Decorating With Plants: Indoors and Outdoors

Decorate for the holidays with living plants and trees, and then plant them, instead of using artificial ones this year

Instead of chopping down and using dead or dying trees and shrubs to decorate for the holidays this year, why not nurture and plant living greenery? 

Christmas Trees

Pine trees

Many different trees work as Christmas trees, including the Pine tree (most often the Scotch Pine, Virginia Pine, or White Pine.) Commonly used in wreath and garland-making, these trees are known for their superior needle retention when adequately watered. Pine trees are fast-growing, providing shade earlier in their lives than many other trees. Planting a row of Pine trees together creates a beautiful wind, rain, or sun break for a house, too, and they are straightforward to care for in return.

Cedar Trees

Known as the Eastern Red Cedar, the Cedar Tree is native to a few southern states, including Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, and often makes its way into households as the annual Christmas tree there. Not only are they lovely with straight needles and feathery limbs, but they smell divine.

Loblolly Pine Trees

Loblolly Pines are fast-growing, often gaining as many as 24 inches in a single year when grown in ideal conditions. Used in many products, including furniture, flooring, and more, the U.S. wood industry has classified it as Southern Yellow Pine.

The Loblolly attracts numerous birds and animals like the northern bobwhite, Carolina chickadee, brown-headed nuthatch, chipmunk, squirrel, etc. They’re attracted to the seeds of the Loblolly as well as the shelter the trees can provide.

Ponderosa Pine

Named by a botanist for its ponderous, dense wood, the Ponderosa Pine is a thick, sturdy tree, attractive to many birds and other wildlife for its protective nesting limbs. Its seeds are eaten by wild turkeys, grouse, and mice, while their twigs and bark are favorites of elk and porcupines.

Also known as Bull Pine or Blackjack Pine, Ponderosas are the second tallest Pine and can grow to over 200 feet tall. Its thick bark is resistant to wildfires and is the official state tree of Montana.

Spruce Pine

These grow into lovely soft-textured trees and prefer full sun and fertile, moist soil, but will also tolerate other types of land. Used in furniture and musical instruments such as guitars, the Spruce Pine is the Pine most often used as a Christmas tree. The Spruce Pine holds the current record of being the oldest tree in the world.

Pitch Pine Tree

They were also known as a Torch Pine. Pitch Pine trees usually grow to between 40-70 feet tall. They’re used predominantly for pulpwood and lumber and are known to be fire-resistant. They’re green all year, make pine cones in groups of up to five, and make outstanding additions to nearly any lawn.

Note: Though trees are known for cleaning the air, bringing them into the home may open up a whole new can of worms regarding indoor air quality -- particularly if you have allergies. Set up an air purifier in the same room with the tree to help guard against mold, pollen spores, etc., if the tree may release that.

Winterberry Bushes

The green leaves start to fall off these pretty plants as the nights get colder. That often leaves the barren branches and the red berries, and that’s it. But we found creative folks who used just that to make beautiful holiday decorations like this!

 

American Wintergreen

There’s nothing prettier at Christmastime than an entirely green and red American Wintergreen plant like this. Some send them as gifts or “mini-Christmas trees” for the tabletop. You can also make a bold statement in the correct container with them.

As you can see, there are countless ways to decorate Christmas with living plants and trees. How will you use yours this holiday season?

Buy your holiday plants at TN Nursery.