Who said a Christmas tree has to be shaped like a cone and smell piney?
Why not get double benefits from your holiday decorating dollars with a "Living" Christmas tree.
We have a great group of suitable trees and plants to be used as a living Christmas tree. With a bit of care and planning, they can be planted in your yard after the holidays.
- Rosemary
A great choice for apartments, or if you want something festive. You can snip off bits to season your holiday meals. Rosemary grows in partial shade to full sun and needs good drainage.
- Junipers
They are sheared cone-shaped. For a modern look choose one with a spiral cut. Look for varieties like Spartan and Blue Point, which do very well here.
- Sapphire Cypress
It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Blue Christmas" with its lovely, powdery-blue color. Plant it in the sun and dress it as your outdoor Christmas tree, next year.
- Yews
An interesting option as long as you don't have dogs. Plant them in full sun or in partial shade as a dense, view blocking evergreen.
- Eastern Red Cedar
The classic living Christmas tree. We have a client who is lining his yard with them, one Christmas tree a year -- a tradition in the making. A tough native, Eastern Red Cedar makes a nice, mid-sized, evergreen tree...blocking out the most annoying views and nosey neighbors.
- Holly
It can be in a tree form or have branches full to the ground. Most will have red berries during the holidays. Their shiny leaves reflect light well. Plant in the sun or partial shade after the holiday.
- Bright-n-Tight Cherry Laurel
Great if you have a very narrow area to work in. Plant it in full sun to part shade...as long as you have really good drainage. It makes a great screen without eating up the entire yard.
Now for something completely different and non-traditional...
- Buy a deciduous tree, toss some lights on it, and hang your ornaments. Voilà -- a Christmas tree your 2-year-old can't pull down.
- How about a citrus tree? You have always wanted one and you can be eating its fruit during the next holiday season.
- A big fat Camellia, like the aptly named Yuletide, will create a buzz among your friends and family at your annual party. They'll think you're a decorating genius and gardening goddess at the same time.
By overlapping your holiday decorating and gardening budgets, you can get 2 trees for the price of one. Just bring your living Christmas tree into the house the week before Christmas. Keep it moist (never sitting in water) and take back outside right after the holidays. Let it acclimate for a week or two, then plant it in the ground.