Poinsettia and Other Festive Plants for the Season

Plants and flowers are great additions for your home during the holidays. Keeping them on display in your abode provides color, organic design elements, and freshness in stuffy spaces. There are many cheerful blooms to choose from at your favorite local plant store or florist. Holiday classics like poinsettia in reds and greens, or wintry white orchids, can make great gifts for loved ones as well. Read on to learn about six festive options and how to keep them thriving. 

Poinsettia
Shops are brimming during the holidays with this pretty plant. Although red and white poinsettias are mainstays, some retailers may also offer artificially dyed varieties in blues, purples, pinks and more. Poinsettias that still have little yellow flowers in the center of the colored leaves are your best choice to last through the holiday season. The yellow flowers fall off when a poinsettia is past its prime. To keep poinsettias vibrant, water them when the leaves are dry to the touch.

Christmas Cactus
This plant works perfectly in Hawaii homes and the Islands’ various climates. You can keep a Christmas cactus indoors next to a window with lots of sunshine during our local winters, and move it outside after spring. This plant is native to Brazil and favors tropical rainfall — a watering regimen that keeps the cactus moderately moist is recommended. If you’re looking for a plant that lasts, a Christmas cactus can thrive from one holiday season to the next with the right care.

Cyclamen
Cyclamens come in red, white, pink and purple varieties. The plant’s interesting “upside-down” blooms and dark green leaves make it a unique holiday addition that pairs well with decorative pots or vessels. Although beautiful, cyclamen can be toxic to animals and people — be conscientious when considering this plant as a gift for someone. Cyclamen flowers bloom primarily from December through May, and are best taken care of with a two-week watering cycle, moist soil and indirect sunlight. 

Rosemary
Lovely to keep in the kitchen, rosemary provides a festive vibe, looking like a tiny Christmas tree on the counter. It has a fresh pine scent and adds flavor to pot roasts and other holiday meals. Rosemary sprigs are also trending touches to top off beautifully wrapped gifts — they can be twirled into decorative mini-wreaths or incorporated into ribbon creations. Keep rosemary thriving with sunlight and a fresh watering every few days for soil to stay moist.

Orchids
An Island favorite, orchids are elegant additions to holiday centerpieces and are great presents for the plant lovers on your list. Although fragile-looking, orchids are much stronger than you think. Plus, once they bloom, they’ll continue blooming for months. Orchids are relatively low-maintenance — recommended care includes bright, indirect light, watering once a week, and cool air. 

Nishi Juniper
Also known as Chinese Juniper, this evergreen plant is a hit with local families this time of year. The nishi juniper can be hand-decorated with festive ornaments and placed in a small pot. To care for this tree, provide it with moist soil and a good amount of full sunlight every day.

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This post was last updated on December 23, 2023 from an original post published on December 10, 2021.