Christmas is a time for lights, ornaments, packages with pretty ribbon, yummy cookies.  There’s also a place for fresh, fragrant, beautiful flowers and greens in your decor and some are particularly identified with winter and the holidays. 

FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS

The most recognizable holiday flower is the poinsettia.  Red, white or even pink, they are readily available and affordable.  A standard use is to buy one or two to place on the floor by the front door.  That’s nice and gives an instant feeling of Christmas, but there’s so much more you can do.  If you’ve got the room, use poinsettias in masses (and vary the heights a little for interest).  Four or five or nine or ten will really make a dramatic statement.

In my florist days, we used to go through cans and cans of spray glitter because we spritzed almost every poinsettia we sent out.  It really adds an inexpensive touch of glam to a common plant.  Try painting just the tips and edges of the petals with a bit of gold or silver metallic paint (use a little foam brush); tuck in some branches of evergreens, hang paper snowflakes and of course finish off the basket or container with a beautiful bow that works with your theme.

Paperwhites are another traditional winter floral.  Grown as a bulb, they are delicate in appearance but robust in fragrance.  I love these little flowers but there’s a warning …. their scent is so strong it gives me a headache sometimes!  A basket on each end of a mantel or hearth, wrapped in a wide red ribbon would look traditional and festive.  Display a cluster of them in the middle of the dining table raised on a cake plate and lightly spritzed with glitter spray. 

Amaryllis are a lily-like bloom that is large and dramatic (blooms can be up to 10″ across!).  Another bulb plant, they can be grown in potting soil, but they are often shown in a clear bowl with just pebbles … either way, for maximum bloom life, don’t water the top of the bulb!  These make a great gift for a touch of holiday cheer in a home.  Mostly seen in red, there are actually lots of colors and varieties available (over 100), so shop around a little for something different.  They can be displayed much like the paperwhites….or do you have another idea?

Dramatic Amaryllis.

GREENS TO USE IN YOUR DECORATING

We’re all familiar with pine or fir: the “traditional” evergreen branch.  It’s seen in floral arrangements, in garlands, on mantels and hearths, in wreaths and of course many Christmas trees are pine.  There are lots of other greens that can add a twist to a holiday look or enhance your traditional one.

Traditional options include blue spruce, noble fir, ponderosa pine (did you see Cindy’s tree??), cypress, and cedar.  More unusual greens might include things like the usual spiral eucalyptus but the even prettier seeded eucalyptus, holly, shiny magnolia leaves, plumosa (delicate fern-like branches), or even ivy (spritzed with glitter or metallic paint of course).

Cypress and cedar are great greens to mix in with your pine.  They add a distinctive texture and have great draping growth so they soften the harder lines of pines and firs.

Long needles always add a very visible change in texture in arrangements, wreaths or garlands.  Used exclusively, they provide a more rustic look, but added to a mixture of greens they just add fabulous texture and color variety.

Holly is usually associated with Christmas and yet isn’t used often in arrangments and decorations.  One of the reasons it’s not used as much as you’d think is because real holly is prickly and good looking silk holly doesn’t seem to be readily available.  There are variegated varieties that are fabulous to use because they add that little edge of white in usually all green mixes – and who doesn’t love those red holly berries peeking through an arrangement?

Of all the greens I describe here, seeded eucalyptus is hands down my favorite.  A single branch is usually packed with leaves and ’seeds’ and can fill lots of spaces in arrangements.  It has a gorgeous draping quality, blue green leaves for a color contrast, lots of little green ’seeds’ for texture, and is hardy and extremely long lasting.  It holds metallic paint or glitter really well and fits in any style of decor.  It’s not as readily available as the more common greens though I occasionally see it in grocery stores, however most florists will carry it and you’ll just need a branch or two to complete your wreath, garland or centerpiece.

Plumosa is a lacy fern that is best fresh – I haven’t seen it available as a silk.  It’s pretty, delicate, has long stems so would work beautifully in a garland.  The downside to this green is that once it starts dying, it sheds like crazy.

Lastly, you might consider adding a broadleaf to your green mix.  Magnolia or camellia leaves are perfect – they’re relatively flat, nice and dark green and shiny for an excellent contrast of textures.

Hopefully this brief roundup of flowers and greens will help you identify something new to try and to spice up your holiday decorating.  Which idea appeals to you?  Do you have a favorite flower or green that makes your holidays complete?

REMINDER

A couple of reminders for you: 

• Subscribe to our blog this month and receive a free PDF downloadable guide, Wonderful Holiday Wreaths.  It’s full of step by step instructions and inspiration photos to help you create the wreath of your dreams.
• Send us a photo of your favorite ornament along with a few sentences about why it holds a special place in your heart.  Email us at solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com and we’ll randomly select a winner who will get a free pillow cover. (see more details and photo here)