Brilliant NSW Christmas bush
Putting on a magnificent show of colour in the bushland along the east coast of Australia, this stunning evergreen native shrub kicks off in spring with cream-coloured flowers. After this, the calyxes turn rusty red – just in time for the festive season. Reaching about 5m high x 1.5m wide, Christmas bush is easy to grow in your garden. For best flowering results, plant in full sun. Each year, harvest a few branches covered in blooms and display them in vases or along the centre of your Christmas table.
‘Tis the season for all things silver
Eucalypts are beautiful, wildlife-attracting and occur in bushland right across the country. Commonly known as gum trees, eucalypts come in a wide-sweeping range of shapes and sizes for you to choose from – ranging from towering trees to compact shrubs. Look for varieties with silver-grey foliage – an Aussie bush-themed Christmas table just isn’t complete without them!
Lovely Christmas lilies
With their graceful crisp-white trumpets, glowing yellow stamens, lush green foliage and enchanting perfume, it’s no wonder that Christmas lilies have been adored for generations. They are a fabulous accent for your summer garden or pots, plus if you mass plant them in clumps – you’ll achieve incredible impact in the garden. From time of planting, Christmas lilies take 12-14 weeks to bloom, so look for potted bloomers now or buy bulbs and plant them next season. Best thing is – they’ll flower every year. Top tip? Snip a few flowers and arrange them in a vase so you can enjoy their scent indoors and out.
Nothing says Christmas like conifer!
The weeks leading up to Christmas Day are the ideal time to get your hands on a potted conifer – tall or small – as garden centres start to stock up for the festive season. Choose one that you love, slip it into a woven basket and add a few charming decorations. You can shuffle it indoors for the Christmas period then shift it outdoors until next year.
Pretty-up with poinsettia
Bring brilliant colour to your front door setting, or just about anywhere around your home, with the magnificent poinsettia. As with conifers, you’ll find your local Bunnings garden centres will have potted poinsettias in stock as Santa’s arrival draws near. Here’s an idea – buy a few potted specimens and wrap each with brown paper and a festive bow. You can use them to decorate for Christmas Day, then send them home with your guests as gorgeous gifts.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens
