Maybe you’re bored with the usual decorations for the holidays. Or maybe you’re looking into more sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions to celebrating the season with minimal costs.
Whatever your reason, we get how you want to elevate your mood as the time festivities draw closer. Here’s a list of holiday-houseplants that are perfect for jazzing up your home!
1. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●○○○ |
| Unique Features | Vibrant red bracts Symbol of the holiday season |
| Plant Type | Deciduous shrub, grown as a potted plant indoors |
Nothing is as holiday as the greens and reds (and sometimes pinks and whites) of the poinsettia plants! They do well in a sunny room but should be shielded from direct, strong sunlight.
Poinsettias grow slowly, especially when indoors. They usually peak during the holiday season.
2. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●○○○ |
| Unique Features | Stunning winter blooms Segmented leaf structure |
| Plant Type | Epiphytic, grows on trees or rocks in its native habitat |
There’s a reason why this plant is called the Christmas cactus! Vibrant greens, striking reds, and blooms prolifically during the holidays? Yes, it’s true.
Christmas Cacti do well in bright, indirect light so avoid direct sunlight, especially in summer. The ideal soil is well-draining and slightly acidic and a mix of potting soil and perlite is good.
3. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●○○○ |
| Unique Features | Resembles a mini Christmas tree |
| Plant Type | Evergreen conifer |
For that greenery all year round, go for this tiny holiday tree. Norfolk Island Pine does well in bright, indirect light.
This plant prefers well-draining soil, like a mix of peat, perlite, and pine bark. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
4. Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis baccifera)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Unique Features | Thin, trailing stems resembling mistletoe |
| Plant Type | Epiphytic, succulent cactus |
How about a low-maintenance hanging green plant that reminds you of mistletoe? The Mistletoe Cactus does well in low to medium light and can handle fluorescent light.
This cactus grows slowly, staying compact and suitable for hanging baskets. Plus, you won’t need to repot it frequently.
5. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Unique Features | Large, showy flowers Given as a holiday gift |
| Plant Type | Bulbous perennial |
With their trumpeting flowers, Amaryllis plants are like the floral heralds of the season. These plants grow well in bright indirect light, so avoid placing them in direct sun.
Amaryllis grows quite fast, especially when it’s actively growing. You should see flowers within a few weeks after planting.
6. Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●○○○ |
| Unique Features | Glossy, spiky leaves Bright red berries in winter |
| Plant Type | Evergreen shrub/tree |
This is definitely a Christmas plant, and we all know it. But you can always grow it the whole year for a bit of cheer even when the holidays aren’t near.
Holly grows well in both full and partial sun, making it suitable for various garden locations. It can also handle some shade but prefers more sunlight for optimal growth.
7. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●○○○ |
| Unique Features | Early winter bloomer Attractive evergreen foliage |
| Plant Type | Perennial herbaceous plant |
This low-growing evergreen produces beautiful flowers in the winter when other plants are dormant and hibernating – hence the name! It’s not truly a rose as it belongs to the buttercup family, but it does come in various colors like purple, pink, yellow, and white.
Christmas Rose is great for shaded gardens and prefers partial to full shade, especially in hot areas. It’s best when kept indoors, but you can grow it in pots and bring it in during the winter season.
8. Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Unique Features | Distinctive, colorful, butterfly-like flowers |
| Plant Type | Tuberous perennial |
If you’re bored and need a bit of a gardening challenge for a change, then the Cyclamen is for you. We have to admit, it’s better for intermediate to expert gardeners, but getting one to bloom is worth the effort!
Cyclamen likes indirect sunlight, so avoid direct sun. A windowsill with filtered light works well.
9. Christmas Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Unique Features | Vibrant, colorful blossoms in winter Succulent leaves |
| Plant Type | Succulent perennial |
Like the poinsettia and the Christmas cactus, this plant’s flowering is triggered by the shorter days of the season. Left alone, it tends to bloom in early spring but reducing the daylight hours causes it to bloom earlier.
Christmas Kalanchoe needs bright, indirect sunlight. Don’t put it in direct, harsh sunlight; it can harm the leaves.
10. Red Aglaonema
| Factors | Information or Description |
| Ease of Growing | Easy ●○○○○ |
| Unique Features | Striking, red and green variegated leaves |
| Plant Type | Evergreen, low-growing houseplant |
What can be more festive yet tropical in a plant with large leaves in green and red? Whether you’re in warmer regions or prefer to grow this as a year-round indoor plant, the Red Aglaonema will never fail to keep your space colorful and cheerful!
It’s pretty forgiving if you occasionally forget to water but it prefers to have the soil stay consistently moist. The Red Aglaonema grows slowly so it doesn’t overcrowd your space quickly, which is great for indoor settings.
