1Bromeliad
Jose A. Bernat Bacete//Getty Images
Thanks to glossy green leaves and big bright red blooms, bromeliads make for an ideal holiday decoration―even more so because they don’t require consistent sunlight and won’t shed! So, you don’t need to worry about mess or pruning. They also have a small root system that doesn’t mind being pot bound. That means you can easily place them in a decorative pot on their own or with other Christmas plants for a stunning holiday arrangement!
2Yuletide Camellia 
shihina//Getty Images
With yuletide in the name, you’ve got to plant this flowering plant during the holiday season! We all know how busy those winter months can be, but luckily these colorful Christmastime camellias don’t require much fuss. They’ll thrive in partial sun with moderate watering and annual fertilizing if you choose to use them to liven up your yard. Bonus tip: With their pretty pink-red petals and a bright yellow center, they’ll also make for stunning cut flowers in your festive holiday vases.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
3English Holly
John Block//Getty Images
There are about 600 species of holly, but the English variety has become the Christmas staple with its forest green leaves and bright red berries. It’s excellent for growing in planters and pots, unlike some other types that can only grow in plant beds. When selecting your plant, check for sturdy stems with dense leaves. Make sure the berries are firm, uniformly colored, and close to the stem. These bushes are very hardy and grow well in full shade or full sun.
4Mistletoe
K.m. Zieba / EyeEm//Getty Images
Mistletoe has a unique place in Ree’s heart: It reigned as the official
Oklahoma state flower for 114 years! While there’s debate about the exact origin, mistletoe became Christmas doorway décor in 18th century England. If picking out a live bundle at the store, look for sprigs that have at least six branchlets, long, vibrant green leaves, and supple stems (when one easily bends, that means it’s fresh). And don’t worry if it doesn’t have berries—they’re not an indicator of the plant’s health.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
5Poinsettia
Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo//Getty Images
While bright red poinsettias have been popular for decades, there are tons of pretty shades ranging from cream to hot pink, so you’ll find one that coordinates with your décor. Look for poinsettias with stiff stems that support bright, buoyant leaves on top and healthy green leaves at the base. When you get home, place them in indirect sunlight and away from heaters. The good news is they’re pretty low maintenance: water only when the soil surface feels dry! They’re a bit of a challenge to get to rebloom so enjoy them this year and compost after the holidays.
6Amaryllis
Johner Images//Getty Images
Amaryllis are beautiful, stately flowers that often come as gifts with the bulb and a decorative pot and planting medium. You water, set in a bright window, and wait about six to eight weeks for the flower to emerge. Turn the pot daily so it doesn’t lean toward the light and become top-heavy. Save the bulb for next year, though, like poinsettias, it takes some effort to get it to rebloom. Keep amaryllis away from pets, as this plant and bulb are toxic.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
7Frosty Fern
Ohotnik//Getty Images
This adorable Christmas plant actually is a type of moss with frosted white tips. It’s a little fussy and needs tons of humidity (more than most homes have in the winter), so try it in a terrarium or enjoy it for the season with consistent watering every two to three days. Place it in indirect light, so it doesn’t burn. And don’t feel too bad if it doesn’t make it past a few weeks indoors!
8Norfolk Island Pine
Farhad Ibrahimzade//Getty Images
The lovely soft needles of this elegant little pine are ideal as a mess-free, living Christmas tree. Keep the soil slightly moist or it will drop lower branches, which will not regrow. Its branches are delicate, so stick with lightweight ornaments if you plan to decorate it. Norfolk Island pines can live for years in bright light in your home. They tend to lean towards the light, too, so be sure to rotate the plant to keep it straight.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
9Bosc Pear Tree
Judy Bishop – The Travelling Eye//Getty Images
Even if you don’t have a partridge, you can spruce up your home this holiday season using none other than a pear tree! They’re also known to represent sustenance and abundance—perfect for the time of year. Varieties like the Bosc pear ripen from late fall through winter and along with adding character to your yard, will develop a honeyed sweetness perfect for winter dishes and desserts. Make sure Bosc pears are in containers or gardens with full sun and plenty of water.
10Rosemary
Santje09//Getty Images
Rosemary has such a nice pine scent that it makes a beautiful tabletop plant during the holidays. It’s often sheared into a tree or topiary shape. Make sure to give it bright light, and let it dry out a little between waterings. Rosemary can live for years and can be transplanted outdoors in warm climates. And of course, it’s edible so you can use some as an herb for cooking, too!
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
11Christmas Cactus
Maria Dattola Photography//Getty Images
Christmas cacti are everywhere around the holidays, and this reasonably-priced plant is a great investment because it can live for decades. Give it bright diffused light and water only when the soil surface feels dry. After the holidays, it goes into a resting period. To get it to rebloom next year, make sure it receives total darkness at night from the end of September onwards, which will help it form flowers to bloom again for the holidays.
12Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
ValerijaP//Getty Images
Orchids look delicate, but they’re actually tough plants that bloom in all seasons. They usually come in a soil-less medium. Just make sure to give them bright light during the winter and water every week or so. Don’t overwater—that’s a common mistake, as is placing them near a heater. An evenly heated home is best. They can live for years if properly taken care of.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
13Cyclamen
Musat//Getty Images
This pretty little plant actually is grown as a ground cover in warm climates. Indoors, it makes a long-blooming houseplant with heart-shaped leaves and lovely flowers in shades of white, pink, or red. Give it bright light and water when it feels dry. It will go dormant in summer, but it may push new growth in fall if you put it outdoors in a shaded spot, then start watering it again in September. Cyclamen is toxic, so keep it out of your pet’s reach.
14English Ivy
Crystal Bolin Photography//Getty Images
This hardy houseplant comes in solid green or variegated types. It may also be grown up a trellis or formed into a topiary shape for the holidays. It also grows quickly and easily, so it will need trimming to keep its shape. Ivy can live for years with medium light and watering only when mostly dry. But it is toxic to pets, so keep it out of your nibbler’s paws.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
15Gardenia
gojak//Getty Images
These fragrant plants are large shrubs outdoors, but you may see them as potted plants for the holidays. Give them bright light and consistently moist soil. They can be a bit fussy, so enjoy them for the season. You can also use a humidifier to give them a little more love. If they make it to spring and you live in a warm climate, you can plant them outdoors.
16Lemon Cypress
scisettialfio//Getty Images
These charming little trees are often available around the holidays because of their natural “Christmas tree” form. They have delicate, soft needles and a bright citrusy scent, which definitely increases their appeal. Keep the soil evenly moist. The toughest part is giving them sufficient light indoors: They need six to eight hours of direct sun. In warm climates, you can plant outdoors in spring.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
17Lavender
Magone//Getty Images
It may not be the first plant you think of at the holidays, but its delightful scent make it appealing as a centerpiece or accent. It’s often sheared into a Christmas tree shape this time of year. Give it as much light as possible, at least three to four hours of direct light a day. Lavender likes a good soak occasionally, but let it dry out between waterings.
18Citrus Tree
Victoria Pearson//Getty Images
Small citrus trees can be grown indoors in cold climates, though they needs tons of light. Get a grow light if you don’t have eight to 12 hours of bright indoor light. Water when the soil is dry about two inches deep (you can stick your finger in to check). It can be moved outdoors after danger of frost has passed, but acclimate it to full sun, starting with a few hours per day and slowly adding time, so it doesn’t get sunburned.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
19Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Malisa Nicolau//Getty Images
This dwarf evergreen maintains a pyramidal shape that makes it perfect for setting out on either side of your front door all winter long or for displaying indoors for a few days. Evergreens are dormant in winter, but water occasionally if it’s on a covered porch where it won’t receive precipitation. It’s very cold hardy, and you can plant this in your garden in the spring and enjoy it for years.
20Paperwhite Narcissus
Grace Clementine//Getty Images
These delicate white flowers have a light scent that reminds you winter won’t last forever! They typically come in a gift set with soil and a pot or basket. Put them in bright light and water, and you’ll have blooms in four to six weeks. Rotate the pot once they bloom to keep the stalks straight. Bulbs that have been “forced” typically don’t rebloom next year, so add them to your compost pile.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
Watch Next
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Dining and Cooking