No holiday has more emphasis on plants than Christmas (with the exception of Arbor Day). At least that is my premise. Please bear with me – I am thinking of Christmas trees, poinsettias, Christmas cactus, mistletoe, holly and more.

This is all during a time when conditions are most averse to plants. And it is not just the weather in the northern hemisphere. Days are much shorter.

One of the things that comes to the rescue is short-day plants. A short-day plant grows vegetatively during the summer but doesn’t produce flowers until the days get shorter. The short-day plants include poinsettias and Christmas cactus. Poinsettias require 8-10 weeks of short days (15 hours daily of complete darkness) for their bracts to show color.

Poinsettias are the most common holiday plant. The floral industry estimates that 70 million poinsettias are sold annually in the United States, with 200 million sold worldwide. The Christmas tree industry, by comparison, estimates they sell 25-30 million live cut trees.

Poinsettias, a wild plant in Mexico, were first introduced to this country by Joel Robert Poinsett, a U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 1825 to 1829. Most poinsettias don’t last long in homes. Often, people overwater poinsettias, and to get them past the holidays requires attention to ongoing lighting needs.

Natives are only red but hybrids now come in red, pink, white, gold, marbled and variegated.

Another short-day plant is Christmas cactus, a native of the mountainous forests in southeast Brazil. Best flower inducement for them is night temperatures of 60º-65º and daytime temps a little warmer. Unlike most succulents, these require a fair amount of water to survive. With proper care, a Christmas cactus will survive for many years.

It may not be Christmas at your house without a real Christmas tree. Experts term the balsam fir as a favorite because it has a strong fragrance associated with the holiday. There is a long list of firs, pines, spruces, and cedar that make nice Christmas trees – each with its own strengths. Douglas fir is described as fullest, fraser fir is prized for its ability to handle heavier ornaments and Colorado blue spruce is loved for its color. Scotch pine retains its needles better than most. A new variety that some like is the Korean fir with needles that are green on top and silver underneath. Norfolk Island pine is a popular midget indoor tree. On its island home near Australia, it can grow to be 80 ft. tall.

Holly, with its pointed, white-rimmed leaves and red berries, is another popular decoration, though most of what we see is artificial.

Mistletoe, as a native plant, is a semi-parasitic species that is considered invasive in some areas. It has leathery leaves and white berries. It is often an excuse to kiss when hung above a doorway. In ancient times, it was also believed to have fertility qualities.

Rosemary is called the “Christmas herb” because it is a native of the Holy Land and a symbol of remembrance.

Cyclamen is another Holy Land native that has Biblical reference. They were said to flower in the gardens at Gethsemane. Because the blossoms look a little like rabbit ears, the Japanese refer to this as the ‘bunny ear flower.’

Learn more about holiday plant care at yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/caring-holiday-plants.

Read about legends involving holiday plants at yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/legends-and-traditions-holiday-plants.

By John Buntsma, Master Gardener Coordinator, Iowa State University