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A Bright Burst of Color in Drab Dreary December

By Eloise Graham
Editor-in-Chief

December’s birth flower is the narcissus, also known as jonquil or daffodil. Narcissus embodies the idea that you want your beloved to stay just the way they are. As the year is coming to an end, many wish that there beloved would remain the same.

The other December flower is holly, which symbolizes your wish for domestic happiness. The fruits of the holly, which are often called berries, ripen in winter. This provides winter color contrast between the bright red of the fruits and the glossy green evergreen leaves. The cut branches are widely used in Christmas decoration.

Poinsettias are often considered the Christmas flower. Particularly well known for its red and green foliage, it is widely used in many Christmas displays. The poinsettia is not indigenous to the winter climes of North America but originated in Mexico and Central America. In 1825, the plant was introduced into North America by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister to Mexico. Horticulturalists have come up with many hybrids of flower color. They have been cultivated to produce striped, white, orange, coral, pink, dark red and even purple foliage.

Another plant that has beautiful blooms at Christmastime is the Christmas Cactus. Native to the coastal mountains of southeastern Brazil, the plant grows on trees or rocks in shady, high humidity areas. The Christmas Cactus boasts a wide variety of colors including white, red, yellow, pink, orange, or lavender.

All of these plants can produce bright splashes of color to brighten up a dismal day of December. Visit Vander Veer Botanical Conservatory to enjoy the bright colors of December flowers. See you next year.