7 Favorite Christmas Plants and Flowers for the Holidays

Everyone loves filling their garden and home with flowering plants that exude festive vibes during Christmas. Various flowers, trees, bushes, and other plants are given as unique gifts around Christmas. In this blog, our experts have picked 7 favorite Christmas plants and flowers for the holiday season that can withstand chilly weather.

These eye-catching Christmas flowers and plants are December bloomers and evergreen shrubs. Some of them will even thrive indoors in pots during colder months. These winter blooms not only make a bold statement, but they fill the air with pleasant scents that unlock the nostalgia and add undeniable warmth to homes.

Whether you want to make your house extra stunning or send someone a bouquet at the most wonderful time of the year, these traditional Christmas plants and flowers promise to give cheerful blooms, evergreen foliage, and lush branches throughout the winter.

Let's explore the list of these holiday plants that will help you transform your home into a festive oasis and enjoy the holiday season.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis is one of the most charming and popular flowering plants for Christmas decorations. These flowers bloom about 4-6 weeks after planting the bulb. Some varieties, like Amaryllis Ferrari, are properly cared for in greenhouses to promote flowering in December, particularly at Christmas time. If they're grown in October or November, they will surely produce a cluster of vibrant candy cane-like red or white flowers around Christmas. Few of these beautiful blooms in a vase can make a real statement.

Amaryllis has the ability to bloom indoors, just place the plant in bright, direct sunlight. Keep the soil well-drained by providing regular water, but don't drown it.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia is the season's most festive plant and symbol of Christmas because of its cheery red and green colors. Its large, bold, scarlet-colored blooms and rich green leaves set the tone for an enchanting holiday season. Poinsettia plants are deciduous shrubs that thrive indoors or outdoors. Other forms of Poinsettia plants include double-bracted, yellow, white, and pink leaves. This gorgeous plant is great for gifts and makes a stunning addition to your holiday decor.

Poinsettia plants don't need much maintenance. Water moderately only when the topsoil seems dry; overwatering can kill them. In addition, this Christmas plant needs bright, indirect light so they don't grow leggy. If you want to encourage blooming, take cuttings in the late summer and make sure the new plants spend up to 14 hours of darkness every day starting in October.

Rosemary

If you're short on space but still want the magical appeal of a Christmas tree, count this aromatic herb, whose leaves resemble small evergreen trees. This hardy indoor and outdoor bush is a kitchen staple, and it smells divine. Rosemary is an easy plant to grow indoors for rapid kitchen access, and their fragrant leaves can be used to flavor various dishes and desserts. Besides, it is a frost-sensitive plant, so move the plants indoors for winter.

You can grow Rosemary both indoors or out, where it's hardy in USDA zone 7 and warmer. Grow this plant in pots on a sunny windowsill. Place the plant in bright light and keep the soil moist by regular watering. Underwatering is the most common mistake made with Rosemary.

Cyclamen

Elevate your holiday decorations and brighten your home with this popular Christmas plant. Cyclamen is well-known for its gorgeous blooms that appear during winter in shades of red, white, and pink. They make stunning Christmas table centerpiece plants. Cyclamen is a cool-season plant that prefers cooler temperatures to produce its butterfly-like petals. All species of Cyclamen become dormant in summer because they can't withstand warmer temperatures.

Moreover, Cyclamen should be grown in partial shade or indirect sunlight. They're good container plants that thrive in well-drained soil. Water the plant from the base and avoid spraying water on the leaves.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is a gorgeous plant of winter that adds a playful and festive touch to your home. It's a tradition to kiss under the plant during holidays. The foliage of Mistletoe is evergreen, but female plants will produce numerous white berries. No holiday décor is complete without an even branch of this evergreen plant.

Mistletoe gets up close with other plants naturally. Also, it is known as parasitic because it attaches itself to a host tree through haustorium, a root-like structure. The host tree isn't damaged in this process, but once the Mistletoe has established itself in the hardwood tree's bark, it's impossible to remove it.

Additionally, it's crucial to know that while kissing under Mistletoe is fine, you should ensure that you or your pets don't eat any leaves, stems, and berries of the plant because they are poisonous. Mistletoe plants need very little care, but you should start with a healthy host tree.

Paperwhites

These are elegant perennials that bloom indoors during winter, and they grow from a bulb. They require little soil and take four to six weeks to produce flowers after plantation in pots. Paperwhites produce delicate and fragrant white flowers on tall green stems that look breathtaking and can add a calming vibe to any place. These flowering plants are perfect for any Christmas-themed display.

Place the plant in indirect light and water regularly so the soil stays moist. Make sure the plant doesn't get placed in a too warm environment because it can cause leggy growth of the plant. When the flowers emerge, tie their stems to an ornamental stake to keep them from falling over.

Christmas Cactus

This winter flowering and everyone's favorite Christmas plant is so pretty that its beauty may even surpass the lovely appearance of your Christmas tree's ornaments. Its colorful flowers come in shades of red and pink. Christmas Cactus is one of the resilient holiday plants that can last for decades. Various species of this plant bloom at different times of the year, including Easter and Thanksgiving.

Place the plant in partial shade or a bright window with indirect light. The Christmas Cactus plant thrives with regular water, but water the plant only when dry; don't over water.

The Bottom Line

These winter flowers and plants can transform your home into a cheerful oasis during the best time of the year, offering a breath of fresh air. All these plants can thrive for years with little care and attention and make our space welcoming. From Amaryllis to Christmas Cactus, these 7 Christmas plants and flowers will instantly put you in the holiday spirit and make your holiday season more charming and refreshing.