December is a month of celebrations: St Nicholas Day, Christmas and preparing for the New Year. Its birth plants carry a cosy symbolism: holly (ilex) with red berries and the delicate paperwhite narcissus. Here’s what they mean, what blooms in winter and which bouquet to give someone born in December. Next month: January flowers.
More on this topic: birth month flowers, seasonal flowers by month, holly, poinsettia.
Holly branches with red berries are among Europe’s oldest winter symbols. Long before Christmas, the evergreen was brought indoors in midwinter as a sign of life that endures. Later, its prickly leaves were linked to the crown of thorns and its red berries to the blood of Christ, and holly became part of Christmas wreaths, cards and table arrangements. In Ukrainian homes it is often paired with fir, cones and candles for decor that feels festive yet natural.
Holly in a bouquet lasts 2–3 weeks: cut the stems at an angle and keep the arrangement away from radiators. Holly berries are poisonous to children, cats and dogs, so place it out of reach. Learn more about the plant in our article on ilex (holly).
Paperwhites are easy to force at home for the holidays: set the bulbs in a shallow bowl of pebbles with water just touching the base, and they flower in 3–5 weeks. Keep them cool (15–18 °C) and bright so the stems don’t flop. Their scent is strong, so a bedroom isn’t the best spot.
Red and white roses and winter arrangements delivered fresh across Kyiv, even in frost.
See red roses and white roses.
Holly (ilex) and the paperwhite narcissus.
Protection, domestic comfort and joy.
Indoors, poinsettia, amaryllis, cyclamen and Christmas cactus; outdoors, hellebores.
Red and white roses with ilex, evergreens or eucalyptus.
Yes, holly berries are toxic to people and pets; the leaves are less so but can still upset the stomach. Keep branches out of reach of children and animals.
Plant paperwhite bulbs in a bowl of pebbles 4–5 weeks before the holiday, keep water at the level of the base, and place the bowl somewhere cool and bright.
Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
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