If you want your home to feel festive this month, the work starts outside – and you can never go wrong by planting up some of the best Christmas plants for a front porch.
Yes, there are plenty of cold-loving plants that thrive outside at this time of the year, but if you're looking for shrubs and flowers that capture that festive feel and grow well in containers for a winning seasonal front porch idea, there's a strong set of contenders to consider.
1. Holly
I thought we'd start with a fairly obvious Christmas plant for a front porch: holly. It goes without saying that the prickly leaves and glossy red berries on this tree are among the most well-known symbols of Christmas, and it's easy to grow holly in pots, too.
'Holly is a lovely, festive option that will stay lush throughout the winter season,' says Chris Bonnett, gardening expert and founder of Gardening Express. 'The leaves are evergreen, and with their red berries, they can add a classy look to the front of your house.'
You can buy a Pair of Premium Quality Festive Holly Trees Covered in Berries with Contemporary White Planters for £39.99 from Gardening Express.
2. Hellebores
When I think of winter flowers, hellebores are one of the first that come to mind. The nodding blooms are the perfect way to add fairy-tale charm to a winter garden.
'Hellebores are my go-to for reliable winter flowers,' says gardening expert and author Sarah Raven. 'They’re long-lasting and look great right through to early spring.'
Better yet, learning how to grow hellebores is pretty easy – and there are so many colours to choose from, from yellow-greens to deep burgundy blooms. Varieties like Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol', £5.99 at Gardening Express, make perfect Christmas plants for front porches.
3. Dwarf conifers
Conifers are staples in the garden all year round, and winter is no exception: many species are evergreen and small, which means they make brilliant Christmas plants for a front porch.
The term conifer actually encompasses a broad range of cone-bearing trees, like pines and firs. You can decorate them like a Christmas tree, or leave them as they are for a contemporary look. Many of them make ideal privacy trees for small gardens, too.
'A compact spruce is a great choice,' says Chris. 'These mini Christmas trees look festive and are perfect for decking out with outdoor lights and weatherproof decorations. Mini spruces are classic Christmas trees and can either stay in their pots or be planted straight into the ground.'
This Compact Potted Norway Spruce, £39.99 at Gardening Express, is a brilliant choice.
4. Cyclamen
Hellebores aren't the only flowers that fit the bill if you're looking for Christmas plants that grow well on a front porch – cyclamen is another solid choice. They're among the best winter flowers for hanging baskets if you'd prefer to elevate your display, but they grow just as well in containers.
'Cyclamen, with flowers in white, pink, and red, flourish in cooler conditions and add seasonal colour,' says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres.
Right now, you can buy festive red cyclamen plants (in bud and bloom!) for just £1 each at Gardening Express. Or, you could buy a ready-planted display like these red Christmas plants in a light-up planter from Next. It comes with Gaultheria, red cyclamen, variegated ivy and spruce, all planted in a basket with LED lights.
Of course, you can grow cyclamen indoors, too, for winter blooms in the home.
5. Skimmia japonica
A holly alternative without the prickles? Skimmia japonica offers just that – and it produces signature red berries, too, to retain that classic festive look. It's one of the best evergreen plants for borders, too – so once it's served as a Christmas display for your front porch, you can transplant it into the garden.
'You can also use colourful berried plants like Skimmia japonica, which has shiny leaves and red berries for winter interest,' says Julian.
For the best display of berries, it's best to grow a male plant near a female plant. Skimmia japonica 'Redruth' from Crocus is a good female candidate, while Skimmia japonica 'Fragrans', also available at Crocus, is a solid male option with aromatic leaves.
Like holly berries, skimmia berries are not edible, so keep an eye on pets and children if you decide to use them as a Christmas plant for your front porch.
Those are just some of the best Christmas plants for a front porch, but you can easily zhuzh up a winter display with ornamental grasses and other evergreen plants. There are plenty of Christmas houseplants to keep on your radar if you're looking to liven up the inside of your home, too.
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