Plants you can use for Christmas: for trees, wreaths, and gardening.
When Christmas comes around, there are certain plants you often see, right?
You’re probably familiar with classics like fir trees and poinsettias.
In this article, we’ll introduce a variety of plants associated with Christmas.
Besides the well-known ones mentioned above, there are surprisingly many lovely plants that add color to the season, such as silver-leaf varieties and succulents.
Try gathering your favorite plants for a mixed planter, or decorate them to make a tree—have fun with it!
Plants you can use for Christmas: for trees, wreaths, and gardening (1–10)
Ivy
Ivy, also known as Hedera, is a plant notable for its long, trailing vines.
Its leaves are green, but parts such as the edges can turn white, giving it a charming look as if dusted with snow.
It has very vigorous growth and can become overly long, so if you guide its direction—twining it around a stake to form an arch or training it over a net to create a green shade—you can shape it in various ways.
It’s tolerant of both heat and cold, so another advantage is that you can place it wherever you want to display it.
Garden cyclamen
We’ll introduce the features, care tips, and ways to enjoy garden cyclamen that add color to Christmas.
Blooming beautifully in the cold season, garden cyclamen are perfect for the Christmas period.
With proper care, you can enjoy them for a long time.
Another advantage is that they bloom well both in the ground and in pots.
Choose seedlings with foliage forming a dome shape.
Since constantly wet soil is not good for growth, water only after the surface has dried.
By removing damaged flowers and leaves and applying fertilizer two or three times a month, you can enjoy garden cyclamen for longer.
They truly shine at Christmas, so give growing them a try!
Christmas rose
The Christmas rose is a plant known for blooming with rose-like flowers during the cold season around Christmas.
Compared to ordinary roses, it tends to have less assertive colors, but in the cold months, that very dark tone may be what makes it beautiful.
If you see Christmas roses blooming amid the snow, it’s sure to lift your spirits for the holiday.
Because the flowers are not very showy, it’s a good idea to be particular about the pot when growing them.
To make the blooms stand out as much as possible, I recommend planting them in a gently colored pot.
goldcrest
Goldcrest comes in two types: ‘Wilma,’ which is grown indoors, and ‘Crest,’ which is grown outdoors.
With its fresh, vivid green foliage, goldcrest is also popular during the Christmas season for its appearance.
Because goldcrest is sensitive to extreme heat and cold, careful management of temperature and watering is important.
It is also vulnerable to metal—pruning with metal scissors can cause damage from the cut.
For small leaf tips, pinch them off with your fingers, or use ceramic scissors for pruning.
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera produces translucent pink or red blossoms and is also known as the “Christmas cactus” because it flowers around the holiday season.
Here we’ll introduce how to grow it to bloom, how to water and fertilize it, and key care tips.
In winter, place it in a sunny spot, be careful not to overwater to avoid root rot, and use well-draining soil.
To keep a balanced shape, occasionally pinch off leaves.
Watch out for pests such as caterpillars and slugs.
Grow your Schlumbergera well to enjoy its beautiful winter blooms during the Christmas season.
holly
Characterized by its spiky leaves, the holly is a plant strongly associated with Christmas and is often used for decorations like wreaths.
In particular, the European holly is also called “holly” or “Christmas holly,” reflecting its long-standing connection with the holiday.
There are also folk beliefs that it wards off evil spirits, so it’s displayed as a protective charm.
With the striking combination of red berries and green leaves—classic Christmas colors—European holly and similar varieties are especially fitting.
Choosing the right variety to match the Christmas season is key, isn’t it?
poinsettia
When it comes to plants that are indispensable for Christmas, poinsettias surely come to mind.
Or rather, when poinsettias start appearing in flower shops, they remind us how quickly time is passing and that Christmas is drawing near.
Just arranging a few pots instantly sets the Christmas mood, but it’s also a lovely idea to make a wreath using poinsettias.
Combine silvery tree plants with white poinsettias in a colorful mix, and add accents like little Santa figurines to really lift the festive spirit! But don’t make it too early just because you can’t wait for Christmas—if you do, they might wither before the big day.