If I say: quick, name a holiday flower, you might first answer poinsettia. But the poinsettia wasn’t always synonymous with this time of year, today’s guest tells me – like once upon a time more than a century ago the Chrysanthemum took center floral stage from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, surprising as that might sound.  

Whether historic or cutting-edge modern, horticulturist Matt Mattus reminds us there are many choices of festive blooms – including various ones we can grow ourselves indoors, and he has tricks for perfecting even the most familiar of those, your Amaryllis, for instance.

Matt Mattus is a lifelong plant person – and that’s putting it mildly – and I can always count on him to be showcasing some drool-worthy flower on his Instagram feed, even in winter.  

You may recall a popular conversation I had about Christmas cactus with Matt, who is Senior Director of Horticulture for the American Horticultural Society. Matt gardens in Massachusetts, and is the author of various garden books, including “Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening” and “Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening.” He also provides consultation services both virtually and in person to help others with garden-design and plant-care issues.

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