ajc.com 2008 Holiday Guide

For some people, the Christmas tree quandary isn't about real or artificial — it's whether to even bother.

Lost in the debate is an arguably simpler solution — the makeshift "tree."

Chris Hunt/Staff (ENLARGE)

Dress up a Norfolk Island pine, rosemary, 'Emerald Green' Arborvitae or a ficus for Christmas.

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If you live in a small, er, quaint apartment, can do without the falling needles of fresh pine and don't have the space to store a fake, consider giving your indoor plants a merry makeover. We talked to Atlanta gardening experts to find out which greens make the grade.

Norfolk Island pine: This classic Charlie Brown houseplant makes a great Tannenbaum that you can use year-round, said Mary Kay Woodworth, executive director of the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association. While a real Christmas tree may love to soak, this evergreen needs lots of drainage and a sunny spot to thrive, she advised. It can handle light decoration.

Rosemary: Around this time of year, grocery stores abound with rosemary plants pruned to resemble trees. This herb can serve double duty — string it with miniature lights and use the clippings in your cooking. Fred Hollenstein, senior designer with Sedgefield Interior Landscapes in Atlanta, said rosemary can thrive as a container plant as long as it isn't over-watered (the No. 1 plant killer) and is given adequate light.

'Emerald Green' Arborvitae: It's technically an outdoor plant, but this conifer can briefly moonlight as an indoor plant, Woodworth said. You can string this evergreen with lights, but keep it in a sunny area while indoors. Make sure to plant it in the ground within a week, she said.

Ficus: All the experts we spoke with pointed to the Ficus benjamina as a Christmas tree alternative. Their branches are strong enough to handle lights, but use care around the delicate leaves, Hollenstein advised. And if the holiday spirit is too much for this tree to handle, take this tip from Woodworth: Spray the dead branches white and bedazzle its remains for a glittering holiday sculpture.