The winter holidays traditionally conjure thoughts of decorated Douglas firs or other pines with a sharp scent and short “needles” for leaves. These trees do not grow in tropical climates. Though you may find living specimens in area nurseries or garden shops they will not thrive in a Hawaiian landscape unless you live over 3,000 feet in elevation.

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The winter holidays traditionally conjure thoughts of decorated Douglas firs or other pines with a sharp scent and short “needles” for leaves. These trees do not grow in tropical climates. Though you may find living specimens in area nurseries or garden shops they will not thrive in a Hawaiian landscape unless you live over 3,000 feet in elevation.

Think instead of growing a Norfolk Island or Cook pine. These trees are in the Araucariaceae family of plants. The Cook pine (Araucaria columnaris) and the Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) are both native to tropical Pacific islands and will grow well here. The two trees are almost indistinguishable. Though some people believe they have crossed here, botanists doubt the possibility since they flower in different seasons. You can grow either of them in a pot and bring it indoors for the holidays or you can plant it in your yard as a nice specimen. If you decide to plant it in the ground, give it plenty of space. In 10 years you’ll have a tall tree with lots of boughs to cut for decorating.

The deep red flower bracts of the poinsettia have long been associated with Christmas. You’ll also find specimens with cream colored or pink bracts, as well as those with spotted or double bracts. If you get one you like, plant it out to add winter color to your yard. Their blossoms fade as winter progresses and they should be pruned hard in April and again in August to assure blooming next winter. Once you have a thriving poinsettia shrub, you can cut the flowers for indoor decorating. Flowers will last almost a week in water.

You might also want to consider planting poinsettia’s cousin Euphorbia leucocephala, known locally as snow on the mountain or snowflake poinsettia. This beautiful shrub blooms at the same time as the poinsettia and provides delightful contrast when they are grown together. These flowers can also be cut for decorating.

Less traditional plants that grow well here can also add to your decorations. Live specimens will last longer but some lovely cuttings preserve well or will dry attractively. Christmas berry trees (Schinus terebinthifolius) have invaded many landscapes in Hawaii. Though they should not be further propagated, you can help limit spread of their berries and seeds but cutting some branches for your holiday table. The red berries and dark green leaves are attractive and have a slight peppery scent. Be sure to dispose of them responsibly unless you want to use the berries as a spice.

Several native Hawaiian plants can be wonderful garden additions and provide cuttings for decorating. Aalii has a small, dark pink flower that becomes an attractive seed pod nestled among the plant’s gray-green leaves. Ohia lehua is a native tree that grows slowly and has a narrow, somewhat columnar growth habit. The bud tips, called liko lehua, are soft young leaves that come in several colors and hold up well once cut. The older leaves will last a long time on a cut branch and can be part of an interesting arrangement. The native sandalwood, iliahi, is another attractive landscape plant that can provide decorating material. The green leaves, pink buds and white flowers are often combined with red lehua flowers from the ohia tree to make a beautiful table decoration.

If you want to go totally tropical this year, consider decorating a small live palm as your Christmas tree. Several palm varieties can be maintained in pots for years and will be okay decorated indoors for the holidays. Be sure to water them when the top of the soil dries out and be careful to use light ornaments that won’t break the fronds. Several palms also produce colorful seed clusters. Look for them around town, request permission to take the seeds, use them in your decorations and plant them later so you can have your own decorative palm seeds in years to come.

Several other tropical plants produce fruit, seeds or nuts that can add interest to holiday decorations. Branches of brown macadamia nuts are decorative and when the season is over you can eat the nuts. The round, light green husks of fresh kukui nuts can also add to your decorations. If you remove the husks, the nuts can be drilled and used for tree ornaments or broken open to mix with salt for inamona to sprinkle lightly on a holiday omelet.

Have fun decking your halls with local plants.

Tropical gardening helpline

Lori asks: I just moved into a ground floor apartment on Alii Drive. I would like to plant a flowering vine that will cover the wooden lattice on my patio for better privacy. I need something that is shade tolerant and somewhat salt tolerant. Any ideas?

Answer: A few flowering vines with shade and salt tolerance exist that might do well at your location. Three come to mind, initially. Angel wing jasmine (Jasminum laurifloium ‘nitidum’) has very fragrant white flowers. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) flowers are also fragrant. Be sure and look for a variety that will flower in shade. Thurnbergia grandiflora may also produce its pendulous flower stalks in shade. Though not fragrant, the inflorescence is stunning. Flowering will likely be reduced in shady locations for all of these, but they should grow well if planted in soil that drains well and in your hot, lower elevation location.

Several ipomea (morning glory) varieties would grow well at your location. The night blooming ipomea alba has large, fragrant white flowers but can be invasive. Plant it only if you are willing to control its spread.

If you want lovely flowers and delicious fruit, you might be able to persuade a passion vine to flower and fruit in your location. It prefers sunny spots, but might do fine in the year-round warmth on Alii Drive.

Another possibility is stephanotis. Though flower production is best in full sun, it has lovely dark green leaves and when or if it flowers, the white blossoms are intoxicatingly fragrant.

You might also want to consider two other shade loving plants that have distinctive foliage features but insignificant flowers. The native Hawaiian maile (Alyxia oliviformis) will grow well in shady locations with moist soil. The leaves are lovely and fragrant and great for making lei. The tiny flowers also have a light honey-like scent. Trailing begonia (Cissus discolor) has colorful green and white foliage and some varieties also have red in the leaves. This vine is adaptable to a variety of locations as well as being attractive and easy to manage.

Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by certified master gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.

Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook.

Gardening events

Tuesday: “Holiday Decorating” meets from 11 to 2 p.m. at Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook. Lots of ideas for holiday decorations. Small Cook pine trees available to trim. $15 fee includes all supplies as well as staff suggestions and instructions. E- mail tropicaledibles@gmail.com or call 328-0420 for more information or to register.

Farmers markets

Wednesday: Hooulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou Bay

Wednesday: Sunset Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot

Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center

Saturday: Kamuela Farmers Market, from 7 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables in Waimea

Sunday: South Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook

Monday to Saturday: U-Pick greens and produce, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook

Plant advice lines

Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu

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Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon at the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, 322-4892.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu.