Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Read More Next
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More Next
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More Next
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food

    Lost Cakes of the South

    These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See All Home & Garden

    7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020

    ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See All Style & Culture

    50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime

    Curl up with a classic!
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Southern Living
  2. Holidays & Occasions
  3. Christmas
  4. 20 Best Plants and Flowers for Christmas

20 Best Plants and Flowers for Christmas

By Southern Living
October 02, 2018
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
Although some plants go dormant during the winter months, we don’t want our gardens to follow suit. That’s why we’ve selected a few of our favorite Christmas plants and flowers for the holiday season. Grow these selections for a garden plot that can withstand the cold weather—and look good doing it. These winter plants and flowers are evergreen shrubs and December bloomers, and some will even thrive when grown indoors during the cold months. From Amaryllis to paperwhites, they promise to add evergreen leaves; lush, needly branches; and a touch of scarlet to pots and plantings indoors and out. Some of these Christmas flowers also make lovely gifts. So, what are you waiting for? Now’s the time to plant! (It’s also prime time to scope out the prettiest pots of poinsettias at your local garden store—you know the one.)
Start Slideshow

1 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

17 Best Plants and Flowers for Christmas

1 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Amaryllis

Credit: ngaliero/Getty Images

Amaryllis is a popular flowering plant for festive Christmas decor. It grows from a bulb and blooms about 6 weeks after planting. Some types, such as Amaryllis ‘Ferrari,’ are tended in greenhouses to encourage flowering in December—just in time for Christmas. Planting in October or November ensures Amaryllis will bear a cluster of vibrant red or white trumpet-shaped flowers come December 25.

CARE: For a burst of holiday blooms, you’ll either want to plant Amaryllis in the fall or buy bulbs already planted in pots. Once planted, allow it to soak up bright, direct sunlight, and provide it regular water in well-drained soil. What should you do with it after Christmas? Just ask The Grumpy Gardener.

Learn more about Amaryllis.

2 of 21

3 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

American Mistletoe

Credit: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images

This festive plant comes with a warning. While no holiday scene would be complete without a drop of evergreen mistletoe, it’s not commonly grown on purpose. American mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum) is native from Florida to the mid-Atlantic and west to Texas. Its calling card is that it grows in a parasitic manner on the branches of host trees. Usually, the host tree is not harmed in this process, but it’s nearly impossible to remove mistletoe once it has taken root in the bark of a hardwood.

CARE: Clipping mistletoe for an arrangement (or for hanging from a ribbon in a doorway) won't cause permanent removal in the host tree. According to The Southern Living Garden Book, for lasting removal of mistletoe, “the infested branch must be removed at least 1 foot below the point of attachment. But since this process may disfigure the tree and reinfestation from nearby trees is likely, it's usually best to leave the tree alone.”

Learn more about mistletoe.

3 of 21

Advertisement

4 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bodnant Viburnum

Credit: G.N. van der Zee/Getty Images

The deciduous plant Viburnum bodnantense grows to great heights—10 feet tall and 6 feet wide, reliably. The best known selection is Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn,’ which produces subtle red fruit and blooms in winter. The blossoms that emerge in the cold months are very fragrant pink flowers, and they fade from deep magenta to pale rose as they age. In fall, the color changes continue as Viburnum's green leaves turn a deep scarlet hue.

CARE: Viburnum species are tolerant of most soils, even those that are too heavy or lime-rich for other plants. They appreciate some shade in the hot Southern summers and require minimal pruning each year. They are also somewhat resistant to the damage often left by roaming deer, so they're a hardy enough choice for Southern gardens in the fall and winter.

Learn more about Viburnum.

4 of 21

5 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Bosc Pear

Credit: Diane Labombarbe/Getty Images

These deliciously crisp fruits ripen from late fall through winter. Once plucked from the tree, they develop a honeyed sweetness that's a perfect complement for winter dishes and desserts. Bosc pears make for wonderful winter fruit trees that you'll look forward to harvesting each year.

CARE: Bosc pears require full sun and ample water. They can be planted in containers or in the garden; specific varieties are better suited for growing in containers. They can take several years of establishment before bearing fruit.

Learn more about other pears.

5 of 21

6 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Christmas Cactus

Credit: undefined undefined/Getty Images

This festive cactus species blooms from late fall through the winter months, which makes it a colorful addition for Christmastime gardens. Schlumbergera x buckleyi (also known as S. bridgesii) has an eye-catching combination of bright green scalloped stems and long red flowers. S. truncata is another holiday-blooming cactus species with deep scarlet flowers; it's known as Thanksgiving cactus because it blooms slightly earlier in the season.

CARE: Christmas cactus grows best with regular watering in partial shade or bright indirect light. It also thrives in in rich, porous soil. According to The Southern Living Garden Book, to encourage a December bloom you should keep the plant in a cool-temperature environment (50-55 degrees) at night and ensure that it gets 12-14 hours of darkness each day during the month of November.

Learn more about Schlumbergera.

6 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Cyclamen

Credit: Cinzia Pascutto/EyeEm/Getty Images

Cyclamen, a regional favorite, blooms during the winter in shades of white, pink, and red. It produces lovely Christmastime blooms and provides subtle garden color. C. x atkinsii and C.  coum develop crimson flowers in winter and have 4- to 6-inch stems with deep green leaves. Some species bloom within a year, while others take many years to mature. Almost all species go dormant during the summer.

CARE: Cyclamen are good container plants and should be grown in full indirect sunlight or partial shade. They thrive in rich, well-drained soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. For the ideal environment, mix coarse sand and organic matter into soil before planting.

Learn more about Cyclamen.

7 of 21

8 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Fir Tree

Credit: Madeline Dudley-Yates/EyeEm/Getty Images

The mighty fir (aka Abies sp., aka the classic Christmas tree) comes in all manner of heights and circumferences, so take stock of your living room, and buy one to fit. During the season, you can find them potted or pre-cut, or you can chop down one of your own at a nearby Christmas tree farm. Christmas trees come in all shapes and sizes and are also represented by spruce (Picea sp.) and pine (Pinus sp.) types.

CARE: To place a tree in its stand, you’ll need to first saw off ¼-inch round from the bottom of the trunk. (This helps the tree better absorb water.) Place it in the stand, fill the stand with water, and keep it well watered throughout the season, or until the needle shed signals the end of the holidays. If you have a potted tree, move it outdoors at the end of the holiday season and plant it in deep, well-drained soil. Planted firs won't always thrive in the South, as they require afternoon shade and a moist, cool environment for their root systems.

Learn more about fir trees.

8 of 21

9 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Ivy

Credit: Marjeta Sustarsic/EyeEm/Getty Images

While ivy (Hedera sp.) has a tendency to invade (one reason some gardeners avoid it altogether), it’s also a beautiful, deep green addition to holiday scenes—hence the Christmas carol “The Holly and the Ivy.” This evergreen climbing vine can spread horizontally over the ground or vertically up walls. It’s also lovely dangling from hanging baskets or trellises, as well as curling delicately in pots. English ivy (H. helix) is a less vigorous grower compared to other Hedera species, but it’s a beautiful Christmastime planting with its telltale lobed green leaves.

CARE: Ivy should be planted in spring or fall, and it is most reliable when grown from a pot of seed rather than from a cutting. Ivy likes soil that’s full of organic matter, and it should be fed with nitrogen-rich fertilizer in spring and summer to encourage growth.

Learn more about ivy.

9 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Juniper

Credit: LordRunar/Getty Images

This beautiful evergreen shrub has attractive foliage made of dark green needles that are born profusely on its stems. It also has pretty blue-hued berries in winter. They grow as shrubs, trees, or in columnar forms. 'Bar Harbor' has feathery, blue-gray foliage that shifts to purple in the winter months.

CARE: Most grow best in drier, chalkier soils, and under the right conditions can be very fast growing. Juniper can be planted in either gardens or in large containers. They do best with plenty of space to grow, and they can also work as a ground cover.

Learn more about juniper.

10 of 21

11 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Lenten Rose

Credit: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images

Lenten rose, or Helleborus, is a good garden choice for subtle color in the winter and early spring months. Hellebores bloom in drooping cup or bell-shaped flowers across the color spectrum—white, green, pink, red, or purple flowers emerge during the cool season depending on the species and selection. The blossoms also last; they maintain their form but fade to green as the blooming period ends.

CARE: Lenten rose is a long-lived plant in the garden. It thrives in well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline. Once planted, it likes to be left alone (and it often is—hellebores are deer- and rodent-resistant).

Learn more about Helleborus.

11 of 21

12 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Mahonia

Credit: Neil Holmes/Getty Images

Mahonia x media is a species of evergreen shrub that looks like holly but is actually related to barberry (Berberis). The plant’s prickly leaves are a deep green backdrop for the clusters of impressive yellow flowers that bloom out in winter. Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ flowers earlier than other Mahonia species and selections; it produces fragrant blooms that appear around Christmastime and are accompanied by berry-shaped fruit and the plant’s signature dramatic foliage.

CARE: Mahonia is a low-maintenance planting, as it requires well-draining soil and only the occasional prune. It is both pest- and deer-resistant, and you can expect Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ to reach 4 to 5 feet tall and wide.

Learn more about Mahonia.

12 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Pansy

Credit: Maria Mosolova/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Viola x wittrockiana, also known as pansy, is a perennial in the Violaceae family (alongside violas and violets). Despite its perennial qualities, it’s often grown as a cool-season annual. It has shiny green leaves and flowers in white, blue, red, and yellow hues. If you're looking for winter ground cover, Sprite Mix is a pretty and reliable choice. Select ‘Padparadja’ for reddish petals and ‘Springtime Black’ for lush dark blooms. The related species Viola cornuta is also grown as a cool-season annual, and its flowers come in varied shades too.

CARE: Pansy is often chosen for mass plantings in garden borders. It thrives in mild winters when planted in rich, moist soil. You should also keep your pansy plantings well watered once they're in the ground, and when selecting a spot to plant, keep in mind that they grow best in an area with full sun to partial shade.

Learn more about Viola.

13 of 21

14 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Paperwhites

Credit: Yoko Okamoto/Getty Images

Paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) is a perennial that grows from a bulb and can be forced to flower indoors in the winter months. It requires little in the way of soil, and once planted, it can be expected to bloom in 4 to 6 weeks. When it flowers, the paperwhite produces delicate, deeply fragrant white flowers that appear in bunches on tall green stems.

CARE: Paperwhite narcissus is a hardy, albeit fleeting, blooming bulb, and it's often forced to flower at Christmastime. To encourage blooming, keep the bulbs in darkness until you’re ready to plant them, and once planted, water them regularly in well-drained soil. You should also keep them in a cool environment away from direct sunlight. Once the blooms appear, they'll likely begin to droop. When this happens, you’ll need to stake the stems for support.

Learn more about paperwhites.

14 of 21

15 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Poinsettia

Credit: Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images

The most festive (and ubiquitous) flower of the holiday season is the scarlet-blooming poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). It’s an evergreen, semievergreen, or deciduous shrub that can thrive indoors or outdoors. Its showy, petal-like bracts are well-known at Christmastime, as it is omnipresent in the red single form. Other forms are double-bracted and/or white, yellow, and pink, but you're most likely to encounter the scarlet leaves at your local garden stores.

CARE: Be sure to avoid overwatering poinsettia plants; take care to water moderately only when the soil becomes dry. Poinsettias require little in the way of care and will grow tall and leggy before you know it. If you take cuttings, do so in late summer and encourage blooming by ensuring new plants get up to 14 hours of darkness per day beginning in October.

Learn more about poinsettias.

15 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Primrose

Credit: ImageJournal-Photography/Getty Images

While many species of primrose (Primula sp.) bloom in spring and early summer, several types bloom in winter. P. x polyantha, often called polyanthus primrose or English primrose, blooms from winter to spring and bears bright, showy, five-petaled flowers in thick, romantic clusters. The hues of these flowers vary among the species and selections. At the base of the English primrose plant, there occur clumps of foliage that resemble leaves of romaine lettuce.

CARE: These plants thrive in pots and when planted en masse. Primrose requires a cool, humid climate and soil that’s both moist and rich. According to The Southern Living Garden Book, many species can grow as perennials but are often treated as cold-season annuals.

Learn more about primrose.

16 of 21

17 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Valencia Orange

Credit: A-S-L/Getty Images

Valencia orange (Citrus x sinensis ‘Valencia’) is a sweet orange cultivar known widely as the ideal orange for juicing. It bears almost-seedless fruit in midwinter—Christmas oranges, anyone?—and spring. If you’re looking for an earlier ripening, ‘Delta’ and ‘Midknight’ are good alternatives and produce entirely seedless fruit. These types are moderately resistant to cold in the South; for more cold-hardy citrus, try planting kumquats or satsuma mandarins.

CARE: Winter citrus is a dose of sunshine in the colder months. In addition to fruit, citrus plants also offer shiny, year-round foliage and bear small, fragrant blossoms. When planted, citrus requires regular water and full sun to ensure it will thrive, hence its profusion in sunny states such as Florida and California.

Learn more about citrus.

17 of 21

18 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Winter Honeysuckle

Credit: Hsvrs/Getty Images

Honeysuckle occurs in evergreen, semievergreen, or deciduous shrubs and vines. This particular plant, also known as Lonicera fragrantissima or January jasmine, is an extremely fragrant semi-evergreen shrub with long, oval leaves in shades of dark green. Winter honeysuckle flowers throughout the winter months and produces tiny cream-colored blooms that carry a sweet fragrance. The flowers are accompanied by small, red fruit that resemble other, more familiar, berry forms.

CARE: Winter honeysuckle is a good choice for a compact clipped hedge. It's an attractive outdoor planting, and once buds emerge in winter, branches can be clipped and brought indoors to bloom. Doing this will fill your home with a telltale delicately sweet honeysuckle scent.

Learn more about honeysuckle.

18 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Winterberry Holly

Credit: De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images

Holly is a classic Christmas shrub, and the winterberry species (Ilex verticillata) is a hardy sort with dark green leaves. It's native to North America, and the female plants bear clusters of vibrant scarlet berries that last through the winter. ‘Red Sprite’ bears large red berries, and the red berries of ‘Winter Red,’ a favorite across the South, last through February.

CARE: According to The Southern Living Garden Book, I. verticillata thrives in acid soil with regular water. It requires a moist, organic environment and has been known to grow wildly in boggy climes—often from 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. Other holly species have been known to grow to 50 feet tall, a reason they’re often chosen for privacy plantings and topiary.

Learn more about holly.

19 of 21

20 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Yaupon Holly

Credit: John Dreyer/Getty Images

Yaupon holly, also known as Ilex vomitoia, is native to the American South, and it's known for its bright sprays of red berries, which appear in the winter months. It's a wonderful ornamental accent in winter gardens and can also be used for holiday decorations.

 

CARE: The holly grows as an upright shrub or multi-trunked tree. It is a hearty planting that can be grown in nearly any type of soil. It also works in various applications, and it is popular to  trim holly into hedges. This variety is resistant to deer and can tolerates difficult conditions including prolonged sea spray.

Learn more about holly.

20 of 21

21 of 21

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Yuletide Camellia

Credit: c11yg/Getty Images

Camellia sasanqua 'Yuletide' is a winter-blooming flowering shrub. Yuletide camellia’s blooming season begins in fall and lasts through the winter, making it a strong contender for garden color at Christmastime. It bears bright red, single blooms on a smallish, densely foliated plant. While most thriving camellias can be expected to grow 8-10 feet tall, this is a compact selection and will grow 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.

CARE: This particular camellia is a drought-tolerant, hardy perennial plant that requires little in the way of garden maintenance and care once it’s established. It’s evergreen and thrives in the mild winters of the South. When planting, ensure that it’s in a spot where it will receive partial to full sun, and begin with moderate to regular watering. If you’re looking to plant this year, you can find this camellia in the Southern Living Plant Collection.

Learn more about Camellia.

21 of 21

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Southern Living

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 21 17 Best Plants and Flowers for Christmas
2 of 21 Amaryllis
3 of 21 American Mistletoe
4 of 21 Bodnant Viburnum
5 of 21 Bosc Pear
6 of 21 Christmas Cactus
7 of 21 Cyclamen
8 of 21 Fir Tree
9 of 21 Ivy
10 of 21 Juniper
11 of 21 Lenten Rose
12 of 21 Mahonia
13 of 21 Pansy
14 of 21 Paperwhites
15 of 21 Poinsettia
16 of 21 Primrose
17 of 21 Valencia Orange
18 of 21 Winter Honeysuckle
19 of 21 Winterberry Holly
20 of 21 Yaupon Holly
21 of 21 Yuletide Camellia

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Southern Living

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • About Us
  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Southern Living
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

View image

20 Best Plants and Flowers for Christmas
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.