December heralds the start of one of the most magical times of the year, Advent, as we get in the mood for Christmas with carols, cards and festive decorations. If you want to bring a naturally elegant style into your home this season, without losing any of the traditional charm associated with Christmas, poinsettias are the perfect place to start. Beautifying garden centres up and down the country, where they retail for very little cost, they also help to keep these businesses alive during the winter months. So popular are these unique plants that they have their own special day coming up on 12th December: National Poinsettia Day!
Every Advent beautiful poinsettias – also known as the Christmas Star – come into their own in glorious style and a myriad of shapes. Their colourful bracts that range from blood red and Barbie pink to pure white, warming apricot and variegated brilliance, which ensure poinsettias are the go-to plant for co-ordinated Christmas styling.
In size they run the gamut from charming miniatures up to spectacular plants the size of small shrubs. As perfect for adorning Christmas trees, wreaths and tabletops as they are for gifting to dinner party hosts, friends and colleagues; ideal as cut plants and beautiful in bouquets, poinsettias are as versatile as they are pretty.
Strong seasonal sales
Remarking on this year’s poinsettia sales, Andy Little, plant buyer at British Garden Centres said: “So far, we are tracking 6% up on poinsettia sales compared to the same time in 2023. Red continues to be the colour of choice and red poinsettias have accounted for exactly 69% of sales across both years.
“This year marks the first time we’ve offered a range of tot/mini poinsettias, and these have been very well received by customers. However, in the tot/mini varieties, it’s the mixed colours that are just edging it on sales versus the reds.
Andy also said that customers are seemingly moving away from the 10.5cm pot size and opting for the 13cm pot size instead, with almost identical sales moving from one to the other this year.
Potentially this could be down to us offering a Multibuy option in the 13cm this year, and customers might be jumping at the opportunity to receive even better value for money.
The positive sentiments were echoed by Phil Munn, manager of Woods Garden Centre (Capital Gardens), Berkhamsted, who commented: “Our poinsettia sales have been absolutely amazing this year. It is such a versatile plant and perfect for all kinds of uses as long as you look after it properly.
“We always give customers plenty of care advice so they know how to keep poinsettias looking their best, and we wrap them up very well with a free bag and plenty of paper so they don’t get cold on the way home. We explain how to water them, keep them out of cold draughts and so on because we want them to stay looking beautiful for as long as possible.
“We are known locally for our poinsettias and this year made sure we got in some of the more unusual varieties and special colours in early. This year pink has been hot to say the least, especially the ones with pink and white variegated leaves. As soon as December arrives, though, everyone wants the traditional red poinsettias. The stock we had has been going very quickly, it’s a very strong year for poinsettias”.
Lighting up home interiors
Whether it’s cool Scandi-chic, Art-Deco elegance, forest-core mystery, urban minimalism or full-on festive maximalism you have in mind, poinsettias can help you achieve your home décor goals this season. Houseplant styling expert, Dr Susanne Lux of Stars for Europe, has put together some fabulous ways for you to get into the Christmas spirit as Advent progresses.
Above left: In front of an Art Deco wallpaper with a subtle gold geometric pattern, these festive table decorations featuring cream poinsettias are a real showstopper. In combination with elegant accessories in silver, gold, grey and beige, these magnificent plants create a luxe feel.
Above right: Wreaths are an integral part of the festive season. This unusual example in pink, white and bright blue shows that you can still do it without candles and evergreen foliage. This decorative display made from fresh, cut poinsettias, and dried, coloured grasses, leaves and hydrangeas has bags of upbeat vintage style and can be created using a dried flower foam ring. The cut poinsettias have been placed in test tubes filled with water. Tip: If you dip poinsettia stems in hot water (approx. 60°C) for a few seconds, immediately after cutting, then straight into cold water, they will stay fresh for up to two weeks.
Image credits: Stars for Europe
Style on a Shoestring
Below left: Making this artistic poinsettia arrangement yourself is easier than it looks. To frame the poinsettia, place it in its planter on a slice of wood. Then cut a metal ring and insert the ends into pre-drilled holes on either side of the piece of wood. Next, cover the top of the ring with wild clematis (Clematis vitalba) tendrils. Loosely wrap chicken wire around the bottom half of the metal ring, then wrap it in the moss and decorate it with natural materials, if you want. A decorative star gives this homemade project the finishing touch. Your perfect poinsettia gift for anyone who loves natural things is ready.
Below Centre: Selected golden details lend warmth and elegance to this Art Deco-style composition: vases filled with poinsettias in shimmering apricot and nude shades draw the eye to the serving trolley in front of the subtly patterned gold and white wallpaper. With their magnificent, colourful bracts, poinsettias create a festive atmosphere both as potted plants and cut flowers. In bouquets, they work well with drumsticks (Craspedia globosa), amaryllis (Hippeastrum), pine and eucalyptus branches.
Below Right: A poinsettia arrangement on a tray makes a quick gift or home décor idea that can easily be adapted to any taste or interior by choosing different colours and accessories. In this modern, Scandi-style composition, the salmon mini poinsettias and the retro Christmas bauble make an attractive contrast with the blue, grey and yellow pillar candle and the bright blue tray.
