As the holidays approach, I always think of the festive way my father decorated the front door of our suburban house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Being an industrial designer, he collected unique Christmas ornaments and added freshly cut greens and natural materials from the surrounding woods.
Brilliant orange bittersweet and red holly berries adorned the greens, and his collection of Mexican hand-cut metal ornaments complemented the swags. I later learned that these metal ornaments were crafted in Mexico City from soda cans and fashioned into butterflies, flowers, and birds.
The craftsmanship still amazes me as I add this decades-old collection to my California mantel. I continue to seek natural elements to enhance my holiday decorations.
Create your own holiday tree
I was thrilled when I attended SUNY Cobleskill’s Plant Science Department and met Chris Cash, a propagation professor who taught us to shape a rosemary plant into a rosemary Christmas tree. We grew 50 trees in the large greenhouse and sold them during the holidays.
The key to creating a successful tree is to purchase the plant from a local nursery. Tell the nursery staff that you’re looking for the largest perennial rosemary plant they have in stock, ideally at least 24 inches tall, in a 5- or 10-gallon pot. Avoid premade rosemary plants that soon appear in grocery and big-box stores, as self-shaped trees will be healthier and last longer.
When selecting your plant, examine the “main leader” — the thickest, central stem that forms the core of the tree. Once you’ve chosen the right plant, use sharp floral scissors or a pruner to trim it into a triangular shape resembling a miniature pine tree. The first cut may look shaggy, but give it a fresh trim each week; by Christmas, it will have the perfect shape.
Allow your tree to grow outdoors in a protected area until you’re ready to bring it indoors for decorating. To ease the transition from the outdoor chill to a warmer house, place it away from direct sunlight and avoid putting it near a window.
Invest in a plastic spray bottle filled with room-temperature water. Mist the needles daily, but water the pot only when it’s completely dry. Place a large saucer under the pot to catch excess water, but don’t let water accumulate.
Decorate your tree
Select decorations according to the size and scale of the tree. Large red glass balls might look out of place on a miniature tree, so look for smaller, more proportional ornaments. Wrap it with delicate gold or silver chains to enhance the display. Tiny white lights will illuminate the greenery, and the room will glow with your living tree and the spicy aroma of rosemary.
The best part is that your tree will thrive for years, avoiding the landfill fate of cut pine trees that last only a few weeks.
Shop local nurseries
Perennial rosemary plants can be found at these local nurseries. Be sure to ask the nursery staff to help you choose the right plant for your project:
- Green Acres Nursery, 1019 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos
- Armstrong Garden Center, 5702 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad
- Anderson’s La Costa Nursery, 400 La Costa Ave., Encinitas
Jano Nightingale is a horticulturist and Master Gardener who teaches vegetable gardening at the Carlsbad Senior Center. Contact her at [email protected] for upcoming classes.
