Want a Christmas tree, but not a fake one, and not one you just throw out either?
Why not a small potted tree? They are real, look ridiculously cute and you aren’t cutting down a perfectly healthy tree to hang baubles on it.
Here are a few that fit the bill.
Wollemi pine: described as a ‘living fossil’, this fascinating tree is not true pine as such, but its fascinating story of discovery and protection makes it instantly appealing. Plus, by buying one you will be shoring up a plant facing extinction. However, if you plan to keep it, be aware they grow to 25-40 metres.
English box: these versatile plants can be neatly clipped into almost any shape, so why not a Christmas tree shape? They thrive in pots, so you won’t have to worry about transplanting them into the ground for years, if ever.
Ficus: for many years my mother had a ficus in a pot that was transformed into the family Christmas tree around late November. When it got too big it lived in a pot on the back verandah, but still was enlisted as the family Christmas tree and eventually it went to live on a farm. And that’s not a euphemism for death. A friend really did take it in and planted it in their garden.
Norfolk Island pine: a pine with a classic ‘Christmas’ shape. Its horizontal branches are ideal for hanging baubles and decorations. Unlike many other pines it will live indoors for a couple of weeks, where others should only be kept inside for a week at most. It will live in a pot for a while, but eventually have to be planted in the ground. Grows to 10 metres.
Monterey pine: another classic Christmas shape with a great scent and classic pine needles. It’s the most widely grown fresh Christmas tree in Australia. It will need to be repotted every two years. This US native grows well in Australia but does not like extreme heat. I mean, who does?
NSW Christmas Bush: literally a bush named after Christmas. Not the classic tree shape, but with rich green leaves and lush red flowers, it has the classic Christmas colours. Will grow happily in pots, but eventually you will have to plant it in the garden as it grows to 4m.
Father Christmas Bottlebrush: another non-traditional tree, but it has to be included for the name alone. As an Aussie plant, it’s a hardy little bush with an abundance of lemony-coloured flowers in spring and summer. You probably won’t be able to prune it into a Christmas tree shape, but having a bit of nature indoors has its own appeal. Fast growing to 2m, so you will probably only get one year in a pot.
White spruce: another classic Christmas tree shape, but with a distinctive slender silhouette. While they are generally stonking great trees, there are dwarf varieties that grow to under 2m.
Regardless of the type you go for, if you are going for a conifer choose one that’s not root-bound and one with a strong central trunk. If it’s a particularly young tree, it may pay to shore it up with a support for the first year so it doesn’t snap under the weight of the decorations. Try to keep it in a cool position and water it as recommended; most don’t like ‘wet feet’, which can be a problem in a pot.
Do you have a live tree each year or an artificial one? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: Why the plum pudding is a piece of living history
