California holly: bright red berries
Another outdoor plant that brightens up a landscape this time of year is toy (Heteromeles arbutifolia), also known as Christmas berry or California holly. This California native is a large evergreen shrub with shiny dark green serrated leaves and bright red berries that provide food for birds during the winter. It is also very pretty in summer, with clusters of small white flowers. This drought-tolerant plant grows well in a variety of soil types, if the planting area is well-drained in winter.
Cylcamen: stripes in the shape of a candy can
It’s hard to resist cheerfulness cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) which is flowering at the moment, in shades of white, red, pink stripes and even candy cane shapes. You can decorate with them like houseplant (just keep them away from heat vents and keep the soil moist) or choose varieties sold at nurseries for long-lasting exterior color. Outdoor varieties will bloom until late spring and thrive best in well-drained soil rich in humus and located in areas of dappled (not heavy) shade among trees and shrubs. They are moderately drought tolerant, live a very long time, and thrive with very little care.
Amaryllis: bright tropical flowers
A pot amaryllis (Amaryllis) is a wonderful gift this time of year, blooming indoors in lush tropical flowers. These exotic, trumpet-shaped flowers come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, white, maroon, salmon, and bicolor with two to six flowers per stem. More correctly called Hippeastrum, this is a great bulb to grow indoors if you can’t wait for your outdoor bulbs to flower in spring. Here is tips on caring for and flowering amaryllis.
Christmas cactus: dark red flowers
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is popular around the holidays because of its deep red flowers on long stems and can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors. Plant it in pots (hanging containers show off its trailing nature) during the summer, but move it indoors in the fall. When you do so, keep it away from heat sources like vents and fireplaces. The Christmas cactus needs sleep – it needs thirteen or more hours of continuous darkness each day before flowering takes place. Street lights or indoor lighting can disrupt the required dark period, causing a lack of flowering.
Shooting star hydrangeas
Here’s an option for adding white winter elegance to holiday tables. Some nurseries often sell spectacular shooting star hydrangeas, with incredibly beautiful bursts of tiny white flowers on thin stems that grow above a larger white cluster and glossy leaves below. These have been forced to flower in winter – but with care you can transplant them outside in spring. Learn more about hydrangeas.
Rented Christmas trees
If you’re planning to decorate a Christmas tree this year, how about renting one instead of buying a cut tree? Our urban forest offers live trees that you can pick up between now and December 21st and return between January 4th and 13th. This sustainable alternative to cut down trees means the tree will continue to thrive long after the holiday season is over. Here’s how to rent a tree.
December Gardening Tips
Burning nettle is known to cause a burning or stinging sensation when it touches your skin. Photo provided by UC Santa Clara County Master Gardeners.
• Ouch! Watch out for burning nettles (Urtica urens) or stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) among your flowers or vegetables: You’ll know they’re there if you touch them and immediately feel a burning or tingling sensation. Remove them as soon as they appear using protective gloves. A thick layer of mulch or cover crops with a dense canopy can help suppress germination. More information: Burning and stinging nettles.
• Protect the floors: Areas of the garden that are not actively planted still need protection to support soil life and prevent soil erosion. Cover crops are an option. Mulches retain moisture, moderate soil temperature and help prevent weeds from germinating. Unlike rocks and synthetic mulches, organic mulches like leaves, wood chips or straw decompose slowly, feed beneficial soil organisms and add nutrients. A few inches of compost will slowly seep into the soil, amending it with organic matter. Herbivore manure can be spread on the soil surface. Even fresh manure, which could burn plants if applied directly, can be used on a bare area to decompose and be ready for the next planting season. More information: Keep your soil healthy
• Take care of dormant fruit trees: If you have had significant pest infestations on your fruit trees this year, now is a good time to use dormant oil sprays. These are used to reduce populations of overwintering insects. They work by smothering soft-bodied insects and eggs when applied at the right time in the pest life cycle. See our Maintenance schedule for fruit trees and vines for more information.
Want to ask a UC Master Gardener about a plant problem? Submit your questions to our help desk by email. Find gardening events and classes here.
You can also subscribe to our monthly Newsletter Advice and events and to our seasonal workers ==I Blog From thyme to the garden. ==
San Mateo residents can also find gardening tips on the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco website.
Find the archived chronicles here:
• What to Know About Planting Bare Root Fruit Trees
• Now that fall is here, what should I plant?
• What happened to my bougainvillea?
