The holidays are full swing and what better way to brighten the ambiance then with decorative floral arrangements. Filling your home with sensational aromas and color can undoubtedly add to your holiday cheer. Many of these wonderful treasures can be found in your own backyard or your neighbors if you simply ask.
Plants for Floral Arrangements
Designing your floral arrangements is a matter of imagery, tools, and location. Think about the vision you are trying to create but remember it does not have to be an intricate piece of art sometimes, simple is better. Once you have determined your design, ask yourself will you need any specific tools to create the arrangement. Some essential tools are cutters or pruning shears, tape, and wiring as these will often get the job done. If you are designing a wreath, then you will need all the tools mentioned above. If you are creating a tabletop arrangement, then you may only need cutters to collect your plant material. The next item to determine is the location of the arrangement.
Here is a list of plants typically used for floral arrangement designs:
| Plant | Purpose |
| Magnolia | Foliage, great for wreaths, tabletop décor, or accent pieces |
| Hollies | Foliage, berries add for accent pieces |
| Palm Seed Pods | Tabletop décor |
| Pine Needles | Accent pieces, great aroma |
| Pinecones | Accent pieces, great aroma, can be used for children holiday crafts for making Christmas trees or making wreaths |
| Spanish Moss | Accent pieces, fillers for tabletop décor and wreaths |
| Fresh cut tree rings | Décor base for candles or other accent pieces |
| Boxwood | Foliage and accent pieces |
| Abelia | Foliage and accent pieces |
| Palm fronds (small) | Great background accent pieces for home décor |
| Turks Cap | Accent pieces, filler for tabletop décor, wreaths |
Photo Credit: Poinsettias Holiday Gift Plants – Gardening Solutions – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)
Plant Gifts for Garden Lovers
If you have a garden lover in your family, why not gift them a plant for the holiday. Plants are often wonderful gifts as they hold sentimental value and can be appreciated for years to come depending on the plant. Many of the plants listed below can currently be found at your local nurseries or big box stores.
| Plant Gift Ideas |
| Norfolk Island Pine |
| Holly |
| Cyclamen |
| Amaryllis |
| Narcissus |
| Poinsettias |
| Christmas Cactus |
| Rosemary |
| Ferns |
| Herbs |
Repurpose for your Homescape
Depending on the type of plant you received, you can pot it up and keep as a houseplant. Store in a window area to receive sunlight and water lightly as needed. Many of the holiday plants we receive as gifts are sensitive to cold temperatures, so they may be best kept as houseplants for the Central Florida area.
For more information on holiday flora and fauna, check out these resources:
- https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/after_holiday_plants.shtml
- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/outdoor-living/holiday-gift-plants.html
- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/newsletter/2013/more/florida-christmas.shtml
- https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/ffl-minute-radio/2020-archive/december-2020/making-holiday-arrangements/
- https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/
0
