When December rolls around, wouldn't it be great to have some plants right outside your door to use for Christmas decorating? Consider incorporating some of these into your garden and your holiday arrangements.
Winterberry's (Ilex verticillata) bold berries are an asset for holiday decorating!
Tatarian dogwood (Cornus alba) has beautiful red stems...
...which make a great accent against greens.
Ivy (Hederaa helix) is a versatile and easy decorating element. My mother often made ivy wreaths - just wind long strands into a circle. While it's not as long lasting as evergreen branches, it adds an elegant touch draped along the center of a table or on the mantle.
Boxwood (Buxus) is a classic broadleaf evergreen for Christmas decorating. While it's beautiful, it's a slow grower, so young plants and dwarf varieties won't have much foliage to spare.
Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) and Inkberry (Ilex glabra) are other broadleaf evergreens with small rounded leaves to consider.
There are many well known needled evergreens. Leyland Cypress (X Cupressocyparis leylandii) is a twist on the theme with gentle fern-like branches. They can reach an ultimate height of 60-70 feet or more.
Don't forget Holly (Ilex meserveae Blue Princess and Ilex opaca),
but be sure to plant one male plant so you get berries.
but be sure to plant one male plant so you get berries.
The glossy rosy leaves of Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)
add an original touch to
this evergreen arrangement at Hershey Gardens.
add an original touch to
this evergreen arrangement at Hershey Gardens.
Take a look around your garden to see what new plants you can add to your Christmas decorating!
Check out Folliage Follow-Up at Digging for more fun with foliage.
12 comments:
Those winterberries are stunning. Have the happiest of holidays!
I make my own wreath by buying a live undecorated wreath for $5 and hot gluing many of the plants you have mentioned here onto it. Japanese skimmia leaves and berries also work well. Great post. Carolyn
Great idea for a post! I love the thrill of finding things in the garden to use inside (I'm kind of practical - i.e. cheap!) It makes me so happy when I've put something together for next to nothing knowing that I could have bought it for a ridiculous price! Merry Christmas!
Glad you posted garden finds. They make great indoor arrangements and nice additions to potted plants. Have a great holiday.
Meredith- Glad you like them! I wish you a joyous holiday as well!
Carolyn- Sounds like a great way to make a one of a kind, stunning wreath while keeping it inexpensive and simple. Japanese skimmia sounds like another good plant to check out.
Cat- I'm always happy to find a way to use what I have, too. I liked your suggestion of using cloth napkins as kitchen curtains and changing them with the seasons - practical but pretty. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, too!
Donna- Thanks for your visit and nice comment. You know all about decorating with flair, as is evident from your posts. Have a wonderful holiday!
Hello there Chris !
Thank you for stopping by my blog : )
I love all of the choices you have pictured here for arrangements .. I wish I had more room in my garden to have them all !
My berries disappear very quickly with the "open" sign I must have in the garden for the birds to fill up on ? haha .. But what better to have than those gorgeous red berries .. they scream Christmas don't they ? LOL
Joy : )
I don't have any winter berries and was outside last night looking for various plants for a center piece. The berries would have added the spot of red I was looking for. I opted for small red Christmas balls.
I love the picture with the evergreen, the ornamental grass, and the dogwood with the red twigs. So colorful without a single bloom :-) Beautiful contrast in color and form and texture.
Lovely post! I am in the process of trying to add some winter interest in my garden so I thank you for all the suggestions! I really like the Winterberry and the Tatarian dogwood with the grasses. Wishing you a magical holiday season!
Hello Chris, great post always interesting to see suggestions for plants with Winter interest. One Holly which does particularly well here is (J.C. Van Tol)a self fertilizing form with abundant berries. Thanks for the visit.
Those winter berries have stolen my heart. I need to plant some for sure. I'm so glad you are enjoying my Twelve Days of Christmas posts. I'm having such fun posting them. Thank you for your sweet comments. Stay warm!
Great post...and yet another reminder of why I need more plants for winter interest!
Post a Comment