Start it on a tabletop, then plant it for future seasons.

We made our way over to Armstrong’s with the idea of getting a live Christmas tree as a gift for some newlyweds to enjoy and transplant to ever larger pots, until they were ready to plant it permanently outside. But crack nurserywoman Elizabeth quickly disabused us of that idea, making it perfectly clear that the Colorado blue spruce we were eyeballing was never meant to grow in Southern California and that there was much greater wisdom in buying a rosemary topiary tree that was drought resistant and would thrive once put in the ground in these parts. The fragrant rosemary comes in three sizes for $14.99, $19.99 and $34.99.

Armstrong Garden Center, 352 E Glenarm St.. Pasadena, 626.799.7139, armstronggarden.com.