As the festive season approaches, invitations arrive to celebrate with friends and family. Taking a gift as a ‘thank you’ is a way of showing your appreciation of their hospitality. A bottle of bubbly or a bunch of flowers are always popular. . . enjoyed but soon forgotten. Plants make perfect presents. Choosing a seasonal plant will give a cheerful display long after the festivities are over and into the new year. Consider indoor pot plants or an evergreen shrub or perennial –perfect for plant lovers.
Plants for the garden last for years to come and will serve as a reminder of special occasions and memories to keep. Here are some plants to consider for gifts during the festive season.
Hellebores – also known as Christmas rose. Much loved and one of the first perennials to flower in the season, they are particularly popular this time of year with their white flowers, also available in a range of pinks. Easy to grow and needing little attention, they are ideal in pots or can be planted into the border where they will soon establish to provide a fantastic show from winter into spring.
Christmas rose, Helleborus nigerA pastel pink camellia
Azalea, rhododendron and camellia are all fine evergreen specimens planted for spring flowering. They are all available in a range of colours, including white, shades of pink and red. Can be grown in large pots or sheltered areas in the garden. At this time of year they produce early signs of buds ready for the coming spring when they will display a riot of colour. An ideal choice.
If you prefer to give an indoor plant, there are plenty to choose from.
Indoor azaleas have an abundance of flowers and you can choose from white, pink, rose and bicolour for an instant show of colour.
Indoor azalea
Cyclamen, the large flowering type, are particularly popular for indoor growing with their festive colours of white and red. They can last well into the spring months, but require a constant temperature, on the cooler side, and don’t need excessive watering to survive.
There are a number of flowering indoor bulbs available. A pot of indoor prepared hyacinths will add fragrance and come in bright colours of pink, blue or white. They are always a popular choice. and can be planted in the garden once they have finished flowering ready to naturalise for years to come.
Amarylis bulbs are starting to show their flower stems ready to display tall, majestic stems of bright flowers in the new year. Or why not consider a pot of scented paperwhites, an indoor daffodil which can also be eventually planted outside when the flowers are spent.
A beautiful amaryllis bloom
Poinsettia plants are known as an ideal Christmas plant and while they are beautiful, be careful with your choice, they need to be kept in a draught free position which is out of the cold, otherwise they will soon show signs of stress and will need additional care to survive.
And finally, the Christmas cacti – a favourite choice at Christmas, their attractive white or pink blooms will flower for a long period and go on from year to year.
Planted baskets are particularly popular for inside or outside gifts. Buy a pot and create your own gift or buy one ready planted. An instant gift which can be placed on a doorstep, hearth or side table with little attention needed.
Christmas is a time when we remember loved ones who are no longer with us. Traditional wreaths, planted baskets, a pot of hyacinths or a foliage posy are all suitable option to evoke memories of Christmas past.
There’s a plant for every occasion, make it an ideal choice for your green-fingered friends and relatives.
PLANT OF MONTH
Holly
Ilex aquifolium (common holly)
A versatile, English native, evergreen shrub for winter interest. There are many varieties of glossy green or variegated leaves in male or female forms. Can be grown as a hedge, individual specimens, train as standard ‘lollipop’ or clipped into ball or pyramid shapes. A slow growing plant which has particular seasonal values, they can be decorated with lights to brighten up the winter months and at Christmas. Ideal for planters. Produce small white flowers and berries. Prefers a sunny or lightly-shaded spot but will also grow in shade – they require a well-drained, moisture retentive position. Good structural plant which will provide protection for birds and wildlife from predators.
Festive workshops
We still have a few places left on our table decoration workshops on December 14 and 16. Come and join us for a couple of hours to create a foliage arrangement to display in your home this Christmas. A chance to relax and enjoy a stress-free session in the lead up to the festivities. £25. To book visit rhn.me.uk
The RHN team would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for supporting our plant centre, especially this year as we entered a new era with our permanent move to Barrow. We look forward to offering help and advice with your gardening requirements. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Growing for more than 60 years
Rougham Hall Nurseries at RHN Plant Centre and Farm Shop, Colethorpe Lane, Barrow IP29 5BE
Call 07813 008960
See rhn.me.uk
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