What is the origin of the Holly?
Surprisingly, while holly is a traditional Christmas plant, its origins date back to the Druids, who thought the plant represented everlasting life. Christians adopted the plant as a symbol of Jesus’ promise of everlasting life.
What is the most popular flower for Christmas?
Poinsettia – Perhaps the most recognizable flower for Christmas is the poinsettia. Originally sold with bright red and green leaves (the “flowers” are actually leaves on the plant), poinsettias today are sold in a wide variety of colors and patterns.
What are the colors of amaryllis?
Typically, the red varieties of amaryllis are sold for the holidays, but they come in colors ranging from red to white to pink to orange and petals that are solid, striped, or speckled in all of these colors. Christmas Cactus – The Christmas cactus is so named because it is thought to naturally bloom at Christmas time.
What color do apricots grow?
They naturally grow in a range of colors from white to pink to red with solid or speckled leaves, but sellers now dye or paint them many other colors and may even add sparkles. Amaryllis – Amaryllis is another popular holiday plant.
What is the Christmas holiday?
The Christmas holiday is a time for beauty and good cheer and nothing helps bring beauty and good cheer like beautiful flowers for Christmas. There are a few standard Christmas plants and flowers that you may like for your home this holiday.
Is Christmas a tropical plant?
Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical plants. This means that the care of these Christmas plants is more like caring for a houseplant than a plant meant for the cold and snow. All of the Christmas plant types listed below should be treated as tender plants and should not be left where cold drafts could blow on them.
Is rosemary a holiday plant?
Rosemary – While the rosemary plant is a lesser known holiday plant, it is making a comeback in stores by being sold as a holiday plant. A few centuries ago, rosemary was a part of the Nativity story in that Baby Jesus’ clothes were dried on a rosemary bush.
What kind of tree is used for Christmas?
Under this category some of the most common trees used at Christmas time are the Colorado Blue Spruce, the Norway Spruce and the White Spruce. These trees have needles instead of leaves, but so do other types ...
What is boxwood used for?
Boxwood is often used for garland and wreaths, and unlike many other Christmas scents, it produces a fragrance that you’ ll either really love or really dislike. That said, it’s important that you figure out your feeling towards boxwood before using it in a wreath or other Christmas decoration around your home – you certainly want to have your house filled with scents that make you smile!
What is a juniper known for?
Junipers are known for their foliage (it’s usually short and green or silver blue) as well as the small blue berries that grow on them as well. Be careful if you touch a juniper’s needles though, as they are usually sticky! While they may smell good, your hands may not be thanking you after a close encounter.
What does holly symbolize?
Here’s a fun fact for you: prior to holly being used as a symbol of the Christmas season, the Druids viewed it as a sacred plant and thought of it to symbolize fertility and eternal life. Although other plants would die off thanks to winter weather conditions, holly continued to thrive!
What is mountain laurel used for?
For all of our readers in the south, you’re probably at least a little familiar with mountain laurel – we say this because it’s traditionally used in southern regions for garlands and wreaths! A piece of advice would be to stick with using laurel outdoors, as it typically thrives best in an outdoor environment – here, we’re thinking more along the lines of wreaths you may hang on the peaks of your home or on your doors.
Can Ivy be found in yards?
Ivy can be found in a number of different Christmas arrangements , and it can be pretty easy to find in yards as it is! However, if you choose to use this green this Christmas, keep in mind that it does require a bit of maintenance in order to retain its beauty – specifically, you’ll need to make sure that the cut ends are constantly kept in water.
What are cranberries used for?
A festive favorite for centuries, cranberries are some of the plants used for the festive season. Native Americans used to mash up the fruit and mix it with dried deer meat and fat to make pemmican, a mixture that was considered a highly nutritious food during winter. Dutch and German settlers from the “New World” planted the first crop of cranberries. The fruit was used to create a natural dye for clothes, blankets and other fabrics. Now, cranberries are often found as a key-ingredient for the Christmas feast, in sauces and refreshing beverages.
What is the color of a Christmas tree?
5. Amaryllis. Red amaryllis are usually found in various Christmas centerpieces, but the plant can also be found in a wide range of colors, varying from white and pink, to orange, and in different patterns, including one that is very similar to a candy cane.
Why is the Poinsettia tree called the Christmas star?
Poinsettia is also known as “The Christmas Star”, because its leaves turn red around the holiday season. Poinsettia is known to have been originally cultivated by the Aztecs in the Mexican wetlands. They used this plant to get red dye and to fight against fever.
How many species of holly berries are there in the world?
Holly berries that are used for decoration purposes around Christmas time are produced by approximately 400 species of holly ( Ilex) that are growing in the wild all over the world. However, 80 Ilex species are currently threatened with extinction in the wild and are part of several programs designed to promote the conservation of this plant.
What is the most common houseplant in the Southern Hemisphere?
Christmas celebrated in the Southern hemisphere is quite warm, so don’t expect to see much snowy trees, even if it’s just artificial snow. A certain species of cactus, called Schlumbergera is a common houseplant in Africa, Australia and in some countries from Latin America.
Why is ivy considered an invasive plant?
Sometimes, it’s considered to be an invasive plant species, because it doesn’t require much to grow fast. However, ivy is also very useful because its nectar provides food for more than 70 species of insects and its berries are eaten by 16 bird species.
Why is the Christmas Lily called the Christmas Lily?
It is also known as the “Christmas Lily” because it blooms exactly during the holiday season if it has been properly cared for. Mistletoe. 6. Mistletoe. Asides from the well-known tradition of kissing under the mistletoe at New Year, the plant has been associated with love, peace and goodwill.
How long does it take for paperwhites to bloom?
All you have to do is put the bulbs in a container of water and gravel, and wait for them to sprout. They take about four to six weeks from planting to blooming, so plan to start them in November for a Christmas bloom. As soon as roots start to develop, move the container to a sunny window.
How tall is a camellia?
Camellia is an evergreen shrub with an oval to pyramidal shape that reaches roughly 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. It features dark green foliage and bears flowers in the winter in some climates. The Yuletide variety in particular has bright red blooms that look especially festive for the Christmas season. Plan to fertilize annually in the spring to keep your plant vigorous, and prune as needed after flowering for size and shape.
What is the meaning of "Kiss under the mistletoe"?
It's tradition to kiss under the mistletoe during the holidays, but this parasitic plant that attaches itself to host branches of other plants has a bittersweet story behind it.
What is a yew tree?
However there's a fascinating and long history behind the tree. The yew is said to be one of the oldest trees on Earth. The ancient Druids looked to the yew tree as a symbol of everlasting life , honoring it as a sacred plant. Throughout European history, yews were planted in churchyards to symbolize a long life. As a precaution, keep a yew tree outdoors because it's toxic to animals and humans.
What is the best Christmas plant to grow?
Ivy for Growth. Ivy , with its festive star-like leaves, is another Christmas plant known to ward off evil spirits as bad luck, as well as symbolize new growth. Ivy is a popular way to decorate Christmas wreaths, and it keeps green throughout the year.
Why do people use holly?
Holly for Good Luck. The ancient Romans and Greeks were the first to deck their halls with boughs of holly. Holly bushes always stay green and need little to no maintenance, even during the harshest winters. It's holly's enduring characteristic which made the ancients believe the bush was sacred.
What does holly symbolize?
In ancient Christian symbolism, holly symbolized masculinity and ivy symbolized femininity. In modern times, ivy is used as an invasive landscaping plant. When pulled from the ground, it can be used to wind around holiday decor, but keep the fresh vines outdoors because some species may be too toxic to keep indoors.
What is the name of the plant with yellow flowers?
Poinsettia. Getty Images. Poinsettias are nearly as classic as Christmas movies! "Choose plants that have little yellow flowers, called cyathia, in the center of the colored leaves," says Gary Vollmer, product and technical manager with Selecta North America, a poinsettia breeder.
How to kill a sage plant?
Water when dry to the touch. "The most reliable way to kill them is root rot from overwatering," says Vollmer. Remove the foil or pot cover (or poke holes in it) that's around the plant when you buy to ensure it's not sitting in water. Water sparingly, then let drain completely in the sink.
Why do my succulents have buds?
Flower buds that drop before opening may be caused by warm temperatures or overly dry soil. Water when dry, but don't let the plant sit in water. "They're a succulent and the pads get soft and mushy if you overwater," says Pollak. Check pot every seven to 10 days.
How to keep a sage plant from dropping?
Give them bright, indirect light. They generally prefer it on the cooler side indoors. Avoid sudden temperature changes, which causes buds to drop. Water once a week until water comes out the bottom of the pot (they're usually planted in a soil-less planting medium).
How long does it take for a hypeastrum to bloom?
Prized for their ability to bloom indoors, these exotic-looking flowers (technically of the genus Hippeastrum) bloom about four to six weeks after you plant the bulb. Some varieties send up the flower first before the foliage.
How to promote flowering next year?
Your call! To promote flowering next year, place in a bright window after the holidays. After April 1, remove the colored leaves (called bracts). Shape as needed by pinching tips until early August. Feed every two weeks with a standard fertilizer. In September, move to a room where it gets only Mother Nature's light with absolutely zero artificial light after sunset. In early October, move back to your regular living area, and cross your fingers.
How to keep orchids in the summer?
Keep! Keep in a east or west window. Feed with a specific orchid fertilizer. Water regularly but in late summer, let the leaves dry out or wrinkle a bit to trigger the plant setting new buds. Once you see a new stem, start watering again but stop fertilizing.
What is the poisonous substance in daffodils?
Amaryllis contains a toxin called lycorine, which is most concentrated in the bulb of the plant. This is the same toxin that is present in daffodil bulbs. Eating bulb tissue (or a very large amount of leaf or flower tissue) can cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and convulsions.
Why is yew a bad plant?
It's sometimes used for this purpose. Using the plant in Christmas decorations is a bad idea because it's very poisonous for people, pets, horses, and livestock. Interestingly, as is the case for holly berries, some wild animals feed on yew arils without being poisoned.
What is the color of coleus?
Some have a lovely mixture of red and green—the Christmas colors. The colors are arranged in a variety of interesting patterns. Plant breeders are creating lots of new and very appealing varieties of coleus.
What is the scientific name for a poinsettia?
The scientific name of the poinsettia is Euphorbia pulcherrima. The plant grows as a shrub or small tree. The red "petals" are actually bracts, which are specialized leaves that surround a flower. The flower of the poinsettia is small and pale in color.
What color are ivy leaves?
The leaves are usually dark green but may also be green and yellow, which is a popular color combination in cultivated ivy. The flowers are small and yellow-green in color and are borne in clusters.
What is the most common Christmas plant?
The species that is most commonly associated with Christmas is the European mistletoe, or Viscum album. This plant has paired, oval leaves and yellow-green flowers. In the fall and winter, the plant bears clusters of white berries that have a waxy appearance.
What is the name of the wild holly?
I admire wild holly on my walks instead of bringing it home. Where I live, the wild species is Ilex aquifolium, or English holly. It's an attractive plant, but it's classified as invasive in British Columbia.
What is the name of the rose that blooms later?
The closely related Lenten rose ( Helleborus orientalis ), blooming later, with cream to purplish flowers in clusters of two to six, is popular in Europe. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello, Assistant Editor.
How big are the flowers of the savanna?
The striking flowers, of five coloured sepals, are 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) across, are whitish to pinkish green, and appear during the winter, often at Christmas, in mild climates and in late spring in colder areas. Improved varieties include “Altifolius,” somewhat taller, and “Potter’s Wheel,” with broader sepals.
What is the reproductive structure of angiosperms?
flower, the characteristic reproductive structure of angiosperms. As popularly used, the term “flower” especially applies when part or all of the reproductive structure is distinctive in colour and form. In their range of colour, size, form, and anatomical arrangement, flowers present…
What are leaves in plants?
leaf, in botany, any usually flattened green outgrowth from the stem of a vascular plant. As the primary sites of photosynthesis, leaves manufacture food for plants, which in turn ultimately nourish and sustain all land animals. Botanically, leaves are an integral part of the stem system. They are attached by…
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Where do Ranunculaceae live?
Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family (order Ranunculales), comprising about 2,252 species in 62 genera of flowering plants, mostly herbs, which are widely distributed in all temperate and subtropical regions . In the tropics they occur mostly at high elevations. The leaves are usually alternate and stalkless and…
Do Christmas roses bloom in the greenhouse?
The Christmas rose flourishes in moist soil and partial shade in mild climates or in protected locations in colder areas and is sometimes forced to bloom in the greenhouse.
