You’ve adorned your home with live trees, stunning wreaths, and elegant holiday decorations—now it’s time to enhance your decor with vibrant plants and flowers. While no Christmas decor feels complete without a few bright poinsettias, they’re not the only option for adding a splash of festive color.
Before we reveal our top picks, keep in mind that some Christmas plants and flowers are seasonal treats, whereas others, like the holiday cactus, can thrive for years or even decades with proper care. Some are suited for indoors, while others can be planted outdoors in the spring for a lasting reminder of the holiday season.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite holiday plants and flowers that are great for inexperienced plant owners beyond the typical red poinsettia. If watering isn’t your strong suit or if you’re trying to minimize holiday chores, stick with the plants labeled for beginner plant enthusiasts. Whichever route you choose, now is the perfect time to plan—or should we say plant?—your holiday decor!
Amaryllis
The amaryllis is a stunning flower with trumpet-like blooms that come in shades of red, white, pink, and even striped varieties. It’s available in kits that include a large bulb (sometimes as big as a softball), potting soil, and a pot. To plant, position your bulb in a well-lit window and refrain from watering until you see green shoots. Once they appear, water whenever the soil is dry. You can expect blooms in four to six weeks, and this bulb is known for blooming annually over several years.
Holiday Cactus
Commonly seen during the festive season, the so-called Christmas cactus is often a Thanksgiving cactus, which is more widespread in stores. To distinguish between the two, note that a Christmas cactus has rounded leaf segments, while a Thanksgiving cactus features pointed ones. However, both varieties require similar care—bright, indirect light and watering when the topsoil feels slightly dry. With proper care, these plants can thrive for decades.
Cyclamen
This charming tabletop plant boasts heart-shaped leaves and delicate blooms in pink, white, or red. It thrives in bright, indirect light and needs water when the soil is dry on top. Cyclamen blooms for several weeks, after which you may choose to compost it. While it is possible to encourage reblooming, the foliage dies back during dormancy, making it a less appealing houseplant to maintain.
Paperwhite
Known for its strong fragrance—divisive yet undeniably appealing—this graceful white flower is grown from a bulb and usually sold in kits like amaryllis. Paperwhites bloom for a few weeks, needing direct light before blooming and indirect light afterward, with watering required when the soil’s top inch is dry. Once the blooms fade, compost the bulbs, as indoor forcing often depletes them, making reblooming unlikely.
Kalanchoe
This adorable succulent produces flowers that last for weeks. It prefers bright, indirect light and should be watered only when the soil is completely dry. After blooming, it’s best to compost the kalanchoe, as it requires complete darkness at night starting in the fall to bloom again the following year, similar to a poinsettia.
