Try succulent winter greens for the holiday

Tired of poinsettias, and other traditional holiday foliage? Try a Magnolia wreath, or a cactus Christmas tree, said Gail Rose Lam, a Roger’s Gardens employee.

A Mediterranean theme has invaded holiday styles in the area, giving plants associated with dry, hot climates some play during the colder months.

“Succulents are all the rage now in Orange County,” Lam said, adding that rooting flower-shaped cactus and other desert plants in moss around iron frames makes a beautiful holiday wreath or shrub.

The clincher on these decorative arrangements? “They’re very low maintenance, only have to be watered once a month,” Lam said.

But shoppers do not have to commit to a Southwestern style for a variation on the winter-theme norm. At Roger’s, several types of holiday alternatives are available. Going for something on the cute side, Anigozanthos, or “reindeer paws,” cannot be beat. With a green fuzzy stem that has shades of red at the tip, these slim plants can really make a garden fun, Lam said.

In the mood for something a little more winter white? Check out Stars of Bethlehem, an unusual little flower. Or Winter Snowman, a camellia plant with round, puffy blooms of white, giving it the look of a snowball -- great for the kids, said Lam.

So are the dwarf spruce trees. Tiny and easy to maintain, they fit nicely on desk or tabletop and are loads of fun to decorate, Lam said.

Kale, a short plant resembling cabbage, makes a great groundcover. It has an off-white center, fanning out into a deep green around the edges. The plant comes in white or purple.

It does not flower, but looks great with red cyclamen, a small, flowering plant with either red or white flowers, one of the only reds that thrives in a shady spot.

“You can keep them inside for the holiday, and plant them in your garden for the rest of the winter months,” Lam said.

According to the Roger’s Gardens’ website, autumn is “the ideal planting season in Southern California.” The soil is warm from summer, and the cooler air pushes roots to secure themselves in the ground.

That is exactly what Jim Ghormley had in mind when he drove down from Seal Beach Sunday morning. Ghormley and his wife picked up a few Yuletide Camellias, his favorite flower.

The plant stays green all year long, but the vibrant red flowers with deep yellow centers only pop out between the months of October and February, distinguishing it as the Christmastime bloomer among gardeners.

Ghormley, a retired marine and, since the age of 12, a landscaper on-and-off, still finds himself out in the garden all the time. When he’s not in his garden, he’s shopping at Roger’s.

“We come down here at least once a month, in the summer sometimes more,” he said.

If you want poinsettias, there are plenty of those, Lam said. But she is confident that by the time shoppers see all that Roger’s has to offer, they will consider a less traditional flora without worry of sacrificing the festive coloring.