Christmas Plants and Holiday Flower Facts

No matter the season, nature offers marvelous gifts. During the holidays, several plants add both beauty and have special meaning. Here are a few favorites:

Poinsettia

Poinsettia is one of the stars of the season. Available in a wide range of colors, from whites, to pinks, to deep, velvety reds, poinsettias shout merry, merry! This Mexico native was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel R. Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico. 

A Mexican legend centers on a young girl who, with nothing else to give, presents a tangle of weeds to the Baby Jesus in the Christmas procession. They turn into beautiful red flowers shaped like stars, echoing the symbolism of the season. What many think of as flowers are actually leaves or bracts.

To care for a poinsettia, place in indirect light, about six hours daily. Check the soil daily. If you leave in a foil-wrapped container, punch holes in the foil so the water can drain into a saucer. Water when dry and discard excess water. 

Holly

Holly is celebrated in holiday songs and perhaps the most famous is “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, falalalalalalalala!” There are hundreds of species, both evergreen and deciduous. It is the bright, waxy, pointed leaves and red berries that are prized for decking the hall. Legend has it that those sharp leaves symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ, and the berries represent his blood. Another bit of lore is that a gift of holly to the newly married bestows blessings for a happy and fruitful marriage. 

Hollies are stunning in the landscape and add welcome color during the winter. Check with your local garden center about great selections for your region, and always inquire about size at maturity. 

Amaryllis

Amaryllis boasts dramatic, bold, trumpet-like blooms borne aloft on tall, leafless stems or stalks. It’s a popular plant to display in the home or to give as a gift. It is also fun to watch grow, as it pushes through the soil and makes noticeable progress each day. During the holidays, red and white are popular, but it is available in many colors. 

In Greek mythology, Amaryllis fell in love with Alteo and to win his love sought to present him with a flower of extraordinary beauty. She pierced her heart with a golden arrow and when Alteo opened his door, there was a stunning crimson flower, which sprang from the blood of Amaryllis’s heart. 

Select large bulbs, which will produce taller, thicker stems, and more flowers. Plant in a pot twice as tall as the bulb to give adequate room for root development. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Leave the top one-third of the bulb sticking out of the potting mix. Water and place in a sunny window. Keep soil moist but not soggy. When buds appear, move the plant out of direct sunlight.

Christmas Cactus

Christmas Cactus is known to last for generations, and you may very well know someone who owns the Christmas cactus that belonged to their grandmother. Not only does this exotic plant brighten the colder, grayer days of winter, it also is the subject of various legends in its native country of Brazil, all stemming from the desire to share gifts of beauty during the season of joy.

Grow in a spot with full sunlight during the fall and winter. It likes shorter days and cooler temperatures when it will set flower buds. Water when the soil is dry to the touch but don’t waterlog it and don’t let it completely dry out.

More holiday gardening and gift ideas