Christmas plants
Christmas plants are various flowers or vegetation from garden plants associated with the festive season of Christmas. There are many different plants used around the world during Christmas. Beyond Christmas flowers, there are also Christmas foods, and Christmas drinks, that use traditional plants. There are also a wide variety of plants that include "Christmas" in their common name.
Logs specifically are used in the following Christmas traditions:
- yule log from the United Kingdom
- Tio de Nadal from the Catalan region of Spain
- Chichilaki from European Georgia
- Badnjak or Veseljak from the Balkans
Other plants used in Christmas celebration:
- ivy (Hedera helix) because leaves symbolize eternity and resurrection
- mistletoe
- holly
- poinsettia
- radish; large radishes are carved and used for Noche de Rabanos in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
- olive branches for peace in the coming year (Israel)
- cattail or bulrush for prosperity (Taiwan)
- wheat sheaves for prosperity and plenty (Bulgaria)
- opium poppy pods (dried, yet still full of seed) for prosperity (Eastern Europe)
- pomegranates for prosperity (Middle East)
Christmas cactus, also known as orchid cactus, often blooms around Christmas time. There are a number of different cactus species sold as "Christmas cactus" including Schlumbergera opuntioides, Schlumbergera kautskyi, and Schlumbergera microsphaerica.
Christmas rose can be any of the following:
- Helleborus ssp., especially Helleborus niger
- a species of hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla
- Serissa foetida (also known as "snow rose" or "winter rose") originally from tropical regions of Asia; cultivated Serissa often blooms during the winter.
Christmas tree is applied to a number of plants:
- pōhutukawa tree in New Zealand, as its bright red flowers usually appear in December.
- Nuytsia floribunda (Australian Christmas tree)
- fir, spruce, pine, balsam or other evergreen trees decorated for Christmas
Christmas wreath as wreaths made from:
- spruce, pine or cedar branches
- pinecones from evergreen trees
- holly berries or branches
Christmas bush is used for:
- Correa, a genus of Australian plants with distinctive bell shaped
- Chromolaena odorata
- Ceratopetalum gummiferum - New South Wales Christmas bush, ornamental tree.[1]
- Prostanthera lasianthos - Victorian Christmas bush.[2]
Christmas bells is applied to:
- Sandersonia ssp. A genus of South African plants.
- Blandfordia ssp., including Blandfordia punicea, known as the Tasmanian Christmas bell.
- Alstromeria pittacina, known as the New Zealand Christmas bell
Other plants with "Christmas" in their name include:
- "Christmas costus" (Costus chartaceus)
- "Christmas fern" (Polystichum acrostichoides)
- "Christmas moss" (Vesicularia montagnei)
References
- ↑ "Ceratopatalum gummiferum". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ↑ ANBG staff (10 November 2015) [1973]. "Prostanthera lasianthos Victorian Christmas Bush". Growing Native Plants. (online version at www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National Botanic Gardens, Australian Government. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
