I love to see poinsettias and smell Christmas trees. Decorating with and giving plants and flowers is a fun thing for gardeners and plant lovers. I started looking around my garden for what I can give to whom. Talk about shopping local.
>> Poinsettias: They can last a long time in a pot if you water them correctly. Once or twice a week, carry the pot to the sink, take off the decorative foil and run water to soak the planting media. Let it drain, then put it back in its decorative spot.
If you have the old-fashioned, hedge-type poinsettia growing outside, keep it! Grow and share it so we can perpetuate this kamaaina classic. These are different from the ones the nurseries grow. I have one outside and it is already brilliant red.
>> White poinsettia: Also known as Euphorbia leucocephala, this is another outdoor hedge plant that is gorgeous and fragrant. It has many fun common names like snow on the mountain, puno puno, Flor de Nino, white-laced euphorbia, snowflake euphorbia, Pascuita, snows of Kilimanjaro and little Christmas flower. Sometimes you can find this in pots as well, but it really is most glorious grown in the ground.
>> Lipstick plant or achiote: This kamaaina favorite comes in at least three colors: red, super bright red (my fave) and yellow. The fuzzy pods are attractive when fairly young, and they keep well as a cut-flower arrangement. The more mature ones are good in a dry arrangement, and most fun of all are the red-coated seeds. You can make achiote oil for Spanish rice and other gourmet treats.
We had this plant in our yard growing up, and it was a healthy, nontoxic way for keiki to play makeup. It is easy to grow from seeds or cuttings or to buy a plant at your favorite nursery. You can see all of the colors at Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe where they grow on the trail heading down to the lake from the visitor center.
>> Red shrimp plant: I received this as a gift from May Moir, who was always looking for poinsettia substitutes she could grow in her Nuuanu garden. It’s easy to grow and it’s nice in arrangements.
>> Kalamansi and tangerines: Both these citrus plants fruit at this time of year, and the trees are so pretty and festive. I especially love kalamansi in smaller gardens for its versatility in the kitchen — from drinks to fish marinades to that special touch in salad dressings.
>> Norfolk pines: These can be grown in pots or in your yard. They don’t smell like the mainland ones, but they also don’t come with the risk of importing alien pests. They stay green for months, and you can treat them like a houseplant if you like. And as my mom says, “No needles on the floor!”
>> Orchids: These are so decorative that they always make the best gifts. Water them as you do poinsettias.
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant specializing in native, xeric and edible gardens. Reach her at heidibornhorst@gmail.com.
