Bringing plants into your space during the holidays is a popular way to brighten up the winter and add a beautiful touch to your festive décor. So much so that we have specific plants that are emblematic of the festive season.
Although we may marvel at these species at Christmas, they are also overlooked for most of the year. So we want to shine a light on some Christmas plants, where they come from, and their history before they became holiday showstoppers, as well as how to incorporate them into your seasonal displays.
Here’s four of the most showstopping plants and how to make your space pop with them this winter.
Poinsettia: The History of a Traditional Holiday Plant
Poinsettias are one of the most loved options for Christmas plants throughout the US, and for good reason – their creamy white or bright red color mixed with dark green leaves is the perfect color palette.
This species is native to Mexico and Central America, and was brought into the US by ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. It is in honor of him that the plant was named, although this plant was well-loved before he brought it north. In fact, poinsettias were used at Christmastime by Fransiscan friars in the 17th Century to add color and cheer, just as we use them today.
Cultivation began in earnest in the early 20th Century in the US, and brought us the plants we know today. While in the wild poinsettias can grow more than 10 feet tall, cultivation means we can keep smaller, potted plants indoors. We also encouraged a variety of colors, while preserving the famous bright red.
Another thing cultivation did was make poinsettias slightly easier to care for. Previously, they were known as a ‘wilting plant’ because they were so tricky to keep alive. But while we’ve improved the longevity, these plants are still surprisingly delicate. Transitioning them from a greenhouse to home environments is a challenge. If you’ve had problems with poinsettias before, it may be because they weren’t properly cared for before they even got into your home or office.
Designing with Poinsettias
While many are familiar with poinsettias in a pot wrapped in foil, don’t be afraid to put these in a variety of different containers. This can elevate or change the aesthetic to seem more intentional.
We love to use a range of colors, sizes and heights in poinsettia arrangements. Because these are bold plants, they mix well with other plants or décor elements for pops of color. The white variety can also provide a great contrast, especially against dark greens.
Smaller poinsettias can be an impactful option for standalone pieces on coffee tables, waiting tables, and desks. But they can also be grouped into much larger arrangements in lobbies and other communal areas. In our experience, more is more with this bold and beautiful Christmas plant.
Looking for poinsettia options for your commercial space? Contact us today to learn about our poinsettia program.
Christmas Cactus: Different Types of Cactus for the Winter Season
What we think of as the “Christmas” cactus is actually three different types of cactus, which helpfully bloom on cue for three major holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. While each type looks very similar, to the trained eye they do have different flowers and differently shaped stems, which help to distinguish them outside of their individual flowering schedules.
While they aren’t covered in sharp spikes, these plants are true cacti that are native to Brazil. Their road to being a holiday staple in North America began in the 1810s-30s, when botanists in Europe began to cultivate these three varieties.
In the wild, there are relatively few types, but we now have hundreds of cultivars of the Christmas cactus. We’ve created a wider range of color options to choose from, including pinks, oranges, whites, and mixed colors.
These plants are excellent options not just for the holidays, but for year-round for greenery, as they have a long lifespan and will bloom year after year. But it does take some expertise to ensure they bloom at the right time each year. As they are tropical plants they also require attention to thrive in the winter months in colder states like Pennsylvania, especially as we deal with dry indoor air.
Designing with the Christmas Cactus
These plants look great displayed on tabletops, but given that their stems and blooms spill over their pots, they are also a great candidate for hanging. In our experience, given their cascading volume it can be useful to mix these in with other vertical elements that create balance.
The choice of pot will be very important when dealing with a Christmas cactus. This is both for horticultural concerns like proper drainage, but also for giving the right balance to the plant so it can gracefully trail downwards and will look proportionate. While the blooms come in different colors, these plants will always bring a strong pop of green, making them versatile and easy to match with existing décor.
Amaryllis: Beauty and Symbolism During the Holidays
While the name Amaryllis comes from Greek mythology, these plants are actually found in South America and South Africa as native plants. A flowering bulb, the amaryllis can offer stunning beauty even in the depths of winter, making it a plant of choice around the holidays.
While they are an easy choice for drama and color, and make excellent gifts, these plants can be delicate and need to be managed and planted correctly in order to be on full display for the holidays.
The amaryllis represents hope, beauty and determination and comes in 90 species, although most potted are one of just six cultivations. Cultivation began in earnest in Europe and globally in the 1800s. These magnificent plants can grow up to two feet, and have flowers, a long stem, and a few sweeping leaves.
Designing with Amaryllis
Due to their stunning height and the fact that there are only flowers on the top, we use these plants both on their own and mixed into designs with other elements. They are an excellent choice for small spaces where a single striking plant will make a big impact without taking up too much room.
As they come in different colors and stripes for variety, amaryllis can work in many different aesthetics.
And because there is no greenery covering the pot, container choice and decorative elements are something to consider closely here. For example, pots offer options for more color and vibrance, or can be strategically blended in if the amaryllis is used in the middle of a design.
Norfolk Island Pine: Indoor, Potted Evergreens
Native to the South Pacific, the Norfolk Island Pine isn’t what we in the northeast think of as a true pine tree. In the wild, it thrives in warm climates, and isn’t hardy like our native plants. But even in colder regions such as Pennsylvania it is possible to keep these plants indoors with practice.
In nature, this tree can grow up to 200 feet tall; in pots, given space, time and care, they can reach up to 20 feet. However, most potted Norfolk Island Pines will stay at a much more reasonable size, below six feet tall.
They have a wonderful, vivid green color and can bring a Christmasy feel during the holidays while still looking at home during the rest of the year.
Designing with Norfolk Island Pine
Rather than thinking about these as a “true” Christmas tree, the Norfolk Island Pine is a great option for mixing in an evergreen feel into larger designs as a part of an overall look, rather than a single, show-stopping feature.
As these trees can be smaller or larger, they can be a versatile design element. Being potted, they can offer more flexibility in decoration than a cut Christmas tree as they don’t need a tree stand.
While these trees can be decorated, they do not have sturdy branches like cut Christmas trees, so any ornaments or lights will need to be small and light so as not to weigh down the tree or overbalance it visually.
Using Plantscape’s Award-Winning Holiday Team to Decorate Your Space
At Plantscape, we bring the best of plants and design together, especially for the holidays. We have the horticultural expertise to make sure that these beautiful Christmas plants (and many more) look their best in your space, even tropical plants in the middle of Pennsylvania’s winter.
But we do much more than plants. Our holiday team has been recognized with 28 national holiday decorating awards, and our creativity and care sets a national standard. Whether you need a small, tasteful plant installation or want to awe everyone with creativity and scale, our team can make it happen.
If you are looking for poinsettias this holiday season, contact us today to learn more about our poinsettia program, where we supply stunning poinsettias in different colors and sizes.
If you want full-service designs and displays, including décor rental options, learn more about our holiday services and how we can make your space feel magical for the holidays.
