Classic Christmas “Pine”

Christmas plants are festive and exquisite, and it’s a lot of enjoyable to develop your individual as a substitute of shopping for them on the backyard retailer at Christmas time. So many are tossed away after the vacations that anybody with an curiosity in rescuing crops can have a subject day.

As a confirmed plant rescuer, I’ve saved many a poinsettia tossed out after Christmas by my San Francisco neighbors. My very favourite Christmas rescue plant although is the Norfolk Island pine we discovered by a rubbish can in January a number of years again.

Norfolk Island Pine

Norfolk Island pine trees (Araucaria heterophylla) usually are not within the pine household in any respect. They’re native to the tropics of Norfolk Island, close to Australia, that offers them their identify.

In heat zones like USDA zones 10 and 11, Norfolk Island pines can be planted in the landscape and develop slowly into tall, shapely specimens, as much as 200 ft (61 m.) tall. They’re beloved for his or her straight trunks and swish, symmetrical branches adorned with mushy, inward-curving needles.

Potted Christmas Bushes

Norfolk Island pines are completely lovely when they’re younger. When a number of younger timber are grouped intently in a pot, they resemble a small, lush, soft-needled pine. These potted specimens are bought in the US as dwelling Christmas timber. Sadly, they’re typically tossed out after the vacations.

I occur to have discovered certainly one of these discarded potted Christmas timber that had been left on the sidewalk with the rubbish in early January one yr. We introduced it dwelling and gave it water, then let it sit in a vivid nook of the backyard to see what occurred. Briefly— it thrived.

Residing Christmas Tree

This little Norfolk Island pine turned a dwelling Christmas tree that I’ve used yr after yr. I left it because it got here for a number of years, then made the tough determination to remove all of the little trees aside from the principal one. I attempted to save lots of them by potting them up individually, however they died.

As soon as the facet seedlings had been eliminated, the tree not resembled the right potted Christmas tree. It appeared far more like one thing you’d plant within the yard than a lush decoration. Over time, the decrease branches took the place of these eliminated. Immediately it nonetheless holds a spot of honor within the festivities each vacation.