Christmas plants
2024-11-11T10:50:00+11:00
Here are some popular flowering plants that are synonymous with Christmas time.
The festive season always exerts a strong influence on culture, finding expression through food, events, music, books, films and, of course, plants. These summer-blooming plants have Christmas as part of their common names and each will bring a spirit of celebration to any home.
NSW Christmas bush
(Ceratopetalum gummiferum)
NSW Christmas bush (pictured above) is a rounded shrub that can reach small tree size. It occurs naturally in New South Wales, on coastal slopes with sandy-based soils. Clusters of small, creamy-white flowers appear in spring, followed by long-lasting bracts that colour pinky-red by Christmas. The trifoliate leaves are also decorative. This plant hates clay but new dwarf forms such as ‘Johanna’s Christmas’ grow happily in well-drained pots. Prune after flowering and feed with blood and bone or a native fertiliser. It grows 1–5m tall and 1–3m wide. It is suitable for growing in subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.
Christmas bells
(Blandfordia spp.)
The red and yellow bell flowers of B. grandiflora rise on slender stems from grassy clumps, lighting up the bush at Christmas in their home habitat in eastern NSW and Queensland. B. punicea (Tas), B. cunninghamii (NSW) and B. nobilis (NSW) are all similar. Nectar-feeding birds and insects love them. People do, too, although over-enthusiastic harvesting has endangered natural populations. The plants can be fickle but it’s worth trying them in pots of well-drained potting mix or raised beds with sandy soil. It is suitable for growing in subtropical, warm temperate and cold temperate climates.
Christmas orchid
(Calanthe triplicata)
The genus name Calanthe means ‘beautiful flower’ and these native orchids certainly fit this description. The fragrant, nodding white flowers crowd together at the top of tall stems, while the dark green ribbed leaves can reach up to 1m. Mostly ground-dwelling, these east coast rainforest plants also grow in leaf litter-filled logs, so they’re happy potted into leaf mulch or bark. Their main requirements are shade, good watering and excellent drainage. It is suitable for growing in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates.
Header image by iStock
