Colourful Christmas Houseplants

Colourful Christmas Houseplants

Decorations at Christmas don’t actually all need to be plastic and glass or powered by batteries. You can add living houseplants into the mix of sparkling tinsel, hanging baubles, and twinkling lights. In this article, we will discover some of the best indoor plants to brighten up your home and to give as gifts. At this time, many of us are out frantically scouring the high street for last minute presents, hardly a relaxing day out. But remember that houseplants also make ideal Christmas gifts for neighbours, teachers, friends and loved ones. And your local garden centre is a much calmer place to browse and shop in!

Poinsettia: A Christmas Classic

The most iconic Christmas houseplant must be the poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima. With vibrant red bracts and soft green leaves, it is as synonymous with the holiday season as mistletoe and forgetting to defrost the turkey! Poinsettias add colour to any space, making them the perfect festive centrepiece. Did you know that red is not the only colour? You can also find poinsettias in white, cream, pink, and red flecked with colour.

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/poinsettias-their-story-and-5-care-tips-for-success/

Christmas Cactus: A Unique and Beautiful Option

Another popular winter houseplant is the Christmas cactus. This forest cactus blooms in beautiful shades of pink, red, and white during the festive season, adding a touch of elegance to your home. The Christmas cactus is easy to care for and can, with care, live for many years.

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/the-festive-christmas-cactus/

The Flamboyant Amaryllis

The Amaryllis (or Hippeastrum) is a flowering bulb that is as firmly associated with Christmas as your grandma imbibing a glass of sweet sherry with her mince pie. Like sherry, the Amaryllis has shaken off its fusty image and is cool again (I am partial to a chilled bottle of manzanilla, if anyone from the Sherry Industry is reading). Amaryllis trumpets in shades of red, pink, and white often feature in the creations of florists. Queen Mathilde of Belgium had Amaryllis flowers in her large wedding bouquet when she married King Phillipe.

Amaryllis flowers are easy to grow indoor bulbs, making them a popular choice for Christmas decor and gifting. Budding, pot grown amaryllis bulbs are available now, just waiting to bloom. Beautifully presented boxed Amarylis bulbs (including instructions, bulb, growing medium, and flowerpot) make cool yule presents. I love the deep burgundy variety ‘Black Pearl’, although it is very hard to pick just one.

https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/the-christmas-amaryllis/

Forced Hyacinth Bulbs: Fragrant and Festive

Prepared hyacinth bulbs are another popular winter flowering bulb. The bulbs have been ‘forced’ (specially treated) to bloom indoors during the holiday season. It is fascinating to watch the buds develop and open, filling your home with their sweet fragrance. Hyacinths are a natural alternative to burning scented candles in the home – and can be trusted not to cause a conflagration when left unattended!

Ready to flower hyacinth bulbs come in a range of colours, including traditional blue, pink, and white. I like the beautifully presented hyacinth bulb arrangements that Capital Gardens offer in woven wicker baskets. My styling tip is to replace the chipped bark topping with fresh green moss, to give the bowls a forest vibe.

Velvety Saintpaulia

Saintpaulias (also known as African violets) are an enduringly popular houseplant. They produce an abundance of colourful flowers at the centre of a compact rosette of rounded, pubescent leaves. The simple flowers come in a range of colours, including violet, mauve, blue, red, pink, and white. Saintpaulias love bright, indirect light, consistently warm rooms, and humidity. Plants will often flower on-and-off throughout the year when given the right conditions.

Elegant Orchids

For a more sophisticated Christmas houseplant, consider orchids. The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis), Dendrobium, Cymbidium, and other varieties of orchid can all be found blooming during the winter months, adding a touch of luxury to your home. By combining a beautiful orchid with a decorative cover pot, you can create a personalised gift that will be sure to impress your hosts when visiting friends and relations.

Ardisia or ‘Christmas Berry’: Berried Treasure

Ardisia crenata, also known as Christmas berry, is a unique festive houseplant that produces sprays of bright red berries during the holiday season. This unusual houseplant is certain to get you into the Christmas spirit with its glossy green leaves and jolly red berries.

Christmas Rose: A Winter Blooming Beauty

The Christmas rose, or Helleborus orientalis, is a classic option for an indoor Christmas flower that will bloom for several weeks. This plant produces delicate white flowers during the winter months. The Christmas rose variety ‘Verboom Beauty’ has been specially bred to bloom well in the home. If you look closely at the pots, you will see that every plant has masses of buds, and everyone will become a beautiful white flower. You may also notice that the pots have been carefully cleaned, with all the leaves cut away to make sure that the flowers remain the centre of attention.

Did you know that Christmas roses can be planted outside in the garden in moist, fertile soil in the spring?

Christmas Kalanchoe: Easy-to-Care-For

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, also known as ‘Flaming Katy’, is a colourful and obliging houseplant that requires minimal attention. This succulent plant produces clusters of bright blooms in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, or white, adding zing to your home during the holiday season. Single or double flowered, a Christmas kalanchoe is the perfect choice for those who want an affordable, low-maintenance indoor plant that will bloom for weeks at a time. Kalanchoes love a bright spot, making them a great option for a windowsill.

Did you know that these plants were first introduced to Europe from Madagascar in 1932 by the German botanist Robert Blossfeld, after whom the species was named?

In Conclusion

Christmas is more than just trees and baubles. There are many beautiful seasonal houseplants to choose from, whether it is for your home or to give to others. And if you can’t decide whether to buy a particular plant for yourself or as a gift? Buy two! After all it is Christmas. Well nearly.