seen as a symbol of eternal life and are also used in Christmas decorations. Like most of the other Christmas flowers, ivy flowers symbolize eternity and resurrection. The ivy flower has been associated with the Egyptian God, Osiris and the Greco-Roman god, Attis, both of whom were resurrected from the dead. During Christmas, ivies are used mostly on the outside of the building. They represent immortality, because Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the giver of everlasting life and the destroyer of death. Greenery can also be brought indoors to freshen the air and brighten the mood during the long, dreary winter.
A very popular flower is the poinsettia. Brightly colored, though mostly red, poinsettias provide effective color as home decor during and after the holiday season.
The ancient Aztecs (the Mexican Indians) prized the poinsettias as a symbol of purity. Centuries later, Mexico’s early Christians adopted the poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. The Mexican Poinsettias, known as the Christmas Flower in North America, are usually bright red. They are used in most Christmas decorations, because of their bright red color and because of them blooming mostly during the Christmas holiday season.
Holly has deep green pointed leaves that grow on a bush. It tends to be known as a Christmas plant due to the fact female holly bushes grow bright red berries around the holiday season. Among the background of the deep green leaves, these red berries really standout, exemplifying the two most popular colors of the season. Even though holly leaves and berries have been adopted as traditional Christmas decor, the symbolism dates back to the ancient Druids. These people knew the plant as being representative of everlasting life, and Christians adopted that same meaning, only adding that it’s a symbol of Jesus’ promise of everlasting life. Later in life I use to harvest holly in New Jersey while hunting, for my mother to use in her Christmas decorations.
The amaryllis is an elegant flower that typically grows in red or white – perfect for the holiday season! These tall blooms make great centerpieces for your Christmas get-togethers. Not only does the amaryllis stay in bloom for up to six weeks, but it’s also a bulb plant, so with a little bit of care you can enjoy this flower for seasons to come! Unlike most holiday flowers, the amaryllis’ symbolism doesn’t trace back to anything particularly associated with Christmas.
Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year 2020 and a new decade. Enjoy the magic of the season!