8 Jolly Christmas Plants

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She has her M.S....</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Melissa Petruzzello</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div> </div> <article class="topic-content content"><div class="topic-paragraph font-serif md-list-intro pt-15 pb-20">Deck the halls, trim the tree, and sneak a kiss under the mistletoe! A surprising number of plants are involved with making Christmas merry. Here are eight festive plants that are commonly used as decorations throughout Europe and North America.<p class="topic-paragraph"> <figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="8" data-descid="20"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="infogram"><script id="infogram_0__/O1hh3bT75EJU8f46mtgQ" src="https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed.js?Itp" type="text/javascript" title="The Story of Christmas"></script></div></figure> </p><span class="MOD1"></span></div><ul class="list-unstyled md-mendel-list"><li><h2>Holly</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/118200-050-BC947CA6/European-holly-English-holly.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*114145"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/118200-050-BC947CA6/European-holly-English-holly.jpg?w=1000" alt="Red fruit and leaves of the European holly (Ilex aquifolium). Also called English holly. plant shrub" data-width="1600" data-height="1109" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/00/118200-050-BC947CA6/European-holly-English-holly.jpg" data-href="*114145">European holly</a><span>European holly (<em>Ilex aquifolium</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© pixarno/stock.adobe.com</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">A number of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/holly" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">hollies</a> (<em>Ilex</em> species), mainly hailing from Europe or North America, are used as Christmas decorations for their waxy evergreen foliage and winter-ripening fruits.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-1"></span></li><li><h2>Poinsettia</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/120808-050-33E15F55/Poinsettia.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*114631"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/120808-050-33E15F55/Poinsettia.jpg?w=1000" alt="Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)." data-width="1600" data-height="1113" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/120808-050-33E15F55/Poinsettia.jpg" data-href="*114631">poinsettia</a><span>Poinsettia (<em>Euphorbia pulcherrima</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Scott Bauer/U. S. Department of Agriculture</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Native to Mexico and parts of Central America, the vibrant <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/poinsettia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">poinsettia</a> (<em>Euphorbia pulcherrima</em>) features showy petal-like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/bract-plant-structure" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bracts</a> that resemble enormous flowers. Red is the most common color, but varieties with pink, yellow, mottled, or striped bracts have also been developed.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-2"></span></li><li><h2>Douglas fir</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/158798-050-A4E57553/Douglas-tree-cones-Washington-North-Cascades-National.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*188800"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/158798-050-A4E57553/Douglas-tree-cones-Washington-North-Cascades-National.jpg?w=1000" alt="Coast Douglas fir evergreen tree, (Pseudotsuga menziesii), with pine cones near the Ross Lake National Recreation Area in North Cascades National Park, Washington state." data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/158798-050-A4E57553/Douglas-tree-cones-Washington-North-Cascades-National.jpg" data-href="*188800">Douglas fir with cones</a><span>Douglas fir tree (<em>Pseudotsuga menziesii</em>) with cones in North Cascades National Park, Washington.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Walter Siegmund</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">In North America the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Douglas-fir" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Douglas fir</a> (<em>Pseudotsuga menziesii</em>) is one of several species of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/conifer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">conifers</a> used as Christmas trees. Many species of true <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/fir" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fir</a>, including the balsam fir (<em>Abies balsamea</em>) and Fraser fir (<em>A. fraseri</em>), are also used.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-3"></span></li><li><h2>Christmas cactus</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/7037-004-11B8BAE9/Christmas-cactus.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*95955"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/7037-004-11B8BAE9/Christmas-cactus.jpg?w=1000" alt="Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri). (plants)" data-width="336" data-height="450" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/37/7037-004-11B8BAE9/Christmas-cactus.jpg" data-href="*95955">Christmas cactus (<em>Schlumbergera bridgesii</em>).</a></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Harold Taylor/Oxford Scientific Films</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Native to Brazil, the winter-flowering <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Christmas-cactus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christmas cactus</a> (<em>Schlumbergera</em> ×<em>buckleyi</em>) bears red or pink flowers around late December in the Northern Hemisphere.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-4"></span></li><li><h2>Mistletoe</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/180901-050-347556BE/European-mistletoe-apple-tree.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*192177"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/180901-050-347556BE/European-mistletoe-apple-tree.jpg?w=1000" alt="Mistletoe. Mistletoe (Viscum album) a green semiparasitic plant grows on a tree. parasite, parasitic, hemi parasite, hemiparasitic shrub, mythology, legends, customs, Christmas decoration" data-width="1600" data-height="1062" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/180901-050-347556BE/European-mistletoe-apple-tree.jpg" data-href="*192177">European mistletoe</a><span>Semiparasitic European mistletoe (<em>Viscum album</em>) growing on an apple tree.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Liane M./Fotolia</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">European <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/mistletoe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mistletoe</a> (<em>Viscum album</em>) and its North American counterpart, Eastern mistletoe (<em>Phoradendron serotinum</em>), are <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/parasitic-plant" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">parasitic plants</a> that became associated with Christmastime romance.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-5"></span></li><li><h2>Norway spruce</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/4406-004-5047268F/Norway-spruce-cones.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*14472"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/4406-004-5047268F/Norway-spruce-cones.jpg?w=1000" alt="Norway spruce cones (Picea abies)" data-width="179" data-height="265" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/4406-004-5047268F/Norway-spruce-cones.jpg" data-href="*14472">Norway spruce: cones</a><span>Norway spruce cones (<em>Picea abies</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Copyright Michael P. Gadomski/Photo Researchers</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The Norway <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/spruce" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">spruce</a> (<em>Picea abies</em>) is a common Christmas tree in many places. Blue spruce (<em>P. pungens</em>) and white spruce (<em>P. glauca</em>) are also used.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-6"></span></li><li><h2>Christmas rose</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/118302-050-E7626795/Christmas-rose.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*114247"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/118302-050-E7626795/Christmas-rose.jpg?w=1000" alt="Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)." data-width="1600" data-height="1145" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/118302-050-E7626795/Christmas-rose.jpg" data-href="*114247">Christmas rose</a><span>Christmas rose (<em>Helleborus niger</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Archenzo</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Depending on the climate, the cheery <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Christmas-rose" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Christmas rose</a> (<em>Helleborus niger</em>) can produce attractive white or pink flowers in December. In some places, blossoms even emerge from the snow.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-7"></span></li><li><h2>Cedar</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/11505-004-3C7B2A39/red-cedar.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*5670"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/11505-004-3C7B2A39/red-cedar.jpg?w=1000" alt="Giant arborvitae (Thuja plicata)" data-width="298" data-height="300" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/11505-004-3C7B2A39/red-cedar.jpg" data-href="*5670">Western red cedar</a><span>Western red cedar (<em>Thuja plicata</em>).</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Verna R. Johnston</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Various evergreen trees known as cedars, including the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Western-red-cedar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">western red cedar</a> (<em>Thuja plicata</em>) and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/incense-cedar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">incense cedar</a> (<em>Calocedrus decurrens</em>), are commonly used in Christmas wreaths and garlands for their long-lasting and fragrant foliage.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-8"></span></li></ul><span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"List","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":11,"pageId":6395,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.38"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/list-page.js?v=3.130.38' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"List","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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8 Jolly Christmas Plants | Britannica