While you're decking the halls, use pretty plants to give your garden some festive colour.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Nurseries coax this winter bloomer into flowering at the end of the year for its classic Yuletide colour. Poinsettias are known for their fiery red bracts (modified leaves) around small white flowers that sit above deep green foliage. Grow outdoors in warm climates or indoors in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight. Once the red leaves have fallen, prune back to 20cm stems and feed with a slow-release fertiliser. As the leaves and seeds are poisonous and the sap is an irritant, keep it out of littlies' reach.
Conifers (Picea glauca 'Christmas Star')
Living Christmas trees are a magical alternative to cut ones and conifers are a great choice. Use very small conifers as table decorations, or bring larger potted trees into the house or patio, moving them back outside after Christmas. Choose a dwarf species or keep larger conifers confined to pots, as some can grow too big for the average backyard.
Petunias (Petunia x hybrida)
Typically, an outdoor plant that does particularly well in hanging baskets, red and white petunias can be planted in pots and brought indoors for a colourful centrepiece on Christmas day. Keep them well watered, then move back outdoors after the festivities.
Woolly bush (Adenanthos sericeus)
This native shrub has soft, silvery foliage that, during summer, is adorned with red-orange flowers like glowing Christmas lights. Woolly bush grows best in areas with hot, dry summers and is drought tolerant once established. Grow in the garden as a hedge, informal border or in pots. In spring, feed with slow-release native fertiliser. Plant in a large container and position in full sun or part shade.
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