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20 Best Christmas Plants to Make Your Home Look Festive
They also make great hostess gifts.
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Earlier sunsets and dropping temperatures aren't the conditions we usually associate with the growing beautiful greenery and flowers. Plenty of light, a temperate climate, and water that isn't frozen top the list of things plants need to thrive. Thankfully, Mother Nature provides for us every season of the year, and while the flower buds outside may not be blooming, there are plenty of gorgeous indoor plants and winter flowers that look their best when it's cold out. These 20 beautiful Christmas plants can serve as holiday decorations now and satisfy your green thumb 365 days a year.
While poinsettias are the classic holiday flowers, they aren't everyone's thing (and they're toxic to pets). Whether you're looking for a safe houseplant that looks just as Christmassy or one that's a bit more subdued, you're in luck. There are plenty of winter houseplants that aren't quite so on the nose, such as the rubber fig or a rosemary bush (which will also come in handy when you're prepping your holiday meals). If you do want to fill your space with on-theme Christmas plants, you'll find plenty of those here too, like holly, a Christmas cactus, or even candy cane sorrel.
Searching for the perfect gifts for the plant lovers in your life? You'll be able to pull so many ideas from our list that it'll feel like Santa came early. Below, find thriving Christmas plants that'll make any space feel magical year-round.
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Christmas Fern
This leafy green owes its name to its vibrant color, which doesn't fade a bit during the holidays. The Christmas fern is a low-maintenance plant, but it does require a shady habitat and consistently damp, well-draining soil. These plants can grow quite large, so they're perfect for a roomy den with north-facing windows.
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Norfolk Island Pine
This ornamental plant can thrive in an indoor climate, since it's able to adapt from its native Mediterranean climate to a drier, warmer atmosphere. In the winter time, it's best to mist this plant, water it sparingly, and keep it in a heated room. It's not going to give you a vibrant blossom, but it will be the perfect living decoration for the holidays.
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Peace Lily
Steer clear of this plant if you have dogs or cats—though elegant and beautiful, the peace lily is toxic to our furry friends! The main factor for growth is the amount of light this lily gets. Though it doesn't do well outside in the cold, it can bloom year-round as long as it gets enough sun, high humidity, and moist soil.
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Rubber Fig
The Ficus Elastica is known for its broad, beautiful leaves with a glossy finish. Since it thrives in temperate climate (i.e., above 55 degrees Fahrenheit), this fig tree does great indoors. Just place it somewhere with medium-to-high light exposure and keep its soil relatively dry—overwatering can cause those shiny leaves to fall off.
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Anthurium
Add some holiday spirit to your windowsill with this sunshine lover, which thrives in high humidity. The vibrant blossom's broad, crimson spathes and deep-green leaves give off serious Christmas vibes.
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Bleeding Heart Vine
Showcasing balloon-like white flowers with dainty red corollas, this prolific vine blooms for months, so it'll shower your indoor garden with festive cheer well into the new year!
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Poinsettia
It may be the signature Christmas plant now, but these red petals didn't always dominate the holidays. One clever florist figured out how to take this plant from gangly weed to festive favorite back in the 1920s. By sending free poinsettias to television stations in December, his family business made it a seasonal standby.
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Holly
Growing up to 50 feet tall (!), holly bushes don't exactly belong inside. However, little shrubs or wreaths can pep up your home. Either way, only female varieties will produce the bright red berries.
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Christmas Rose
Nope, this isn't your traditional red rose. In fact, hellebores don't belong to the rose family at all. The perennial plants earn their Christmas ties because of an old European legend.
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Amaryllis
If you receive one of these slender gems this season, don't toss the pot once the flower fades. Store the bulb in a cool, dark place, and soon it'll be ready to put on another show.
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Mistletoe
Pucker up! Mistletoe has been associated with a friendly smooch since the 18th century, with Victorians solidifying the tradition. According to legend, if you refuse a kiss, you'll be cursed with bad luck!
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Candy Cane Sorrel
These petite, trumpet-shaped beauties look just as sweet as the holiday treat they're named after. The whimsical perennials are best grown in full sun or partial shade, so park them by a sunny window or your front door.
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Paperwhites
Growing these fragrant, tall flowers is as simple as adding water. Nestle narcissus bulbs in a dish with stones, and a little H2O will do the rest.
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Christmas Cactus
The succulent trend does not die come wintertime. This popular houseplant, also called the Thanksgiving cactus, hits the market just in time for the holidays. The "linked" segments look interesting on their own, but the leaf-like pads also produce white, pink, red or purple flowers. Give yours the right soil and amounts of sun, and it'll last well into the new year.
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Rosemary
If you've got no room for a six-foot-tall fir, a potted herb might do the trick. Florists often shear the fragrant sprigs into a tree-shaped cone to serve as a sweet-smelling Christmas topiary.
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Cyclamen
These signature upswept petals pop up in grocery stores every winter, and with their pretty silver foliage, what's not to love? While cyclamen also comes in white, pink and purple, stick to the crimson variety if extra holiday cheer is what you're after.
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Pansies
Especially in a deep shade of red, pansies are a surprising but still perfectly festive floral for the holidays, whether grown indoors or out. Pansies can still thrive in cooler climates, according to Almanac—they can even bounce back after a frost.
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Phalaenopsis Orchid
This winter-blooming beauty is a great way to add a pop of color to your home when it's cold and dreary out. Make sure it gets plenty of light (but not direct, scorching sunlight) and keep it in an area that stays between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and you'll have a happy orchid all holiday season.
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Pear Tree
All that's missing is a partridge. Okay, so a pear tree might not be a winter plant, but it is a part of one of the most iconic holiday songs of all time, so it makes the cut in our book. If you do want a pear tree, here's how to care for it.
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Christmas Tree
And of course, the Christmas tree. You could go the fake or the alternative tree route, but there's something special about a fresh-smelling Christmas tree. The best-selling evergreens come Christmas time include balsam, Douglas and Fraser firs.
Kate McGregor
Former Digital Editor
Kate McGregor is the former Digital Editor at House Beautiful, where she wrote countless stories on home renovation costs, design inspiration, and plant care. After years of experience writing commerce and search-optimized content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often inspire people’s spaces. She previously worked as the Assistant Market Editor at ELLE Decor where she identified top products and brands in the industry and interviewed emerging designers on their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
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