CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

Past few publishings, I have posted on flowers and fruits and relate them to foodie and health benefits aspects.. I have decided to continue posting on flowers/ fruits, until end of the year. With Christmas coming a few days away, I  now do on  flowers associated with Christmas celebrations, which I feel many don’t know… Happy fiesting on all those foodies and happy holidays to all

MISTLETOE UP ON A MOUNTAIN TREE

Mistletoe leaves and young twigs are used by herbalists, and it is popular in Europe, especially  in Germany  for treating circulatory and respiratory system problems.^[

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

1- Poinsettia The ancient Aztecs (ruling tribe in central Mexico at the time of contact with Europe) prized the poinsettia as a symbol of purity. Centuries later, Mexico’s early Christians adopted the poinsettia as their prized Christmas Eve flower. The Mexican poinsettia, known as the Christmas Flower in North America, is used in most Christmas decorations, owing to its bright red color and its blooming season coinciding with the Christmas holiday season.

2- Christmas cactus, also known as orchid cactus, often blooms around Christmas time. Pendulous stems of Christmas cactus make it a great choice for hanging baskets. There are a number of different cactus species sold as "Christmas cactus."

christmas cactus  (top and below)

Schlumbergera , commonly known as Christmas cactus is a small genus of cactus with six species from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins.

This genus contains the popular house plants known by a variety of names including Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus, Crab Cactus and Holiday Cactus, which are Schlumbergera cultivars and flower in white, pink, yellow, orange, red or purple

Schlumbergera

3- Christmas rose One plant called Christmas rose is regarded as a true Christmas flower in certain parts of the world. Christmas rose  (serissa) is also known as the "snow rose" or "winter rose." Originally from tropical regions of Asia, cultivated Serissa often blooms during the winter.

Another plant known as Christmas rose is Hellebonus niger

Hellebonus niger

Christmas  rose  Hydrangea -  (common names Hydrangea and Hortensia) is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia ( China, Korea, Japan), the Himalayas, and Indonesia) and North and South America.  By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia. 

Hydrangea

4- Holly  is the plant most associated with Christmas in many European countries. Holly wreaths are hung on doors, and sprigs of holly used to trim Christmas puddings.

Holly-Ilex . The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. Ilex is  native of Afro-Eurasia, Australia and the Americas, The genus includes species of trees, shrubs, and climbers, with evergreen or deciduous foliage and inconspicuous flowers

European Holly Ilex -  Jürgen Howaldt author

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) flowers; male above, female below. Photo User:MPF 

5- Ivy -Like most of the other Christmas flowers, ivy leaves symbolize eternity and resurrection

Ivy, plural ivies (Hedera) is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants,  native to western, central and southern Europe Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia, Japan and Taiwan

Hedera helix  Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey

6- Mistletoe  is a Christmas plant whose origin is said to date back to the Pagans. Druid priests used this Christmas plant two hundred years before the birth of Christ in their winter celebrations. A more modern tradition is to exchange kisses under a sprig of mistletoe

European mistletoe attached to a SilverBirch

Mistletoe berries in Wyre Valley

Red mistletoe Hopkins River New Zealand-by William M Connolley