Garden and Green

Winter is a dreary time out in the garden, with

lifeless branches shivering in the icy winds,

but inside there is a number of seasonal plants

traditionally associated with Christmas that

will bring your home to life.

Instead of going over the top with manufactured

Christmas decorations why not instead use

these natural wonders to make a real winter

wonderland.

Poinsettias

*Native to the Pacific coast of Mexico, some parts

of central southern Mexico, and a few localities

in Guatemala.

*The top leaves, are known as bracts, they are

flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken

as flowers.

*Mexico's early Christians adopted the poinsettias

as their prized Christmas flowers.

*Plants are subtropical in the wild, and in homes should be kept in warm conditions, away from draughts and to close to radiators.

Christmas Cactus

* Originally forest cacti, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 1000 and 1700 meters above sea level (3280 to 5575 feet above sea level) in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America

*Christmas cactus will do best in bright indirect light. Long term direct sunlight can burn the leaves and stunt growth. If taken care of properly, a single planting can last for years.

*Bright unusual flowers grow on the tips of the leaves around Christmas and only require water every few days. They are easy to propagate to make further plants for friends and family.

Amaryllis

*Native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape.

*Most 'Amaryllis' bulbs sold in nurseries etc are in fact 'Hippeastrum' a close relative from Latin America.

*The first commercial breeders of hippeastra were Dutch growers who imported several species from South America and began developing cultivars and hybrids from them in the 18th century; the first of these reached North America early in the 19th century. In 1946 two Dutch growers moved to the Union of South Africa and began cultivation there.

*Large star shaped flowers will bloom around Christmas in a range of reds and whites, on top of stalks around 30cm tall.

*Keep near a light warm place indoors to maximise their growth.

Place to buy -

plants4presents.co.uk Large Poinsettia £19.50