There are many plants and flowers that have always had an association with Christmas, for example –

• Holly
• Ivy
• Mistletoe
• Poinsettia
• Christmas rose.

For this blog post I thought it would be nice to look at the Poinsettia and Christmas rose, as last minute Christmas gift suggestions.

The poinsettia

In the Language of flowers, the poinsettia means –

-          Wishing you every happiness and cheer

I think this plant has a lovely meaning, and would make a great gift for someone special at Christmas. I love the rich colours of the poinsettia, which certainly suit the festive season.

The association of the Poinsettia with Christmas

The story told is that a poor child wanted to offer a birthday gift to Jesus.  As he didn’t have any material gifts to give, he chose some plants from the side of the road and brought them to church as his offering.

Many laughed and thought this was a terrible gift, but as he offered them to Jesus, the weeds bloomed into beautiful red flowers, as he offered the gift with his heart.

Here are some interesting facts about the Poinsettia

-          They come in many shades and colours with over 100 varieties.

-          When they are in bloom they have brightly coloured bracts – for example – red, pink, plum, white and so on … on the top of each stem.

-          The flowers are the tiny yellow buds that are found in the centre of the bracts.

-          On my research I came across this amazing photo on the internet of a tree of Poinsettias! Have a look at  Hearst Castle in California

-          The story behind the poinsettia is that it was found by Joel Poinsett – the first US Ambassador to Mexico.

-          This plant is native to the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America

-          The botanical name of this plant is the Euphorbia Pulcherrima

-          This plant has several names, from the Christmas Star to the Winter Rose.

How to care for a Poinsettia

-          They can be tricky to grow as they need just the right amount of sunlight, heat and water.

-          If they are given the care that they need, you can have them flower each year.

-          Advice on how to cultivate and grow your poinsettia successfully, the RHS have provided a detailed guide   Poinsettias

Bring a little sparkle with a Poinsettia Cocktail

Did you know there is a cocktail called the ‘Poinsettia cocktail?’ This drink is made from dry sparkling white wine or champagne, vodka and cranberry juice.

Make a poinsettia paper decoration

Have a look at this wonderful crepe paper poinsettia

The Christmas Rose

In the language of flowers, the Christmas rose stands for –

·         Relieve my anxiety

·         Reassurance

·         Restore confidence

The Christmas rose would make a lovely, thoughtful gift, for someone who has had a difficult year.

The association of the Christmas rose with Christmas

The Christmas Rose story is that a girl wanted to offer a gift to Jesus, but had nothing to give and began to cry, an angel saw her hearts desire and blew onto some snow below her feet, and a small white flower was formed.

Some interesting facts and details about this lovely flower

-          It flowers in the winter months, a gorgeous display can be seen around Christmas through to early March

-          The Christmas Rose (as the name suggests) is linked with Christmas, and is considered a true Christmas flower.

-          Even though they are called Christmas Rose, they are not related to the rose family

How to care for the Christmas Rose

-          This plant is a woodland, evergreen perennial, growing 12 – 15 inches tall.

-          They need to be fed well, protected from wind, craving a little attention

-          The RHS has provided a guide of how to grow and cultivate the wonderful Hellebore

-          For more information on the wondrous Hellebore please visit the Hellebore org.

When it stops snowing, here are some gardens and nurseries that you can visit, to see the amazing hellebore –

• Ashwood Nurseries in Staffordshire specialise in this flower, winning many horticultural accolades since 1993.
• Cotton Manor in Northamptonshire
• RHS Wisley in Surrey
• Bosvigo House in Cornwall

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Fancy a kiss under the mistletoe?

And in case you were looking forward to a kiss under the mistletoe with your loved one, you might like to know that the background to the mistletoe, isn’t particularly romantic

The name mistletoe comes from Anglo-Saxon words –

-          mistle which means dung

-          toe means twig

So basically you are kissing the one you love, under dung on a twig (LOL)

If you want to know more about the mysterious mistletoe, the RSPB have put together an interesting pack all about the fascinating plant – How does your mistletoe grow?

I wish you a very happy, peace filled Christmas x

Anita

Related articles

• How to keep your poinsettia alive (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Fun Paper Crafts for Kids: Making a Christmas Poinsettia (brighthub.com)