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Five favourites - Christmas plants

Five favourites - Christmas plants

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 8 December 2021 at 11:24 am

Florist and gardener Shilpa Reddy shares her favourite Christmas plants to grow

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Shilpa Reddy

What I look for in a Christmas plant is colour, texture, aroma, cheer and a healthy dose of nostalgia. For me, a bright colour is really important to forget about the dark nights and low temperatures, but I also love traditional plants with berries, such as holly and mistletoe.

Shilpa's five favourite Christmas plants
Make a Handmade Christmas wreath with Shilpa Redddy
Listen to Shilpa make a wreath on the BBC Gardeners' World Podcast.

Euphorbia pulcherrimum

Euphorbia pulcherrimum

I love poinsettia at Christmas because it reminds me of happy past Christmases. I love the boldness of the star-shaped leaves and, although red is the most common, other colours such as pinks and creams have been created in recent years. It makes a great Christmas house plant, lasting well into the New Year and bringing cheer and colour throughout the winter. It also loves being inside in a warm, cosy environment.

How to care for poinsettias

Cyclamen hederifolium

Cyclamen

Miniature cyclamen

I have chosen cyclamen because of its versatility to be kept either indoors or outdoors. I love the delicate flowers on cyclamens, which often appear before the leaves. Whether you choose a plant with pretty pink or vivid dark red flowers, they will add some much-needed winter colour to your home, and are easy to grow and care for. Cyclamen are great for Christmas time as they cope really well with cool temperatures.

Viscum album

Mistletoe

Viscum album

I would also choose mistletoe because, for me, it is quintessentially a Christmas plant that sparks comments, jokes and even the odd kiss! I love how it makes people feel, spreading love and joy with its clusters of translucent white berries. Mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic shrub, so you benefit from two plants by growing it with a host tree, but you only have to water one. Impress your guests with your homegrown mistletoe.

Ilex aquifolium

Holly wreath

Holly has an enduring quality about it that is always associated with Christmas and is the official birth flower for December. I love how its berries contrast perfectly with its dark leathery green leaves. You can grow holly in a shrub border and it also makes an excellent hedge. Holly is the perfect partner for other Christmas plants in decorations and wreaths as it adds just enough colour to bring a piece to life.

Araucaria heterophylla

Norfolk Island Pine Photo: Getty Images

Araucaria heterophylla Photo: Getty Images

A Norfolk Island Pine makes an excellent choice as a Christmas plant as it can be used in Christmas decorations or as a stand-alone Christmas tree in a hall or kitchen where space is limited. I love the hardiness of this plant; it is happy indoors, outdoors or a combination of both. These plants are easy to grow, provided they have enough humidity. Decorate with tinsel or baubles for a greener Christmas decoration.

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