Our favourite festive season plants, and how to grow them at home

The most common plants associated with Christmas are holly, mistletoe and poinsettia.

- Janine Ryan

Traditional Christmas plants are generally evergreen and easy to grow, which means you can do so at any time of the year.

In this article, we look at the basics of growing holly and poinsettia. We also give a brief history of mistletoe, but as it is a parasitic plant, we think it best not to purposefully grow the plant without consulting an expert, in order to avoid any damage to your crops or garden plants.

HOLLY 

Holly belongs to the genus Ilex, which comprises over 570 species. The species include evergreen or deciduous trees, as well as shrubs and climbers. They are generally slow-growing plants, and some species can reach heights of up to 25m. The genus is widespread and grows in numerous climates, from the tropics to more temperate regions.

Common holly (Ilex aquifolium) is used in Christmas decorations. This species has alternate, simple leaves. The leaves are also glossy, thick and leathery, and are well known for their spiky points and serrated edges.

The inconspicuous flower has four petals that are greenish-white in colour. They are generally dioecious, which means the male and female flowers are on separate plants.

The small fruits of Ilex are drupes, a fruit with a fleshy part or skin surrounding a pit. (Other drupes include almonds, mangoes and apricots.) However, they are often mistakenly referred to as berries. They range in colour from red to black, are toxic and must never be consumed.

The holly tree is a sacred symbol in Celtic mythology, and was considered the twin of the oak tree. "[...] the oak was the controller of the light half of the year, [while] the holly tree controlled the dark winter months", according to the Flower Kingdom website.

Celtic chieftains were also known to wear holly wreaths for good luck, and water from the branch of a holly tree was sprinkled over newborn babies to protect them.