Get in a festive mood with these surprising facts about your favorite holiday plants, like Christmas cactus, amaryllis and poinsettia.
7 Surprising Facts About Holiday Flowers and Plants
Updated on Dec. 06, 2022
Poinsettias Are Even More Popular Than You Think
Over 34 million poinsettias are sold each year. This makes them one of the most popular holiday flowers and plants in the United States. Learn how to care for poinsettias after the holidays.
Christmas Trees Are a Top Farm Crop
Though artificial trees are still a more common choice for American households, 25 to 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year. The top Christmas tree growing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Washington.
Discover more fun facts about Christmas trees and the learn the types of Christmas trees you can grow in your own backyard.
Delaware Has a Festive State Tree
American holly—the cheery evergreen with bountiful red berries—was named the state tree of Delaware in 1939. Do you know the national flower, bird, and tree?
Psst! Meet the festive flock of birds in the 12 Days of Christmas.
This Dwarf Christmas Tree Can Grow Giant
Norfolk Island pines make charming tabletop Christmas trees. Most people know the miniature version, but in the wild the pines can reach 200 feet.
Check out the top 10 dwarf conifers for small spaces.
Amaryllis Flowers Add Needed Winter Color
The United States imports 10 million amaryllis bulbs every year, mostly from South Africa and Holland. Once an amaryllis flowers, each stalk can produce 2 to 6 blooms in a range of colors, including red, white, green, pink and orange.
Check out our favorite 10 easy-care holiday houseplants.
There’s a Trick for Growing Paperwhite Flowers
Paperwhite flowers look and smell lovely, but often grow too tall and flop over. Curb their climb by watering with a 5% alcohol solution. They’ll be shorter but just as pretty. Get more tips for growing paperwhites indoors.
Keep Christmas Cactus in the Dark
Christmas cacti are attractive holiday flowers but the plants but very picky. To get your Christmas cactus to bloom, provide them with cool nights (55 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit) and 14 hours of darkness.
Next, learn how to grow a Thanksgiving cactus.
