The Prettiest Plants of the Season

Poinsettias, Mistletoe and Bonsai trees are exchanged quite generously during the holiday season. It’s a nice gesture, but other houseplants such as the Guzmania Lungulatas (Scarlet Star), Medinilla Magnifica (Medinilla) and Ionopsis (Violet Orchid) certainly sprout more prominent and beautiful flowers. So, what gives? They seem humble, which is synonymous with Christmas. But why are these flowers singled out among so many others as the quintessential Holiday plants?

The legend of the Poinsettia follows two poor Mexican children on their search for a present to add to the manger scene in their village church. The children loved Christmas but were too poor to give presents to each other, and more importantly, couldn’t afford anything for the manger scene. They decided to pick weeds as they walked to give as their present to Jesus. But when they arrived to the church they were severely teased by the other children. They had done what they could, and the two of them knew that was what truly mattered. Slowly, they placed the plants one by one around the manger when miraculously they all bloomed luminescent, star shaped flowers. Their modesty and generosity had been rewarded. Pulcherrima, pulcher meaning tidiest in Latin, was given it’s more common name by Robert Poinsett who introduced the plant to America in 1825. In fact, Poinsettias are so popular that December 12 is known as Poinsettia day in the US.

In 200 B.C, Ancient Celtic Druids decorated their homes with mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. The cutting of the mistletoe with a golden sickle on the sixth lunar day marked the commencement of a ritual that entailed sacrificing two white bulls during a prayer ceremony for those who received the mistletoe. Mistletoe was thought by the Druids to not only be lucky, but to grant fertility for women and cure forms of poisoning.

Mistletoe is considered the sexual part of the sacred oak tree and kissing under the mistletoe can be traced to the Scandinavians who associated mistletoe with Frigga, their goddess of love. But the first known romantic rendezvous occurred during the ancient Greek festival of Saturnalia. The origin of the name Mistletoe is derived from the thought that the plant prospered in manure and dung, and strangely enough, was also thought to grow from bird droppings. “Mistle” is the Anglo-Saxon word for “dung,” and “tan” is the word for “twig” so combined together you have something that roughly translates as “ dung-on-a- twig”. Breathmint, anyone? Sadly, Mistletoe is so popular that it has almost become endangered, so buy sparingly or go for the plastic imitation.

Christmas Bonsai trees are a great alternative to a traditional cut tree. They are obviously smaller in size and potted so you can continue to care for them even after the holidays are over. Alternatives to cut trees have always been a concern among conservationists who have suggested decorating a living tree nearby or a palm tree if you spend winter on Christmas Island like Mr. Buffett.

Blandfordia Grandiflora, or Christmas Bells is one of many flowers in Australia that has been long associated with Holidays. Christmas Bells have ten large-shaped flowers that range from yellow to deep red and have long, spiky grass leaves. Burasaria Spinoza, or the Christmas Bush has dark green, shiny leaves and masses of tiny white flowers that cover the bush in late spring. A Christmas Bush can be grown in any condition, so it may be an exotic and original alternative to the Poinsettia or Christmas Cacti. Christmas Cacti, conveniently, bloom right around Christmas time making them ideal for decorating your home.

Aside from the United States, the Lebanese plant seeds in small pots so that when Christmas comes around, the seeds have grown to small green bushes, which are then placed around the trees and outside the caves where the nativity scenes are. And in St. Lucia, entire houses are filled with Poinsettias. It is apparent that the adoration of Holiday plants is a deep, worldly tradition.

Holiday plants have warded off evil spirits during the Middle Ages and have been placed over house and stable doors to prevent the invasion of evil witches. They have been considered symbols of peace in Scandinavia by which feuding spouses could make-up and have been cut down to portray the emasculation of a King.

When giving plants or bouquets this Christmas season, think past their beauty and consider their true meaning. It may put some other things in perspective for you.

– Skye Hilton