A handy guide for buying Christmas flowers

Whether you’re sprucing up your home for the holidays, spreading some cheer to loved ones, or thanking a generous host for inviting you over, Christmas flowers are a great way to bring forth the season's spirit. But which type of Christmas flowers should you choose? Here's a handy guide to help.

[Photo Credit: iStock.com/svetikd]

The poinsettia is by far the most popular of all Christmas flowers and can be picked up in a variety of colours.

• Poinsettias come in red, of course, but they also come in pink, purple, yellow and orange.

Poinsettias are sold practically everywhere in December. You won't have trouble finding one that's healthy and full of blooms.

How to buy and care for a poinsettia

• The colourful part of the plant is not actually the flower, but a leaf. The plant’s flowers are the small bulbs in the centre of the plant. When buying a poinsettia make sure the bulbs are green or yellow – a sign of good health.
• Avoid overwatering poinsettia plants. They don’t dry out well and excess water makes the leaves fall off. If you've just bought a poinsettia plant and plan to give it as a gift in a few days, be careful about how much you water it.
• One of the poinsettia's biggest enemies is the cold. No matter where you're going – or when – don’t leave your poinsettia unattended in an unheated car for longer than 15 minutes.

The Christmas cactus is originally from South America and is always in season.

• It's easily identifiable by its long branches bearing lovely, intricate and colourful flowers at the end. It also has flat, fleshy leaves.
• Christmas cactus plants are easy-care and simple to propagate, if desired. In addition, the more sunlight they receive the more blooms they will generally produce.
• If properly cared for, Christmas cactus plants can last all year long. They can often be put outside in summer, too.

They have become more and more popular in recent years.

A very popular hostess gift is the amaryllis, whether it’s a potted bulb or in the form of cut flowers.

•  The flowering process takes about two or three weeks and results in some truly spectacular floral displays, so consider buying the plant in early December. That way it will flower just in time for Christmas.
• The huge flowers have stems measuring between 40 and 90 centimetres in length, depending on the variety, and they instantly light up a room.

The most traditional Christmas plant is, of course, the holly.

• With its spiky green leaves and iconic red berries, holly is a classic that never goes out of style.
• In some areas of the country, holly can actually be grown as a garden shrub.

Mistletoe is always a good choice, with its green leaves decorated with starry white marks and round white or red berries.

• If you have young children or pets, remember that the berries are poisonous and should not be eaten!

There's no better way to liven up your home for the holidays or express your heartfelt thanks than with some colourful, seasonal flowers. When fresh, holiday flowers should last well beyond December 25, some even going on into the summer.