Beyond Poinsettia: Holiday Plants for Indoors and Outdoors

Yes, poinsettias are a holiday classic.

But even in more interesting varieties like the white and red Jingle Bells, poinsettias can feel a little too expected. If you want to explore other options for holiday plants to adorn your home and garden, then check out our list. When you’re doing your holiday plant shopping, feel free to grab a poinsettia—and one or two of these other festive beauties.

 

Paperwhite Narcissus

Paperwhite narcissus makes a great gift at this time of the year. It’s easy to find them in gift-ready bulb kits designed for indoors. Your gift recipient can also plant paperwhites outdoors as well, but this needs to be done before the first winter frost, so it might be too late in most zones. To use them as holiday décor right away, choose a plant that has been forced to grow in a nursery and has clusters that are already blooming.

 

Amaryllis

Another beautiful bulb, amaryllis comes in other color varieties, but the most festive of these is the vibrant red. When planted in the fall, the bulb sprouts blooms in winter as opposed to spring, making it a holiday favorite. You can find them already blooming at your local nursery. Enjoy the pop of color indoors temporarily for the holidays, and then save and replant the bulb in late summer.

 

Norfolk Island Pine

The Norfolk Island pine is an easy find during the holidays. You can get this tree live and potted at your local nursery, and keep it potted as a mini Christmas tree or plant it outdoors. Wherever you decide to keep it, you can have fun adorning it with lights and ornaments during winter months and keep it bare in the other seasons.

 

Snowdrops

These pretty white flowers love cold winters, but don’t thrive as well in warmer climates. Snowdrops bulbs need to be planted in the late fall, so it’s not too late to enjoy them! They’ll be blooming in the heart of winter. Or look for ones already in bloom at your local nursery.

 

Dwarf Alberta Spruce

Another great option for a mini Christmas tree is a dwarf spruce. They’ll grow faster outdoors, so if you want to keep yours healthy, a long-term home outside in partial shade is ideal. To have an indoor plant you can enjoy holiday season after holiday season, simply leave it potted and bring it inside. If you keep your heater on very high, this tree will get too dry, so it’s best to keep it indoors only for about a month—the month of December of course!

 

Red Cyclamens

Bypass the pink and mauve varieties of cyclamens and go for the red with the shiny dark leaves. As ground cover, cyclamens are very hardy in cool climates and can bloom for weeks in the late fall. Tropical varieties are sold as houseplants. When planted in a red, white or silver planter, this beautiful vibrant flower makes for lovely holiday décor.

 

Peace Lily

The peace lily is a symbol of peace, hope and purity. A popular indoor plant, the peace lily is an excellent air-purifier and does best with medium to low lights. Fortunately for forgetful gardeners, it requires infrequent watering. Use live potted peace lily as part of an elegant centerpiece, holiday display or give it as a gift to a fellow plant-lover.

 

The holidays are a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, and there’s no better addition to the festivities than beautiful foliage. Add festive color stories to your outdoor space, or bring nature inside for those long winter months.

What are your favorite holiday plants? Let us know in the comments below.