The holiday season brings a special kind of magic, and what better way to enhance that magic than by incorporating outdoor plants that thrive during Christmas? Evergreen plants not only maintain their vibrant appearance year-round but also offer a stunning backdrop for festive decorations. From twinkling lights to colorful ornaments, these plants become living Christmas displays that can brighten up any yard. Here, we explore five popular outdoor plants perfect for the holiday season, each bringing its own unique charm and decorative potential.
Table of Contents
- Holly: A Classic Christmas Symbol
- Blue Spruce: The Perfect Christmas Tree
- Ivy: Versatile and Elegant
- Boxwood: Traditional Holiday Charm
- Yew Bushes: Versatile and Festive
1. Holly: A Classic Christmas Symbol
Holly is an evergreen Christmas shrub popular for its shiny green leaves and dazzling red berries. Its striking appearance makes it a classic choice for holiday decorations. It is also a popular choice for hedges, providing privacy and adding color to your landscape all year round.
Why It’s Great
- Classic Christmas Look: Red Holly berries are one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas, synonymous with the holiday season.
- Perfect for Decorating: Ideal with lights and ornaments, it adds a festive touch to your garden.
Care Tips
- Soil: Holly thrives in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Adding organic matter like compost can improve soil quality.
- Sunlight: Partial shade to full sun is ideal for Holly plants, but they perform best with some shade in hotter climates.
- Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and promotes healthy growth. Prune in early spring before new growth begins, and remove any dead or damaged branches.
2. Blue Spruce: The Perfect Christmas Tree
If you’re looking for something bigger than your typical festive plant, the Blue Spruce is a fantastic option. This striking evergreen tree, with its beautiful blue-green needles, is famous for its perfect shape and sturdy branches. Its stunning color makes it a favorite for outdoor Christmas decorations, adding a touch of winter magic to your landscape.
Why It’s Great
- Excellent Christmas Tree: Its perfect shape and sturdy branches are ideal for ornaments and lights.
- Durability: Its strong branches can support heavy decorations without drooping.
Care Tips
- Sunlight: A Blue Spruce requires full sunlight, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Soil: It prefers well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
- Watering: Regular watering during dry periods is essential, especially during the first few years of growth. Ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged. Mulching can help retain soil moisture.
3. Ivy: Versatile and Elegant
This hardy, evergreen vine has lush green foliage, perfect as an outdoor Christmas plant. It can cover living walls, trellises, and fences, adding a classic and elegant look to outdoor spaces. It is also a popular choice for garlands and wreaths.
Why It’s Great
- Versatility: You can weave ivy into garlands and wreaths or use them as Christmas porch plants to adorn railings and doorways for a festive look.
- Year-Round Beauty: These green Christmas plants enrich your landscape throughout the year.
Care Tips
- Sunlight: Ivy prefers shaded areas but can tolerate some sunlight. Bright, indirect light is ideal.
- Soil: It thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Adding organic mulch can help retain moisture.
- Maintenance: Regular trimming helps control its growth and keep it looking neat. Trim in the spring and summer to manage its spread and shape.
4. Boxwood: Traditional Holiday Charm
Boxwood is a dense, evergreen shrub known for its small, glossy leaves and its ability to be shaped into various forms. It’s an excellent choice for creating festive topiaries and structured garden designs.
Why It’s Great
- Versatile Design Element: Boxwood can be shaped into holiday-themed topiaries or used as hedges and borders to add structure to your Christmas landscape.
- Durable and Dense Foliage: Its dense, evergreen foliage stays lush throughout the winter, providing a green backdrop for holiday decorations.
- Decorative Flexibility: Boxwood looks beautiful adorned with twinkling lights or small ornaments, adding to its appeal as a holiday plant.
Care Tips
- Soil and Sunlight: Boxwood thrives in well-drained soil and prefers partial to full sunlight.
- Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain the desired shapes and promotes healthy, dense growth.
- Protection from Winter Burn: To prevent winter burn, consider providing some shelter from harsh winds or covering the plants during extreme cold.
5. Yew Bushes: Versatile and Festive
Yew bushes are dense, evergreen shrubs with dark green needles and red berries. These Christmas outdoor plants are ideal for adding a pop of color to your winter landscape. They also make lovely hedges and privacy screens.
Why It’s Great
- Topiaries: These Christmas outside plants are versatile and perfect for shaping into holiday-themed topiaries.
- Decorations: Add lights and ornaments to yew bushes for a festive touch to your outdoor spaces and enhance the festive atmosphere.
Care Tips
- Sunlight: These outside Christmas plants prefer partial to full sun, ideally receiving about 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.
- Soil: They grow best in well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. Ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Pruning: Regular pruning helps maintain desired shapes. It’s best to prune yew bushes in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Remove any dead or diseased branches to promote healthy growth.
Get Professional Help Designing Your Landscape With Outdoor Christmas Plants
Incorporating festive plants into your landscape brings numerous benefits, from enhancing curb appeal to creating a festive atmosphere. To achieve the best results, consider enlisting the help of professional landscaping services. An experienced team can provide expert advice on selecting the best Christmas plants, and designing aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
At K&D Landscaping, Inc., we specialize in residential landscape design and build services, ensuring your outdoor space looks stunning throughout the year. Whether you want to add some Christmas plants outdoors or completely transform your landscape, our team is here to help.
Embrace the holiday spirit, and let us help you make your landscape the talk of the neighborhood with the best Christmas plants. Contact us at (831) 728-4018 to discuss how we can help you create a beautiful and festive outdoor space.