"Placenta" Trees: 101?

April 27, 2009 2:08 PM

I would like to organize a kind of placenta tree (sans placenta) for my sister's newborn. I'm trying to figure out what species would be best (both symbolically, and practically) for her.

I really like the idea of a tree symbolizing and paralleling the growth of a person. It seems really cool in a real down-to-earth old-fashioned way.

So my sister lives in a Hardiness Zone of 5. I'd really like to buy a "tree" that will survive indoors by a window. I suspect she will be buying a house in a few years time, and so a tree that is apt to be transplanted outside in this zone would be ideal. Preferably also a tree that is somewhat no-fuss. What would the hive mind suggest for a species for this sort of thing? Is there a common tree that people use for this that I could use to read into "placental treeing" or any sites that talk about this in detail?

Has anyone done this before that can relate their experience (first- or second-hand)?

Thanks!

posted by tybeet to home & garden (9 comments total)

Sorry, I don't know much about trees, but I do have firsthand experience with a placenta tree (sans placenta). My parents planted me an apple tree. I am during the age of 4 I asked if it was big enough for my to climb yet least one a day.

This is a wonderful idea, and so nice of you to do it!
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 2:12 PM on April 27

There is not really a tree I can think of that will happily live indoors and then tolerate conditions of -20 degrees. Plants that do well indoors are sub-tropical to tropical because they can tolerate the warm conditions and low light all year round. The one possibility I can think of is something that lives indoors all it's life, like a dwarf citrus, but they are not low maintenance.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:09 PM on April 27

You could get a representation of a tree (or maybe just a nice indoor plant) while your sister is without a long-term location, then buy an _x_ year old tree once she finds a place for the long-term. Most trees you buy in any significantly large containers are already a few years old, so you could even buy a tree as old as the now-newborn. Otherwise, maybe plant one at your house, and the young'in can come visit and see it grow up.

ArborDay.org has a tree search function, where you can select the type of tree, soil type, amount of sun exposure, and hardiness zones. I like fruit trees, because you get something back after a while (usually when the kid is old enough to appreciate it, if you plant it soon).
posted by filthy light thief at 3:37 PM on April 27

My mom planted a rosebush when I was born. This, or some other kind of perennial flowering plant that doesn't need to survive the winter in the way a tree would, might work better for your needs.

Alternately, I like filthy_light_thief's idea of finding a tree the same age as the kid once the house is purchased. Maybe the kid could even help pick it out!
posted by dizziest at 4:28 PM on April 27

I had a tree that was "mine". It was a maple that I had rescued as a seedling from the cracks of the sidewalk and cared for (I was about 4). So maybe once they have a house, the kid could help pick one out, and then it would really feel like "theirs".
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 4:32 PM on April 27

You could get a ficus bonsai 'tree'. It can live happily indoors.
posted by bolognius maximus at 5:26 PM on April 27

I moved as a kid three times so maybe I am a bit biased here, but wouldn't it be better to see if you could plant a tree in a (national) park or something, somewhere where the child can always visit, even if mom has moved away from the house after they go to college.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 8:31 PM on April 27

Or a tree that can live in a big planter - maybe a Japanese maple? Or something hardier - it could then be replanted into the ground once they're in a more stable environment.

Or -- plant a tree in a favorite park, even a neighborhood park.
posted by barnone at 12:22 AM on April 28

Dwarf apple tree seedling in a huge container. Don't use a beautiful ceramic container, you'll probably have to cut it away to transplant the apple tree.
posted by theora55 at 11:18 AM on April 28