Holiday Decorating with Fresh Greens

Evergreens are typically the mainstay of holiday decorating, and selecting trees and shrubs with different leaf sizes, shapes, colors, and textures will add more interest to your arrangement. White pine (Pinus strobus) is always a good choice as its clusters of long, narrow needles have great retention. Firs (Abies spp.) have stiffer branches and shorter needles, making them another good choice due to their needle retention. Spruces (Picea spp.) are also short-needled, but they do not last as long as pine and fir. Blue spruce (Picea pungens)  tends to last longer than other spruce species and has the added benefit of its attractive blueish needles. Junipers' (Juniperus spp.) short needles may be green, blue, or silverish and often have blue berries that add additional interest. Arborvitae (Thuja spp.) have flat, scale-like leaves that are arranged in fan-like clusters, adding a different texture. Boxwood (Buxus spp.) provides a different form altogether with its small, rounded leaves, as does American holly (Ilex opaca) with dark green, spine-tipped leaves and red berries. Other evergreen choices include cedar (Cupressus spp.), Leyland cypress (Cupressus x leylandii), false-cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.), rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and English ivy (Hedera helix). While evergreens may be the predominant feature of decorating, including deciduous twigs, other plants with berries such as American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) and firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea), dried flowers such as hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) and roses (Rosa spp.), pine cones, and seed pods will add more interest to your design.

Taking an inventory of the plants in your landscape is the best place to start. Once you have decided on the materials you will use, it is important to use proper pruning techniques when harvesting your greens. First, consider which branches to cut and which to leave; take care to maintain the plant's natural form. Use clean, sharp cutters to remove branches at their points of origin or attachment. More information about proper pruning can be found on the Penn State Extension article, Pruning Needled Evergreens.

Following a few simple techniques can help your fresh arrangements last through the holiday season. Stand cut branches in water and store them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to use them. Before placing them in water, cut the stem end at an angle to form a larger surface area, allowing for maximum water absorption. Condition the greens before constructing your arrangement by immersing the entire branch in warm water for 12 hours or overnight. Once the foliage is dry, you may spray it with an antitranspirant to help seal in moisture. However, avoid spraying blue spruce or juniper berries, as the spray may damage their waxy coatings, which give them their distinctive blue color.

Always keep safety in mind, as dried evergreens can become flammable. Keep your completed arrangements out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources such as vents, heaters, fireplaces, and candles. Be aware that some plants, such as yews (Taxus spp.), holly berries (Ilex spp.), mistletoe (Phoradendron spp.), and bittersweet, may be poisonous to children and pets, so use caution if including them in an arrangement.

With so many options available for decorating with fresh greens, it may seem daunting. To learn more and create beautiful, fresh arrangements, join Penn State Master Gardeners for a hands-on workshop near you.

If you would like information on outdoor decorating using free greens, visit the Penn State Extension article, Winter Outdoor Arrangements, to help get you started.