Looking for an ideal Christmas gift or the perfect plant to spruce up your space this season? Here’s our roundup of the most popular plants of the festive season that can grow with you well into the new year with the right care.
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
It’s Australia’s best natural answer to the classic Christmas pine tree. The Norfolk Island pine might fool you with its name as it’s not actually a pine – but it does make for an adorable mini Christmas tree with its billowy branches.
A hardy and forgiving tree, the Norfolk Pine should last long-after the presents are gifted and the eggnog (or spritzes) run dry. Provided they receive plenty of bright light and you don’t miss too many waterings, let this beauty mature in the garden and bring back inside on a yearly basis.
Woolly Bush (Adenanthos sericeus)
The Woolly Bush is perfect for those chasing the traditional Christmas tree look but with a native twist. Often grown as feature plants in large pots or as screens, the Woolly Bush has soft, silky silver-grey foliage and will grow up to 3 metres tall. Better yet, the shrub can also flower in spring with delicate red flowers.
Native to the coast of Western Australia, this species prefers a dry climate and will be best suited to Aussie plant parents in southern states over the humid temps in northern Australia.
Norway Spruce (Picea spp.)
Often nicknamed the “Holiday Spruce”, the Norway Spruce is considered by many as the classic Christmas Tree. Without pruning, this spruce will naturally grow to form a dense conical shape boasting branches of bright green needles and hanging cones. Its sturdy branches can support even the most lavish of decorations.
If you’re featuring your Norway Spruce inside, be sure to provide your tree a wide view of the sky so it can catch plenty of direct sunlight.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulchrrrima)
The indoor plant gift of the season, the Poinsettia is a classic for good reason. Their large, vibrant red blooms contrasted with lush green leaves feature the colours of the season and look appropriately striking with Christmas decor. Fun fact: Poinsettias bloom in winter in the northern hemisphere when the days get shorter. They’re forced to flower in Australia just for the Christmas season. Whilst red is the most common, you can also find this plant in white, pink and marbled varieties.
A public service announcement on their behalf: Poinsettias can and will last you all year with good care, so there’s no need to discard them after the Christmas lights are packed away! Their blooms will die off, which is typically mistaken by plant owners as the plant itself dying, yet the roots are alive and well. Poinsettias can be kept year after year and will bloom annually with the right care.
Temperature is important to them; they need milder temps during the day in the low 20s. Poinsettias need plenty of bright filtered light and are easily susceptible to root rot so be careful with your watering frequency.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Another vibrant flowering plant perfect for providing some Christmas cheer are Cyclamen. Silver-frosted heart-shaped green leaves with showy pink, white, red or purple flowers on long stems make for a striking centrepiece.
Sad fact: Both the Poinsettia and Cyclamen are often thrown away after flowering, but they are a perennial. Maintain them during dormancy and you’ll be rewarded in the cooler months with stunning new blooms.
Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi)
Not the greenest of thumbs? Look no further than the Christmas Cactus. This low-maintenance plant lacks the evergreen needles and look and feel of a Christmas tree, but it does boast a striking range of pink, red and orange flowers that bloom during the Christmas period.
This plant is happy in most lighting conditions and only needs watering when the soil is almost completely dry.
If you’re looking for more seasonal houseplants that we haven’t listed here, check out the classics of Mistletoe, Holly and Conifers, or the flowering Hydrangea and Anthurium. Care guides and easy tips to keep these popular plants alive well after the Christmas season is done and dusted are listed in our plant library in the free Willow app.