12 plants to know about: Christmas cactus, poinsettia and Christmas cactus

Here are his 12 favourite Christmas plants.

Alex (Holly Bush).

Christmas tree holly is the perfect way to be festive. It’s expensive to buy bouquets from florists so it’s worth trying to grow your own. These evergreen blooms appear in late summer, then they turn into berries in September/October, and ripen by Christmas. It attracts robins who love berries so you can enjoy the whole festive scene in your garden. Holly looks great in pots or shaped into front door lollipops.

primrose

These stunning annual container plants are available in delicate varieties with large, puffy blooms that last through January. There are many colors available, though red and white are the most common. Its delicate fragrance makes it a beautiful addition to windows, doorways, and window box. You can bring them indoors to host a festive dinner party. Add moss, decorative and pine cones to the ferns and ivy.

Gaultheria procumbens (East Tiberius)

This is a low-growing, evergreen alpine that produces a Christmas carpet full of red berries. It loves bushy gardens and rockeries. Because they are full of festive berries, they look great in a pot or windowbox to decorate a porch or patio. It should not be allowed to dry out in the summer. You may need to repot it if it becomes too old.

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose)

This is the perfect winter plant. These stunning, pure white holiday flowers are full of winter pollen and have delicate centers. It blooms in abundance from November through March. It also looks great in container windows and window boxes. The leaves are loved by slugs, so they must be removed during flowering to protect the plants and allow them to bloom more. You can bring this indoors for a party, but you should put it back on after your guests have left. It doesn’t like being heated.

Skimma

The display of low-growing shrubs with red-green conical bulbs will be visible if you enter The Savoy Christmas-dressed. This plant is a great investment because it blooms in spring with a lovely honey scent. The bees love them. It is tolerant to direct sunlight and can be grown in a pot or in a garden bed. It can be fed only in the summer.

Camellia Sasanqua ‘Yolitide’

This evergreen is a festive Christmas shrub. It has bright yellow centers and glossy, deep-green leaves. This pretty winter flower is best kept in a pot on your patio or balcony. Great for late bees and pollinators on the wing, these camellias are easy to care for—just don’t let them dry out in summer.

Araucaria heterophila

Also known as Norfolk Island pine, these houseplants look like Christmas trees and are great in a contemporary home—very Elle decor! You won’t get much impact if you decorate it other than with fine wire lights. It needs full sunlight in a bright area. It should not be placed against a wall, as it requires sun for all its branches. It likes to dry out between waterings. However, it will be more sensitive if you have underneathfloor heating.

hippeastrum amaryllis

These bulbs produce large, beautiful blooms on a high stem. They can also be grown in a pot and amaryllis vase. Red Lion is the most common Christmas bulb. However, it’s a good idea for mixing several colors in a large container or bowl. Petersham Nurseries recommends adding twigs or willow branches to support the stems. Moss can also be added to the pot. Cones with Indian glass ornaments can be added to the top. It will bloom in six to eight weeks, and you can replant the bulbs the next year. It needs lots and lots of light. But don’t let them sit in water. Keep them out of radiators.

Narcissus Pepperwhite

Paperwhites are popular for Christmas because they are tall, heavily scented, and have a pretty star-shaped white bloom with a creamy yellow centre. Paperwhites are great for centerpieces at Christmas tables. They can also be used as individual pots, window boxes, or even in large containers. It will need support from branches as it will flounder. The soil will stay moist if the moss is obtained from a sustainable source. They need to be well-lit but must also be kept hydrated and away heat sources.

Euphorbia pulcherima (“Poinsettia”)

Don’t write off poinsettias just because you associate them with Tesco or your festive front bedroom—they’re back in force this year and now come in an array of stunning colors. There are many colors available, including bright red, white, cinnamon, yellow, dark red, and yellow. Some red varieties even look like they have been painted with gold paint. It should not be allowed to dry out or soaked in water. They can’t handle current, so keep them out the hallways and drafty rooms.

White hyacinth

White sapphire means “Christmas” because of its appearance like snow and frost. It has many delicate, high-smelling flowers, making it ideal for indoors. Plant in individual clay pots or combine them in large containers and cover with peatmoss. You can make a beautiful centerpiece for a holiday table by adding twigs to support the plants. These plants should be kept moist, but not overwatered.

Schlumberger (Christmas-cactus).

Although the Christmas cactus is not as popular as it used to be, it is experiencing a revival. It blooms at Christmas, but it will continue to bloom into early spring. It comes in a variety of colors including red, pink, and white. It doesn’t like being overwatered so it should be kept dry. Avoid radiators and place them in brightly lit rooms. Repot the roots every two years.