20 Best Christmas Flowers and Plants for the Holidays
Want to spruce up your home for Christmas this year? The holidays will be here before you know it! Plan now so you can get gorgeous blooms and lush greenery for the holidays. Here are 20 of the best Christmas flowers and plants to grow this year. And be sure to check out the end of this post for some incredible faux options that sell out FAST.
Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year.
It’s also a time when we decorate our homes with lights, trees, wreaths, garlands, ornaments, and more.
While it may only be July, it’s never too early to start thinking about the holiday season. Especially if you want some pretty indoor Christmas flowers.
Because if you do, you need to shop for your bulbs now.
Whether you are decorating your home, want to grow indoor flowers during the winter, or are looking for unique holiday gift ideas, Christmas flowers and plants are a great option.
And if you plan now, you won’t miss the selection, the deals, or when they need to be started indoors for beautiful festive blooms.
Oh and if you want the look don’t have a green thumb? There are some GORGEOUS faux options available but you’ve got to shop now before they sell out.
I’m sharing some incredibly beautiful realistic-looking faux plants at the end of this post too. And there’s already a waitlist for a few of them!
Wait until you see these gorgeous Christmas flowers and holiday plant ideas!
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Christmas in July 2023 Blog Hop
Today, I’m sharing some beautiful Christmas aesthetics to get you inspired with the look you want to achieve and joining 23 super-talented home decor bloggers hosted by my good friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse.
If you are new here, I’m Stacy, a master gardener who lives and gardens in north-central New Jersey, zone 6a.
We recently moved to a beautiful 1850 Farmhouse with 10 acres of gardens, sculptures, and statutes.
I’ve been gardening for over 20 years and enjoy helping beginner gardeners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. And I love to bring the outdoors inside my home too with a vintage cottagecore style.
I hope you enjoy this post about Christmas flowers and holiday plants. And hope you come back so we can grow stuff and create beautiful spaces together.
Christmas Flowers and Plants Are the Gifts That Keep on Giving
When it comes to Christmas gifts, flowers are an excellent choice. It’s a great way to bring the outdoors in. Not to mention, they bring joy and beauty to your loved ones.
Here are a few reasons why they make great presents.
- Thoughtful Gift: From traditional bouquets to trendy terrariums, the world of floral arrangements offers a vast array of options. You can select flowers that match your recipient’s personality or create a custom mix that suits their taste, making it a personal and thoughtful gift.
- Expressive Symbolism: Flowers are meaningful and each bloom carries its own unique symbolism. Incorporating these meanings into your gift adds depth and significance. For example, red roses symbolize love and passion, while white lilies represent purity and rebirth.
- Long-lasting Delight: While some flowers may fade with time, others, like potted plants or dried arrangements, can be enjoyed for months or even years.
The Stars of the Christmas Season
While we can chat about the different types of Christmas flowers available all day long, there are a few that are the main attractions of the season.
And you probably already know the cast of characters.
But they include:
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are the classic Christmas flower that never fails to steal the show! Whether you decorate with fresh or faux, nothing says Christmas or the holiday season than a gorgeous poinsettia plant.
With their vibrant red, white, or pink bracts, they instantly infuse our homes with holiday cheer.
These beauties make excellent gifts and can effortlessly elevate any space ranging from tabletops to mantelpieces and hanging baskets.
You can typically find these in nurseries, greenhouses, and markets after Thanksgiving. And while I love them, keep in mind they are generally bred to be enjoyed during the holiday season.
Is it possible to keep them year-round? Absolutely. But they can be very fussy plants to grow as an indoor plant if you don’t live in the tropics.
So keep that in mind should you decide to continue growing them after the holidays.
Christmas Cactus
If you want a unique and low-maintenance indoor plant that will last for several years, the Christmas cactus is the answer.
With its distinctive succulent leaves and stunning blooms in shades of pink, red, or white, this tropical plant brings a touch of exotic festivity to your home.
Plus, it can be an enchanting gift that keeps on giving for years to come! I’ve been growing mine for well over 15 years. And I picked it up at the local food market for just a few dollars back in the day.
It’s a great easy-care indoor plant that blooms indoors a few times a year if you treat it right. And it is totally worth getting one this year if you don’t have one.
To me, it’s the plant that keeps on giving all year round. A must-have for sure!
Amaryllis
But if you’re aiming for a grand and dramatic centerpiece or just want some pretty indoor blooms, the amaryllis is your go-to flower. It is SUPER EASY to grow and a no-fail plant for any skill level.
With its towering stems and breathtaking blooms in rich reds, whites, or pinks, it adds an undeniable wow factor to any setting.
This regal flower also makes an excellent gift choice for those with a flair for elegance.
To get holiday flowers though, you need to plant the bulbs in early fall. So start shopping for them now while the selection is at its best!
I love the selection right now at Gardeners Supply.
And if you start the bulbs from September through December, you can time indoor blooms all winter long.
I personally love the double-flowering varieties, but there are so many great options to choose from.
What Are Some Traditional Christmas Flowers and Plants and Their Meaning?
If you want to decorate with traditional Christmas flowers and plants, be sure to include some from this list.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are perhaps the most iconic and widely recognized Christmas flowers that symbolize joy, celebration, and success.
With their vibrant red, white, or pink bracts, they symbolize the festive spirit and are often used as decorations during the holiday season.
Holly
Holly is a traditional Christmas plant symbolizing hope, protection, and goodwill.
It’s known for its glossy green leaves and bright red berries that represent the crown of thorns worn by Jesus, and the bright red berries symbolize his blood.
Holly is often used in wreaths, garlands, kissing balls, and floral arrangements, adding a traditional touch to Christmas decor.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a symbolic plant that is traditionally hung from doorways where it is believed to bring good luck. And encourages kisses between couples standing beneath it. The plant is associated with love, romance, and friendship.
Mistletoe has green leaves and small, white berries, giving it a distinctive look. Its association with affection and togetherness makes it a symbol of love during the holiday season.
Christmas Rose
The Christmas rose, or Helleborus niger, is a winter-blooming flower that adds beauty to the holiday season and represents hope, purity, and rebirth.
Its ability to bloom even in the midst of winter symbolizes the triumph of life over darkness.
It has delicate white blossoms with a hint of pink or green, and it is often associated with Christmas festivities.
Christmas roses are often included in floral arrangements and decorations, bringing a touch of beauty and resilience to the Christmas season.
Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus is a popular indoor plant that blooms around the holiday season, but you can also get it to bloom a few more times throughout the year with the proper care.
There isn’t an official meaning attached to it but some consider plant’s longevity as a foundation for resilience or loyalty.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a charming flowering plant that blooms during the winter months. It has heart-shaped leaves and produces blooms in various shades of pink, red, and white.
Cyclamen symbolizes love, joy, and maternal care. Its heart-shaped leaves and delicate blooms in shades of pink, red, and white evoke feelings of tenderness and affection.
Cyclamen is a popular choice for Christmas arrangements, conveying warmth and the spirit of giving.
Decking the Halls with Floral Splendor
Beyond gifting, flowers and Christmas greenery also play a crucial role in creating stunning decor and centerpieces for your dining table or other focal points during the holiday season.
Of course, how you design your centerpieces and other displays will largely depend on what’s available at the florist and local markets.
But here are a few decorating ideas:
- Winter Whites: Combine white roses, chrysanthemums, or hydrangeas with evergreen branches and pinecones for an elegant, wintry centerpiece. Add a touch of shimmer with silver ornaments or beautiful candlesticks for a dazzling effect.
- Vibrant Reds: Embrace the traditional Christmas colors by arranging red roses, amaryllis, or carnations in a festive centerpiece. Complement them with sprigs of holly, berries, and cinnamon sticks for an aromatic and visually striking display.
- Woodland Charm: Bring a touch of rustic charm to your table by incorporating elements like birch branches, pinecones, and red berries. Combine them with pretty blooms like roses and chrysanthemums for a cozy and enchanting woodland-themed centerpiece.
Remember, the key to a captivating centerpiece idea for the dining table lies in the balance of colors, textures, and heights.
Experiment with different combinations and let your creativity bloom!
13 More of the Best Christmas Plants and Flowers
So we’ve chatted about several holiday plant and flower ideas. But here is some more inspiration that will bring beauty and festive spirit to the holiday season.
These 13 Christmas plants offer a diverse range of colors, shapes, and textures, allowing you to create festive displays and infuse your home with the joy and beauty of the holiday season.
You can find them at your local nursery and shopping online.
- Christmas Fern
- Easter and Thanksgiving Cacti (can also bloom during the holiday season)
- Rosemary
- Paperwhites
- Juniper
- Winterberry
- Snowdrops
- Norfolk Island Pine
- Ivy
- Christmas Orchid
- Christmas Begonia
- Christmas Moss
- Christmas Palm
Where to Buy the Best Faux Christmas Flowers and Greens
So what if you don’t have the greenest of thumbs and want to keep things easy for yourself? Faux is the way to go when it comes to winter greenery and Christmas flowers.
They look good all the time and there are some incredibly realistic-looking faux options out there that are worth the price because you have them for several years.
To me, they are a great investment. And the thing is? You don’t have to buy it all now. Start your collection and add to it each year.
But whatever you decide to buy, get them now because the best ones sell out really early. And you can easily miss the boat.
So here is my hit list for the most gorgeous faux winter greens and flowers.
- This juniper and berry garland.
- This spruce and pine cone garland.
- Love this faux cedar greenery garland.
- This long pine needle garland.
- This faux cedar pine garland.
- And this real touch table garland is fabulous!
- I have to get this mixed garland – WOW!!! There’s already a waitlist!
- I have a few of these and always pick up more every year to add to my collection.
- This Norfolk pine garland is gorgeous!
- But you can’t beat the fullness of this garland.
- If you want a pretty boxwood garland, check out this one.
- These mantle swags are really pretty too.
- I need this vintage-looking jingle bell garland!
- This magnolia leaf garland.
- These preserved orange slices make beautiful Christmas decor.
More About Christmas Flowers
What is your favorite Christmas flower or plant? I would love to know more in the comments below.
And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind-the-scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it to the blog. Would love to see you there too!
If you prefer to binge-watch Bricks ’n Blooms on TV, we go more in-depth with tours and posts on my YouTube channel. Would love to hang out with you there!
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More Christmas in July Ideas
Follow the Christmas In July Blog Hop for more holiday inspiration. To see more, click the highlighted blog name.
The Ponds Farmhouse / Cottage on Bunker Hill / Chas Crazy Creations /
Design Morsels / The Tatter Pew / White Arrows Home
Midwest Life & Style / Bricks N Blooms / Simply 2 Moms /
Shiplap & Shells / Down Shiloh Road / Country Road 407
Celebrate & Decorate / WM Design House / Peacock Ridge Farm
/ Robyn’s French Nest / Life At Bella Terra
Looking For More Christmas Decorating Ideas?
I love looking through festive holiday inspiration to get ideas for this year’s decorating aesthetic, don’t you?
Wait until you see these holiday decorating, entertaining, and food ideas to create a cozy home for Christmas.
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- First Christmas in Our New Home Tour
- Last Christmas in Our Home Tour
- Christmas Tree Ornament Storage Hack (Tiktok Made Me Do It)
- 6 Clever Christmas Dinner Easy Table Decorating Ideas
- 13 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas for Your Home
- How to Make an Advent Wreath
- Winter Gardening With Outdoor Planters
- 5 Clever Ideas for the Prettiest Christmas Table Settings
- 17 Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
- Rustic Farmhouse Christmas Decorating Ideas
- Easy Outdoor Planters for Winter
- Budget-Friendly Winter Outdoor Planters
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Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 150
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