Plants for Christmas arrangements: the top 7 for DIY decorations

December 05, 2023

What exactly are those beautiful green Christmas decorations that gracefully descend on either side of the fireplace, along the staircase railings, or are placed in a basket at the center of the table...? Well, typically, they are plants of some kind - usually branches from a pine or fir tree...

That said, there are several other plants can be used like pines and firs are for Christmas decorations. Here are some of the alternatives, listed below:

Rosemary

wirestock/Freepik

Do you want to create some small decorations - like a small wreath - but you don't have any pine or fir branches available? The solution is simple: rosemary is perfect for this purpose. Rosemary is also more flexible, equally fragrant, and easier to find! If you have some rosemary at home, it's the perfect opportunity to trim the tips of the branches and make some Christmas decorations!

Eucalyptus

Pxhere

If there's a hyper-trendy plant in the world of interior decorating at Christmastime, it's undoubtedly the eucalyptus. Flexible branches, roundish leaves (especially the younger ones), and a silvery-green hue make it truly adaptable to any color combination. It can be used just about anywhere!

Holly

wirestock/Freepik

Holly is iconic at Christmas with its red berries (although there are also white or orange varities) that emerge in December. So, including holly amongst the Christmas decorations, is a must.

And if you're keen to explore the world of holly, you'll discover that there's a myriad of types: those with non-serrated leaves (no unwanted pricks!), variegated leaves in white or yellow, or even leaves entirely colored in burgundy and more!

Ivy

ArthurHidden/Freepik

Ivy is another greatly plant that can be used for Christmas decorating. With its long and soft tendrils, ivy adapts easily to a thousand uses. If you have ivy growing at home, give it a prune and use the off-cuts to decorate you home!

Firs

wirestock/Freepik

Firs are conifers,and there is an infinite number of varieties. Generally, they have dense branches of needles arranged in a spiral. There are those with green foliage of various intensities, but also those with a silvery gray hue that sometimes has a cool, bluish tone. These are all perfect for Christmas decorations!

Magnolia grandiflora

Pxhere

Less commonly used than the plants mentioned above, is the magnolia grandiflora: its large leaves take on a warmer color in autumn and winter. The color contrast between the two sides of its leaves is very decorative, and they look great together with other Christmas plants, including poinsettias.

English yew

Pexels

Don't want to prick yourself when brushing up against the branches of Christmas decorations made from plants? Then, the English yew is for you. This yew is also a conifer, but its needles are decidedly less "dangerous" and pointy. The Taxus baccata, in particular, produces red berries that make it even more suitable for Christmas decorations!