The most wonderful time of the year is preceded by the most magical time of the year: the run-up to Christmas, in which streets are lit by sparkling lights and homes are filled with cosy decorations. Despite the winter chill, it is still possible to find the colour and even flowers to add a seasonal note to your flower arrangements. A bouquet of beautiful flowers, stems and berries will brighten up your home and add life to your Christmas decor. We have listed 9 of our favourite seasonal plants to plant in your garden, to add to your indoor Christmas decorations, or to combine into a beautiful Christmas bouquet.
The Christmas rose: Helleborus
The first flowers on our list are the Helleborus, often referred to as the Christmas rose. The name stems from a legend that tells the story of how the helleborus flowers blossomed in the snow, watered by the tears of a young girl with no gift to give the Christ child of Bethlehem. They are one of the few plants that will bloom from january through april, perfect for a blossoming garden all year long. A little warning: Though pretty, these plants are toxic. Make sure to wash your hands after tending to these flowers, and ensure no little children or animals are able to get their hands on the plant.
IVY
Another Christmas plant not to be left out of your Christmas decor is ivy. As a traditional evergreen often used in wreaths, ivy has long been used to decorate homes for the festive season. On top of that, prays of elegantly trailing ivy make a beautiful addition to any Christmas bouquet.
HOLLY
With its glossy green leaves and bright red berries, holly adds a note of Christmas cheer to bouquets and vases. Not only do its characteristic red berries immediately remind one of Christmas, Holly is also traditionally believed to protect homes against evil spirits – but watch out for its prickly leaves.
VIBURNUM X BODNANTENSE
The viburnum x bodnantense is a large shrub that flowers in winter, bearing clusters of scented pink flowers on bare stems. If you’re lucky enough to already have one in your garden, pick a few stems for a vase and let the fragrance fill the room. This way, the flowers will brighten up your outdoor and indoor Christmas decor. If you do not have one yet, plant one now for a blossoming yard next year.
CORNUS STEMS
The shrubby dogwoods (Cornus sanguinea and Cornus sericea) are at their most striking in winter once the leaves have fallen, for then the bright red, orange or lime-green stems are revealed. Cut a few stems to add structure and vibrant seasonal colour to your flower arrangements.
WINTER JASMINE
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) is a splash of colour in winter, with bright starry yellow flowers gleaming on bare stems. Combine sprays of winter jasmine with trailing ivy for an arrangement that hints at the freshness of spring to come.
BEAUTYBERRY
The beautyberry bush (Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’) is an unassuming deciduous shrub that really comes into its own at Christmas, bearing clusters of glossy purple berries that look like shiny sweets (but don’t eat them, they’re very bitter).
SNOWBERRY
Another shrub that takes centre stage in winter is the snowberry (Symphoricarpus), with its sprays of large pink or white berries on bare stems. The berries are beautiful but toxic. Therefore, make sure to handle these berries with care.
EUCALYPTUS LEAVES
For foliage with the seasonal touch, you can’t beat eucalyptus. The silvery foliage makes a beautiful contrast for berries or flowers and fits in perfectly with Christmas decorations. These plants and many more can be found at Rushfields Plant Centre, where we have everything you need, from decorations and homeware to gifts for the gardeners in your life.
Buy Christmas plants for bouquets at Rushfields
All of these can be bought at our garden centre in Poynings. In the run-up to Christmas, our garden centre is fully transformed into a Christmas paradise. So if you're looking for a garden centre that offers a full Christmas experience, visit Rushfields in Poynings, Sussex. We look forward to welcoming you to our garden centre. Find our contact details on the contact page. Do you have any
