16 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017 Holiday plants are easy ideas that add a finishing touch to make your home look festive and extra special. Pair them with your usual décor to create an unexpected twist or elegant look to the usual seasonal theme. Create a quick centerpiece for your dining room table or add elegance to the fireplace mantle. While the traditional holiday plants remain sentimental favorites, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Almost any plant can sing “holiday” when presented in a festive setting. Staid and true, poinsettias reign queen when it comes to holiday plants. But these traditional beauties have a whole new twist! Poinsettias come in so many new gorgeous colors! Blue, gold, salmon, marbled and cream are just a few of the beautiful colors to compliment your decorating scheme. To make poinsettias last longer, even moisture is key. Christmas cactus is an old-fashioned holiday favorite. Treat it with a little extra care, and it can become a wonderful houseplant that will flower year after year. Cyclamen is often an underused plant. Keep in a bright window. When it quits blooming, and it will, don’t fret. The heart-shaped foliage is just lovely. Consider color coordination, selecting plants that blend harmoniously with their surroundings. Plants in similar shades add subtle sophistication, while different textures add interest. Try grouping white poinsettia, white cyclamen and paperwhite narcissus to bring quiet harmony to a master bedroom or dining room. Red ornamental peppers, rosemary and Christmas cactus or red amaryllis add spice to the kitchen. “Rare specimen botanicals add interest and conversation to the home.”   Holiday Plants Beyond the Red Poinsettia by Dawn Bluemel Oldfield / Home & Garden Editor -Shane Friesenhahn, The Botanical Mix Enjoy plants even longer by going evergreen. Decorate Eldarica pine, Leland cypress or Rosemary and enjoy indoors as living Christmas trees. Plant them outdoors after the holidays for a wonderful addition to your landscape. Evergreens, succulents, hollies and ivy transition beautifully from holiday to daily décor. They not only add beauty to the room, but also are beneficial in improving indoor air quality. For easy, inexpensive holiday decorating displays of magnolia leaves or holly branches keep it natural. Tuck in shiny holiday ornaments for a festive touch. Editor’s Note: For more information about holiday or houseplants, contact the Collin County AgriLife Extension office, 972-548-4232. Additional Sources: Lu Lu’s Blooms, lulusblooms.com The Botanical Mix, thebotanicalmix.com Holiday Warehouse, holidaywarehouse.com “Pair plants and flowers with your seasonal décor to create a festive look.” -Lauri Braschler, Lu Lu’s Blooms Photo courtesy of Holiday Warehouse Photo courtesy of The Botanical Mix Photo courtesy of Lu Lu’s Blooms Landscape Designs Photo courtesy of The Botanical Mix