There is an intriguing year-round acquaintance of ours that is silent most days, sharing no malice or contempt. It is patient and forbearing, taking its best days in stride. It is called a crown of thorns, or Christ thorn, a tropical plant species of the spurge family prone to produce deep red blooms and dark green pear-shaped leaves. The best thing about it is how it thrives on minimal care: spare moisture, pot-bound conditions, and a fairly broad tolerance of daily temperature swings.

In spite of being ignored most weeks, it just keeps on producing blooms. It is centrally located and...