Christmas plants facts for kids
Christmas plants are special flowers and plants used to celebrate the Christmas season. Around the world, many different plants are part of Christmas traditions. Besides Christmas trees and Christmas flowers, some plants are also used in Christmas foods and drinks. You might even find plants with "Christmas" right in their name!
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Plants Around the World
Africa
South Africa
In South Africa, a plant called Sandersonia ssp. is sometimes known as the Christmas Bell.
Asia
India
For Christmas celebrations in India, people might use decorative plants like Viscum, Lycopodium cernuum, and Acanthus ilicifolius.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Monterey Cypress trees are often chosen as Christmas trees. They have a nice cone shape and stay fresh for a long time after being cut.
Thailand
Trees used as Christmas trees in Thailand include monkey puzzle trees, Casuarina equisetifolia, and C. junghuhniana.
Europe
Across Europe, some plants are very popular for Christmas decorations and have special meanings. These include ivy, mistletoe, and holly. Ivy leaves are often seen as a symbol of forever and new life.
Christmas wreaths first started in Europe. They are usually made with:
Balkans
In the Balkan region, there's a tradition called badnjak or budnik. This involves bringing a tree, tree branches, or a log into the home and burning it. The exact tradition can be a little different in countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, and Serbia.
Caucasus
Georgia
The chichilaki is a special Georgian Christmas tree. It's made from dried hazelnut or walnut branches that are shaved and shaped like a tree. People might decorate them with small fruits and berries.
Western Europe
Some common plants used for decorating in this part of Europe include English holly, winterberry, witch hazel, and Nordmann fir. These are often used in decorative sprays. Sometimes, lichens and mosses are used to make garlands.
Germany
In Germany, special plants for Christmas sprays include acacia leaves and cone-bearing branches from Douglas firs.
Ireland
Traditional Christmas plants used for decoration in Ireland include holly, mistletoe, and poinsettias. You might also see plants like Jerusalem cherry, English ivy, and potted azaleas.
Spain
Tió de Nadal is a fun tradition from the Catalan region of Spain. It involves a log that is propped up and given a face. If the children in the home take good care of the log, it will "poop" presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day!
United Kingdom
In the UK, some plants used for wreaths and sprays are English holly, cherry laurel, and Portugal laurel.
The yule log is a tradition from many Germanic countries that has also become popular in the UK.
An older tradition involves bringing potted cherry or hawthorn trees indoors so they can bloom around Christmastime.
North America
The Christmas Cactus is called that because it flowers around Christmas. It's originally from Brazil but is a popular houseplant in North America. Some types include Schlumbergera opuntioides, Schlumbergera kautskyi, and Schlumbergera microsphaerica.
Caribbean
Historically, the Caribbean pine has been the most popular Christmas tree in the Caribbean. Other festive flowering plants used for decoration include poinsettia, Porana pamiculala, and Antigonon leptopus.
Mexico
Poinsettias are famous Christmas flowers that originally came from Mexico and its Central American neighbors.
Radishes are a big part of a Christmas season tradition called Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes). This event happens on December 23rd in Oaxaca City, Mexico. During this special night, people carve large radishes into amazing and detailed scenes.
United States
Christmas trees and wreaths were brought to the United States by European settlers and immigrants. The type of tree used for these traditions changes depending on the region. On the west coast, the Douglas fir has often been the top choice for Christmas trees, while in the Appalachian mountains, the Fraser fir is more popular.
In California, wreaths have been made from coast redwood and hollyleaf cherry. Plants used in decorations include Christmas-berry, cypress, firethorn, and pepper-tree. In southern California, you might also see citrus plants, eucalyptus, magnolias, and poinsettias used for decoration.
In Texas and Louisiana, decorative plants include Christmas fern, chrysanthemums, holly, American mistletoe, and poinsettias. In the past, Spanish moss and ball moss might be dipped in flour when wet. Once dry, they looked like snowball decorations!
In the southeastern United States, decorative plants include camellias, holly, mistletoe, privet, quince, and Magnolia grandiflora. Wreaths and sprays might be made from the longleaf pine and the Australian pine.
Along the Gulf Coast, several types of palms are used as decorations. These include Sabal palmetto, the royal palm, Washingtonia robusta, and Phoenix canariensis.
Oceania
Australia
In Australia, the name Tasmanian Christmas Bell is given to Blandfordia ssp., including Blandfordia punicea.
Several different plants in Australia are called Christmas Bush, such as:
- Correa, a group of Australian plants with bell-shaped flowers.
- Chromolaena odorata
- Ceratopetalum gummiferum - the New South Wales Christmas bush, an ornamental tree.
- Prostanthera lasianthos - the Victorian Christmas bush.
Some plants in Australia are known as Christmas trees or used as them. These include Nuytsia floribunda and the Norfolk Island Pine. The Norfolk Island Pine is often sold in Australian stores during Christmas as a "Living Christmas tree."
New Zealand
The Pōhutukawa is sometimes called the New Zealand Christmas Tree. It has bright red flowers that usually appear in December.
Alstroemeria pulchella, known as the New Zealand Christmas bell, is a popular ornamental plant during the Christmas season.
Other Christmas Plants
Christmas tree is a name given to several plants:
- Fir, spruce, pine, balsam, or other evergreen trees that are decorated for Christmas.
- Pinus pinea or the Italian Stone Pine, which is often sold in stores as a potted live plant.
Christmas rose can refer to different plants:
- Helleborus ssp., especially Helleborus niger.
- A type of hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla.
- Serissa foetida (also known as "snow rose" or "winter rose"). This plant is from tropical parts of Asia and often blooms in winter when grown.
Other plants with "Christmas" in their name include:
- "Christmas costus" (Costus chartaceus)
- "Christmas moss" (Vesicularia montagnei)
