How to have a natural Christmas in a small space

By Mark and Ben Cullen
December 07, 2022

With more of us living in smaller spaces, the challenge during the holiday season is to decorate without having to move out. Clearly, a real Christmas tree is out of the question, unless you opt for the small table-top-sized cut trees.

Mother Nature has some cues for us.

Here are our six recommendations for small-space, natural holiday decorating:

1. Norfolk Island Pine

This is the indoor, tropical version of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Thin between the branches, small and goofy looking. If you are looking for that classic pyramidal look, this may be your best choice. Norfolk Island Pine is a native to the South Pacific. It loves a sunny position, needs the soil to dry between watering and is low maintenance. Go away for a week or two and it will still greet you with wide open branches. Hang some light, small Christmas lights or balls on it or string popcorn.

2. Rosemary tree

This popular culinary herb can be trimmed into most any shape at all. It is the boxwood of herbs. You will find plants this time of year at food stores and farmers’ markets, often shaped like an evergreen tree. Rosemary works well over the holiday season, but does not make a good permanent indoor plant. Let them get dry, about two cm below the soil surface, and place in your sunniest window. As they produce new growth or you get tired of having them around, whichever happens first, cut foliage off your rosemary, and use in your kitchen when preparing an appropriate meal. Rosemary goes with turkey, we are told.

3. Orange tree

We think that oranges are very seasonal, perhaps due to the many stories of an orange being the only thing in Grandpa’s stocking Christmas morning when he was a child. And a nickel. Some people poke cloves into mandarin oranges this time of year to create a seasonal scent. An orange tree fits with this theme. This time of year, garden retailers carry an assortment of small orange trees that are hanging with attractive, edible fruit. It is almost as if you hung orange balls on a small tropical shrub for the holiday season. Convenient and a great permanent addition to your tropical plant collection. Sunny window.

4. Bittersweet Vine

(Celastrus scandens) A native plant that produces masses of orange/red fruit this time of year and looks great, however you wish to use it. Add stems of Bittersweet to an arrangement of evergreen branches or dried vine as a table centrepiece or on a mantle. Note that bittersweet fruit is poisonous, as is mistletoe (but not poinsettias).

5. Mistletoe

Native to Europe with a long history of lore attached to it, it was used during the winter solstice in Druid times by the local priest as part of a fertility ceremony. We will skip the details but suffice to say that none of this activity would go over well today. We have extended the tradition in a more civilized way by kissing under it, with consent from both parties. The appearance of mistletoe lends it nicely to being placed in a bowl with chestnuts or acorns. Reminder: Poisonous.

6. Rose Hips

The most ornamental enhancement of your Christmas table may be just outside your back door. A few colourful rose hips, snipped from a large rose bush, would not offend anyone, we don’t think. They are decorative and display well. Make tea with them, as they are packed with vitamin C.

Back to the issue of limited space. We suggest that you explore the selection of tropical plants at your favourite plant retailer and decide what you like best. Chances are, your choice will lend itself to a few twinkle lights or stringed popcorn.

About Mark and Ben Cullen

Mark Cullen is a Member of the Order of Canada. He reaches more than two million Canadians with his gardening/environment messages every week. Receive his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.comBen Cullen is a professional gardener with a keen interest in food gardening and the environment. You can follow both Mark and Ben on Twitter @MarkCullen4, Facebook @MarkCullenGardening and Pinterest @MarkCullenGardening.

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