The Role of Flowers in Christmas Celebrations
Decorating with plants and flowers for Christmas isn’t just about festive flair—it’s a tradition with deep roots (pun intended!) in pagan and Christian customs.
Let us take you back to pagan winter solstice celebrations. At the time, evergreens like holly and ivy symbolized eternal life and were believed to ward off evil and bring good luck. As Christianity spread, these sacred plants became part of Christmas festivities. By the Middle Ages, fragrant herbs like rosemary and lavender adorned churches, offering beauty and a soothing scent to honor Christ’s birth.
Fast forward to today and iconic Christmas flowers like mistletoe, poinsettias, and holly berries continue to fill the season with meaning, each carrying its own unique story. Let’s find out more about these festive flowers below.
Decorating with Flowers for Christmas
Flowers don’t just brighten a room, they bring life and warmth to your home. As a Christmas storybook might say: in the heart of winter, when gardens are at rest and blooms are rare, a vibrant bouquet is a breath of fresh air.
Types of Christmas Flowers
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for flowers for Christmas or you’re just curious about the meaning behind traditional Christmas flowers, here are all our favorite festive blooms explained.
1. Poinsettia: The Classic Christmas Flower
Poinsettia, the ultimate holiday plant, the OG! Known for their classic red and green foliage, these stunning festive flowers are a holiday season staple all around the world.
You’ll usually find them in Christmas floral arrangements, in churches, and perhaps on your doorstep with a bright red bow to match!
Over the years, the poinsettia has come to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem due to its shape, while its popular bright red color represents the blood of Christ. A true Christmas bloom!
Meaning of Poinsettia
The poinsettia’s role in Christmas traditions comes with a heartwarming story.
According to legend, a poor Mexican girl wanted to bring a gift for Jesus to church on Christmas Eve, but couldn’t afford anything more than weeds. As she approached the church, the weeds miraculously transformed into beautiful red blooms—the iconic poinsettia leaves we all know and love.
The Christmas flower has since become a symbol of purity and goodwill, reminding us of the beauty found in simple, heartfelt offerings.
Poinsettia Care Tips
Poinsettias prefer bright, indirect light in draft-free areas at a temperature of 55-59°F. To help it last the Holiday season and beyond, water sparingly when the surface of the soil starts to dry out. Mist the leaves regularly and feed the plant with a high potash liquid feed (such as tomato feed) after Christmas.
If transporting your poinsettia in colder temperatures, remember to wrap it up or cover it with a plastic bag to protect the leaves.
2. Amaryllis: A Symbol of Beauty and Strength
Amaryllis is a tropical flowering plant with large, bold blooms that are a centerpiece in holiday decor. What makes them so popular at Christmas time? Well, when grown as a houseplant, they bloom throughout November and December!
Amaryllis symbolizes beauty (obviously, look how beautiful they are!), pride (Victorians considered these blooms to be a symbol of vanity and pride), and attention (it’s no surprise, these lovelies are incredibly eye-catching).
Symbolic Meaning of Amaryllis
According to Greek legend, Amaryllis was a beautiful shepherdess who fell in love with a shepherd called Alteo. To get him to notice her, she pierced her heart with a golden arrow every day. After 30 days, blood from her heart made a beautiful red flower, which Alteo finally noticed.
Named after Amaryllis, the flower represents resilience, love, and beauty—especially as a flower that uniquely blooms in the winter months.
3. Holly: The Evergreen Christmas Spirit
With bright red berries and glossy green leaves, holly is a traditional Christmas flower and decoration.
There’s no doubt these prickly little berries are a holiday favorite, but they’ve also been a dependable holiday decoration for thousands of years. Since they’re a natural part of our winter landscape, they have provided an easy way to decorate for the holidays, and still do today!
Holly is more than just a festive plant—it’s a symbol of protection. Those sharp, spiky leaves were believed to fend off evil spirits and bad luck, acting as nature’s own little shield. Its evergreen leaves and vibrant crimson berries carry deeper meaning too, standing for endurance and hope—a beautiful metaphor for life after death.
The Symbolic Role of Holly
Holly has been a major religious symbol for over 2000 years. The ancient Romans even associated holly with their Sun god, Saturn. Some believe holly played a major role in the Crucifixion of Christ—not just as a reminder but as an actual physical part of the event. It is said that holly was used to make Jesus’ crown of thorns.
4. Mistletoe: Love and Friendship
Of course, no Christmas flower roundup would be complete without mistletoe. Known for its green leaves and tradition of kissing beneath it, it’s become a classic symbol of holiday romance.
Ever wondered why it’s the plant of the Christmas kiss? It’s thought that a peck under the mistletoe brings love and romance to those beneath.
As well as love, the mistletoe also represents peace and friendship, as it is said that no one can feel hate when standing under the mistletoe.
Meaning of Mistletoe
Historically, the mistletoe is representative of unconditional love. According to Norse legend, the white blooms of mistletoe came from a mother’s tears for her son—how beautiful!
5. Hypericum Berries: The Festive Touch
Often used in holiday arrangements, Hypericum berries come in red, green, and white. They’re also known as, “the gift that keeps on giving.” Why, you ask? They’re not just berries! They actually flower first before producing these beautiful festive berries.
Hypericum comes from the Greek “hyper” (above) and “eikon” (picture), which links to the traditional decor of hanging plants over pictures and windows.
Symbolism of Hypericum Berries
The hypericum berry plant, commonly known as “St. John’s Wort,” gets its name because it blooms in late June, just in time for the Feast of St. John the Baptist. Traditionally, these festive flowers were gathered and burned on midsummer’s eve to ward off evil spirits, making them a powerful symbol of protection and positive energy.
6. Carnation: The Classic Holiday Bloom
Carnations are a classic go-to for just about any occasion you can think of because of their color variety and general hardiness.
Red carnations are often associated with love and devotion, making them right at home in the warmth of Christmas traditions. The green and white varieties help to add the perfect festive feel in traditional Christmas colors.
The Meaning of Carnations
Carnations have been in cultivation for over 2,000 years, meaning they were around at the time of Jesus. Some even say that carnations first appeared as Christ carried the cross, making red carnations symbolic of his sacrifice.
7. Orchid: A Symbol of Luxury and Love
Orchids are known for their elegance and exotic beauty, making them a popular Christmas gift. Their long-lasting blooms come in a variety of colors, adding a touch of luxury to holiday decor. They’re also non-toxic to pets, making them perfect for animal lovers!
Symbolic Meaning of Orchids
Orchids are the ultimate symbol of perfection and elegance. With their delicate yet resilient blooms, these Christmas flowers represent love and admiration, making them a thoughtful gift for someone special.
8. Rose: Timeless Beauty
Emma Goldman said it best, “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” Roses are just about the most popular flower around and come in every color imaginable.
The meaning of the rose depends on its color. Red roses, for example, symbolize love, white roses symbolize purity and innocence of youth, and green roses symbolize growth and abundance.
The Meaning of Roses in Christmas
Roses at Christmas? Oh, absolutely. These classic blooms aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. They carry a special meaning for the holidays too. Beyond their symbols of love and purity, it’s also said that roses represent the Virgin Mary, making them a meaningful addition to holiday arrangements.
9. Christmas Cactus: The Winter Bloom
The Christmas cactus is a delightful holiday houseguest, blooming right in time for the festivities.
Known for its cascading jewel-toned flowers, this plant thrives with little care and symbolizes endurance and resilience—perfect for the colder months when life seems to slow down. It’s also representative of family bonds and loyalty, living up to 30 years as a houseplant.
Symbolism of the Christmas Cactus
The Christmas cactus’ ability to bloom during the darkest, coldest days of the year makes it a symbol of hope and perseverance. With its vibrant blooms brightening the home, the hardy plant is a gentle reminder of life’s ability to thrive, even in the toughest seasons.
10. Waxflower: Fragrant Joy
The perfect mixture of sugar, spice, and everything nice, waxflowers boast sweet fragrant blooms sprouting from spiky evergreen shrubs. Known for joy and happiness, these festive flowers symbolize long-lasting love and are pros at spreading good vibes and good cheer.
The Meaning of Waxflowers
Christmas is a time for spreading joy, which is also the purpose of the waxflower. It’s representative of deep love and endurance, wealth, and even luck—everything you’d want for the holiday season.
11. Bells of Ireland: The Good Luck Charm
We don’t know about you, but there’s just something about bells of Ireland that screams Christmas. Could it be the color? Could it be their bell-like shape? You’ll often see these tall beauties in Christmas arrangements because of both!
Bells of Ireland, while originally hailing from Turkey, represent an Irish good luck charm! The gifting of this Celtic-named bloom symbolizes good wishes and luck on the journey ahead.
Bells of Ireland Symbolism
Who wouldn’t want the luck of the Irish? That’s why Bells of Ireland plants make excellent Christmas gifts, bringing good fortune and positive energy to those who receive them.
12. Paperwhites: Symbol of Renewal
Paperwhites, also known as narcissus, boast delicate white petals. While they don’t look like much of a holiday bloom, when grown at home, you can “force” them to pop up right in time for the festivities!
Paperwhites and other narcissus plants symbolize rebirth and renewal as they are among the first to bloom in the spring. They’re also super easy to force indoors by placing them in a cool room with strong, indirect sunlight and watering only the underside of the bulb.
Paperwhites in Holiday Traditions
Paperwhites signify purity and renewal, thanks to their delicate, stunningly white flowers. They add a hopeful touch to Christmas, representing optimism for the return of spring after the holiday season.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Christmas Plants
Some Christmas plants are built for the outdoors, while others won’t survive the harsh temperatures of winter. Here’s a breakdown of which Christmas flowers to keep indoors and which can stay out.
Indoor Christmas Plants
Some plants can’t survive a frost and will die off when temperatures dip in the winter. To make sure they survive until next summer, you can overwinter them by bringing them indoors.
Of the Christmas plants listed above, here are the ones you should keep indoors during winter:
- Poinsettias
- Amaryllis
- Carnations
- Orchid
- Rose
- Christmas Cactus
- Wax Flowers
- Paperwhites
To sprinkle these traditional Christmas plants with even more festivity, you can include them in your holiday decor. Adorn them with Christmas baubles, pop them in a festive pot, string them with fairy lights and tinsel, or even knit them a warm pot cozy!
Outdoor Christmas Plants
Some hardier plants just prefer the cold. They thrive during frosty weather and may even die off during hotter summer weather.
Of the traditional Christmas flowers and plants above, these ones want to be outside:
- Iris
- Holly
- Mistletoe
- Hypericum Berries
- Bells of Ireland
Decorating your outdoor Christmas plants adds a delightful and unexpected twist to your holiday decor. Again, you could drape some outdoor fairy lights on them to add a magical glow, decorate them with ornaments and tinsel, and even add natural accents of pinecones, berries, or springs of holly.
Caring for Your Christmas Flowers and Plants
Whether you’re treating yourself to a well-deserved Christmas flower or you’re gifting a loved one, here’s all you need to know to keep them looking merry and bright.
Tips for Keeping Christmas Flowers Fresh
Flowers don’t last forever, that’s part of what makes them so special. But here are a few tricks to prolong the freshness of your flowers:
- Change the water: Change the water every few days to keep your flowers hydrated and happy.
- Trim the stems: When you change the water, trim the stems at an angle to encourage them to soak up the water.
- Keep them cool: In the winter, we often have our central heating on. Avoid placing your flowers near vents, radiators, or direct sunlight and they’ll thank you for it!
How to Keep Your Christmas Plants Blooming Year-Round
Want to keep your Christmas plants thriving beyond the holidays? Here’s how:
- Christmas Cactus: This resilient beauty loves a brightly lit spot, but prefers indirect sunlight. Allow the soil to completely dry out in between waterings and water sparingly—if you overwater, the flowers may drop. To encourage it to bloom again next year, allow it to rest in cool temperatures for a few weeks after flowering.
- Amaryllis: Once those stunning blooms fade, don’t toss the bulb! Keep watering and feeding it until the leaves die back. Then let it rest in a cool, dark place for a few months before bringing it back to light. This way, it should bloom again next Christmas!
- Orchid: Orchids prefer to dry out between waterings. Water once a week, making sure the pot has proper drainage. They don’t like it too hot or too cold, so keep them away from drafts or radiators. Once its flowers drop off, trim the flower branches back to the stem. Keep it in a slightly cooler spot and resist the urge to water too much. In a few months, you may get another bloom!
Ready to deck your halls with festive florals? Shop Christmas flowers today!
