Desert Gardner:

Many plants can be used during the holidays

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 | midnight

Angela O'Callaghan

Cutting down a tree to put it in the living room, decorating it and finally discarding it is one of those curious practices that have become ingrained in our culture. It is symbolic of the winter holidays, whether or not we attach a religious connotation to the trees. Some people choose a living tree that can be planted in the garden after the decorations have been removed. Almost invariably, people choose living or cut evergreen conifers — pine, fir, and spruce in particular — for their celebrations.

Tradition is a wonderful thing, but there are many plants that can be used for the holidays, and some can even be decorated. Gardeners and horticulturists can often look at plants and envision a whole range of possibilities.

Potted rosemary is now a frequent sight in homes, especially at the holidays. Trained up a wire form, festooned with lights, it has the dark green narrow foliage that is reminiscent of more customary trees, with the advantages that it takes up much less room and can be used in cooking. Tall or shrubby houseplants can be garlanded. Why not put little lights on weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) or umbrella tree (Schefflera arboricora)? Many houses have them already and they can show off winter finery like anyone else.

Christmas usually means red and green décor. Some plants have that kind of adornment naturally. Ornamental peppers can be covered in small red fruits set off against the backdrop of perfect green. Cherry tomatoes are similarly red and green. Unfortunately, unless the intrepid gardener has been busy in the home greenhouse, these are not likely to be available during the holiday season.

People will sometimes use sturdy red pomegranates in holiday arrangements. They are usually easy to find. The fruit is certainly tasty and healthful in addition to being visually interesting. The plants also grow terrifically well in Southern Nevada. Many gardens have a pomegranate tree or two that produces glorious flowers in mid spring and fruits in fall. This plant comes as a dwarf, too, which looks almost identical, except for being shrubbier and having smaller fruit.

These dwarf forms grow well in pots as long as they are well treated. The fruits are edible but generally are not as tasty as those from the tree. Eating them is not the point here, however. Picture a pomegranate growing in a pot, with a bounty of small red fruits. Add a few strings of lights and it becomes a Christmas tree of sorts.

Of course, many people will opt for a more traditional approach, and purchase a beautiful conifer for the holidays. The tree can continue to be beneficial, even after the ornaments and lights have been removed.

The Christmas tree recycling program will be in effect again this year. Trees are collected, chipped and turned into important mulch for parks and schools. There are locations all over the valley. For a list of drop off sites, go to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Web page.

Angela O’Callaghan is the area specialist in social horticulture for the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached c/o the Home News, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074, or TheNews@hbcpub.com.