Christmas Garden

by | Nov 15, 2024

 The traditions around decorating the Christmas Tree is symbolic of the festival itself. Right after fall, people all around the world start looking for Christmas decor. And since olden days, a variety of plants have been favourite choices to do up homes, offices and even streets. 

In the western world, many varieties of firs, spruce and pine are decorated as Christmas tree. While Araucaria, Cypress and Junipers are more popular in our side of the world. 

Some plants are popular for the traditions associated with them and others simply because of the Christmas moods and colours. So here is a list of five most loved ones. 

5 Popular Plants for the Season

1

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are surely the most loved to create Christmas cheer. It’s bright red leaf bracts are the most popular though it comes in many colours of lemon, white, pink and even marbled varieties. Technically a perennial, it grows back every year in favourable conditions.
Native to Mexico, the plant got its name after an amateur American botanist who brought it to US.

How to Care :

  • Its a good idea to pick up Poinsettia timely when its still not freezing cold so that they can settle before Christmas.
  • Keep them away from harsh cold winds and protect them in warm cozy place once temp goes below 5 C
  • Always ensure them to be sufficiently moist but not wet

2

Silver Dust

Soft woolly silver grey foliage of this plant will shine like snow in your garden. Often planted in bed borders, it creates a great contrast with bright colour foliage.

How to Care:

  • Once Silver Dust settles to transplant, it needs minimum care
  • The plant is happy in full sun to partial shade.
  • Little pruning will make it bushy and regular watering is enough to keep it happy.

3

Holly Plant

The tree has a traditional belief to be crown of Jesus and so the Christians have adopted the Holly Tree as symbolic to Christmas. The plant has more than 400 varieties but English Holly is almost synonym with Christmas. 
Native to Europe, Africa and Asia is a densely branched tree with spiny leathery leaves. Though not very common but English Holly is available in some nurseries.
How to Care:
  • Grows well in sun or partial shade
  • Is happier in slightly acidic soil so add some used tea leaves or coffee grounds.
  • In warm regions, it needs to go in shade during summer.
  • Pruning is good in winter

4

Rosemary

Rosemary, native to the Mediterranean, does not love extreme cold conditions but this perennial herb has a cultural connect with Christmas. Its piney fragrance is supposed to bring good luck and that makes it a favourite not only in Christmas decorations but also for festive bakes, stews and roasts.

Its needle shape foliage, similar to firs and pines further makes it a favourite buy for the festivities in spite of the fact it does not take severe cold conditions.

How to Care:

  • Rosemary thrives in a warmer times so its a good time to buy before winter sets in
  • Keep in bright sunny spot but cover it with white net after Christmas to protect from frost.
  • Do not water unless the soil goes fully dry.
  • Harvest regularly to keep it bushy

5

Golden Cypress

Cypress is the common name for conifer trees from the Cupressaceae that are found in warm regions of the world. After Araucaria, its the second most popular plant to be decorated as Christmas tree.

    Plants shops are loaded with Golden Cypress in all sizes as Christmas gifts and decor though they are difficult to keep in summer months unless in shade or in cooler regions. 

    How to Care:

    • Cypress thrives in cooler moths so its great to buy anytime around Autumn.
    • Keep in bright sunny or even bright indirect light.
    • Do not water unless the soil goes fully dry.
    • Bring it to shade after spring as it cannot with stand extreme temperatures above 35 C
    • Keep a constant check on potassium feed to raise immunity in warmer months as it is prone to fungal infections.