We have assigned holiday meaning to certain plants and now associate them with the Christmas tradition. But how well do we actually know the plants of Christmas?
Here are 5 seldom-known facts about 5 renowned Christmas plants:
1. POINSETTIA: A symbol of the Star of Bethlehem as well as a sign of good will and community spirit when gifted. Despite being called “the flower of Christmas,” the colorful top part of the poinsettia isn’t a flower – it’s a modified leaf (called bract). The actual yellow flowers (called cyathium) can be found clustered in the center of the bracts.
2. MISTLETOE: The symbol of a Christmas kiss. In fact being a tree parasite, mistletoe in a Christmas setting is associated with a kiss - a tradition that probably originated around the 1500s in Europe. The custom was one kiss per berry; no more berries - no more kisses.
3. HOLLY: A symbol of the festive season, being one among few plants that keep green leaves and red berries throughout the harsh winter. Holly is not a bush but a tree that can live up to 300 years, with only female plants bearing red berries - a precious winter food source for birds.
4. CHRISTMAS CACTUS - a common houseplant that blooms during the Christmas season, hence the name. For the flower buds to develop, it needs 14 hours of continuous darkness daily for up to 2 months - a time often referred to as “beauty sleep”.
5. CHRISTMAS TREE: The ultimate plant symbol of Christmas. Despite the uniform image we may have in mind, though, Christmas trees take different forms and shapes geographically. Where evergreens are not common, local trees step in, such as banana or mango trees in India, and indigenous Christmas Bush in Australia.
Which one - plant or fun fact - did you not know? Please tell us in the comments!
Please remember, outside the Christmas setting, each plant is a part of its unique ecosystem. Let’s restore them together 🌱 https://lnkd.in/gkKHQvq6
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