Daikagura Camelia Japonica bloom.
Instant color from plants comes in all shapes and forms for the holidays.
Indoors, people turn to cheery poinsettias, amaryllis and “Christmas” cactuses. I put “Christmas” in quotes because in reality there are three major varieties of these liberally blooming succulents; most people use the term “Christmas cactus” as a catch-all.
Mystery solved: Thanksgiving cactuses are the first to bloom and their leaves/segments have notched pointed edges, sometimes called “teeth.” The true Christmas cactuses burst into bloom in early winter. With more rounded edges, their leaves are also smoother than Thanksgiving cactuses. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas plants have tubular blossoms so it’s best to trust leaf shapes for identification.
By the spring, Easter cactuses make a show. With shorter segments than their cousins, the edges of the leaves are slightly scalloped and have tiny bristles along the sides. The multi-petaled star-shaped blooms come right out of the end of the branches and have no “tube.”
As for amaryllis, these large bulbs can produce four to five stems with clusters of stunning large flowers, sometimes as many as five to a stalk. Purchasing them from reputable growers, such as Longfield Gardens, assures delivery of large bulbs that can be planted outside in the spring to grow cut flowers after 18 months.
Traditional red poinsettias have been dressed up by hybridizers that now sell pink and white, plus multi-colored bracts that top lush green potted plants. People often call the colored bracts blooms, but the true blossom is the cluster of small round yellow buttons in the center.
Most people consider poinsettias one and done plants, tossing them at the end of the holidays. However, these tropical beauties can be made to bloom year after year. The process is complicated, involving monitoring the number of hours of daylight and dark they receive in the fall and winter. If you really want to know how, Mr. Google has many experts to provide the details.
Color outside your windows
I’m addicted to my favorite fall-winter blooming plant: camellias. With more than 3,000 named cultivars in three main groups – sasanqua, japonica and the lesser-known reticulata varieties – camellias deliver blossoms from late October all the way into April.
Dark green glossy leaves set the backdrop for blooms ranging from tiny solid colors to bigger-than-your-hand fully ruffled flowers that combine pinks, whites and reds in a single blossom.
Sasanquas are the first to bloom on shrubs that can grow from 6 to 14 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide. They require full sun to partial shade and can be used for privacy fences or as large specimen shrubs.
Blooming from late November until early spring, japonicas have the most showy blooms. Flower shapes from single formal to semi-double, anemone and peony reward those how have them in their landscape with blossoms to bring indoors and float in shallow bowls.
Camellia Reticulata can grow to more than 25 feet, making it the tallest group of camellias. Its blossoms can also become large.
Camellias can be low-maintenance easy-to-grow as long as they are planted properly when the weather is cooler or even cold and watered regularly to encourage root development before the warm weather returns.
If you’ve never owned a camellia, try it. Beautiful specimens are available at area nurseries, box retailers and online. One of my favorite sources is Wilson Brothers in South Atlanta; they only accept online orders and shipping is free.
Once you start with camellias, it’s like eating potato chips. This winter I’m adding about 30 to my wooded landscape. And that doesn’t include the half-dozen plants I purchased in South Georgia in November.
Busting a rumor
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is alive and well, despite being reported otherwise by various national media outlets.
The confusion came when Farmer’s Almanac, also a publication that’s been printing for more than two centuries, announced it was closing next year.
“Here’s the statement from The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
“To our Friends and Fans:
You may have heard that the Farmer’s Almanac, based out of Lewiston, ME, is ceasing publication after an incredible 200+ year run. Over the years, there has been some confusion between different almanacs, so to be clear: The OLD Farmer’s Almanac isn’t going anywhere. As we have since 1792, during George Washington’s presidency, we will continue to publish our annual edition, while educating and entertaining readers online at Almanac.com.”
I’ve been a subscriber for the past decade and enjoy the print copy as well as the daily Almanac emails that include gardening tips, recipes, news of astronomy happenings, weather information and just good old-fashioned, but pertinent today, information for living life.
Photo: by Pamela A. Keene
