For many, winter is a dreary time because most traditional flowers are not in bloom. That is not true of all flowers, though! Flowers that bloom during Christmas time are not common, but that does not mean that they do not exist. Check out this list of flowers that bloom during the winter and Christmas time!
Poinsettia
The Poinsettia is one of the most traditional and common Christmas time flowers with its striking leaves. Many people choose the Poinsettia as a gift during the holidays. While you may be most familiar with the bush-like plant in a plastic pot, the Poinsettia is actually native to Mexico and grows as a large shrub in its native environment.
Red is the most popular color of Poinsettia, but you can also find it in cream, white, and pink. Some stores even add glitter to the plants for an extra pop of color.
Winter Pansies
Winter Pansies are commonly used as outdoor bedding for colder months. Winter Pansies tolerate cool and cold weather but may not be able to withstand extremely harsh winters. Your Winter Pansies will bloom in late winter – around Christmas if you’re lucky! – with shades of blue, purple, red, and even yellow.
Unlike other common types of flowers, you will see that Winter Pansies will die off in the summer (rather than the winter!) and will need to be removed if they are planted outside.
Holly
Yet another common holiday plant – but with a twist. Holly plants bloom with white flowers in the spring and summer but have beautiful red berries in the winter time. You won’t see flowers on this one during the winter time, but you can’t help to see the colors.
Just remember: you’ll need both female and male plants to have proper Holly plants!
Amaryllis
Most of us know Amaryllis plants because they come as pre-packaged bulbs. The flower blooms for about a week at the end of a long stalk. Amaryllis flowers may not be around long, but the height and color of the plants are sure to leave you wishing to see the flowers all year long.
Amaryllis flowers come in a variety of different shades of red, including pink, rose, and burgundy.
Snowdrops
Snowdrops may signal the coming end of winter but are beautiful nonetheless. Snowdrops’ flowers harken to the name. Green stems sprout from the ground and produce small, teardrop-shaped white flowers. Snowdrops are incredibly hardy and can survive in temperatures as low as 30 below zero!
Snowdrops grow surprisingly easily. They will multiply by themselves and come back year after year if grown under the proper conditions.
Witch Hazel
Did you know that Witch Hazel is a flower, not simply a facial product? Witch Hazels bloom as early as the end of December but most will begin to bloom in January. The color and bloom time of the Witch Hazel will largely depend on variety, but you can expect rust or yellow colored flowers that bloom sometime in late winter or early spring.
Some varieties of Witch Hazel include:
- The common Witch Hazel
- Chinese Witch Hazel
- Japanese Witch Hazel
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are most commonly referred to as mums and are known to be one of the more cold hardy varieties of flowers. Mums are almost as common as Poinsettia as the colder months come. Like many plants and flowers, sudden cold spells are enough to kill even hardy mums, but a gradual freeze will preserve mums until they begin to thaw out in spring. Mums come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so you’re sure to find a mum that suits your taste.
Christmas Orchid
Let’s get into some flowers that are named after the time they bloom! The Christmas Orchid blooms from October through February, so you’ll likely see its flowers during Christmas time. The flowers on a Christmas Orchid grow in pairs and showcase colors of white, yellow, blueish-white, pinkish-white, and even red.
Christmas Rose
Also known as the Lenten Rose, Christmas Roses bloom in late winter around Christmas. Christmas Roses are not red in color like a traditional rose, but the blooms on this plant are rose-shaped and are pink or purple. The stems and leaves of the plant are evergreen and form in clumps, so the Christmas Rose is a showstopper whether or not the flowers are in bloom.
Christmas Cactus
Christmas Cacti are one of the most popular in-home plants that bloom around Christmas time. Of all the plants on the list, the Christmas Cactus is probably one of the most difficult plants to get to bloom.
Keep in mind some of the following tips to get your Christmas Cactus to bloom in beautiful shades of red:
- Unlike other succulents, the Christmas Cactus is used to humid environments
- Cool nights at about 55 degrees
- 13 hours of uninterrupted darkness and then 15 hours of darkness
Camellia “Yuletide”
Yet another flower named for the season, the Camellia “Yuletide” blooms from fall to Spring. The Camellia has some of the darkest greens of any plant on this list. This is a perfect contrast to the bright red flowers with yellow centers that Camellia plants have.
This plant grows like a shrub, so the red and yellow flowers give the Camellia the feel of a Christmas tree. The flowers look like ornaments on a tree during the most festive time of the year!
