The holiday season is visually defined by a vibrant palette of reds and greens, a tradition heavily influenced by specific flowering plants that appear in homes and businesses worldwide. These plants represent a fascinating intersection of botany, history, and festive tradition. They arrive reliably during the winter months, offering a burst of color when most outdoor flora is dormant, symbolizing the warmth and life of the season.
The Iconic Poinsettia
The most recognized red Christmas plant is the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), which translates to “the most beautiful Euphorbia.” This species is native to the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, where it grows as a tall shrub, sometimes reaching heights of ten to fifteen feet. The Aztecs cultivated the plant, calling it cuetlaxochitl, and used its parts to create a red dye and its milky sap for medicinal purposes.
Its association with Christmas began when Spanish Franciscan priests in Mexico adopted the plant for use in their nativity celebrations because it naturally bloomed in December. Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist and the first U.S. Minister to Mexico, introduced the plant to the United States in the 1820s. He sent specimens back to his greenhouses in South Carolina, and the plant was later named in his honor. Its popularity was cemented in the 20th century by the Ecke family, who developed hardier cultivars suitable for shipping.
A common misconception is that the large, scarlet structures are the plant’s flowers. They are, in fact, modified leaves called bracts, which change color in response to long periods of darkness in winter, a process called photoperiodism. The true flowers are the small, yellow-green clusters found in the center of the bracts, known as cyathia. The bracts evolved to be brightly colored to attract pollinators.
Other Popular Red Holiday Blooms
Beyond the Poinsettia, two other flowering plants frequently provide the rich red hues of holiday decor. The Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is prized for its dramatic, large, trumpet-shaped blossoms. These striking flowers sit atop tall, sturdy stalks and are often available in deep reds, pinks, whites, and bi-colors.
The Amaryllis is typically sold as a bulb forced to bloom indoors during the winter months. The bulb contains all the energy necessary for the initial bloom, which typically takes seven to ten weeks from planting. Its size and speed of emergence make it a favorite for adding a bold, tropical look to winter settings.
Another option is the Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi), a rainforest succulent native to the mountains of Brazil. Its appearance features long, arching, segmented stems often mistaken for leaves. The true Christmas Cactus has scalloped, rounded edges on its segments, differentiating it from the Thanksgiving Cactus, which has more pointed projections.
These plants are “short-day” bloomers, requiring long, uninterrupted periods of darkness and cooler temperatures in the fall to set buds for a winter bloom. The bright, tubular flowers emerge from the ends of the segments and often hang downward, contrasting with the plant’s fleshy, flattened stems.
Essential Care and Safety Information
Maintaining the health of these plants involves careful attention to water and temperature. For Poinsettias, keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Any decorative foil should be pierced or removed to allow for drainage and prevent root rot. They prefer indoor temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and must be protected from cold drafts and temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which cause leaf drop.
Christmas Cacti thrive with moist soil, but only after the top inch or two has dried out, as overwatering is a significant issue for these succulents. They benefit from bright, indirect light and humidity, which can be provided by misting or placing the pot on a tray of pebbles and water. Amaryllis bulbs require very light watering until the flower stalk appears. Once the stalk emerges, the soil should be kept evenly moist to support the rapid development of the large blooms.
Regarding safety, a long-standing myth suggests that Poinsettias are deadly, but this is largely untrue; ingestion typically results only in mild stomach upset or irritation from the plant’s milky sap. The Christmas Cactus is considered non-toxic to pets and humans. However, the Amaryllis bulb, leaves, and flowers contain toxins that can cause more significant gastrointestinal distress, so keep it out of the reach of curious children and pets.