The best types of festive foliage
Just as certain flowers suit different occasions, so too do various types of foliage. For example, there are some specific types of greenery that suit Christmas décor perfectly. Here are some of the top choices when decorating your home this holiday season.
Fir
There are several types of firs available during this time of year. These include the Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Grand Fir, and Concolor Fir. Depending on the tree, it can vary in height and some other minor differences will help you tell them apart from one another.
Like firs, there are several varieties of spruce trees, including the Norway Spruce, White Spruce, and Colorado Blue Spruce. Instead of leaves, these trees have needles much like firs and pines. The one main difference, however, is that they are not clustered. The needles are individually attached to the branches.
Pine trees are loved for their gorgeous green colour and amazing scent. They are popular for use in wreaths, garlands, and various other displays. The Scotch Pine, White Pine, and Virginia Pine are some of the most popular varieties. They have branches that appear to be bent upwards and they often have fewer branches than many other types of trees.
Holly
You will recognise holly as soon as you see it. Not only are the leaves easy to identify, but so too are the berries. Holly is wonderfully hardy and can survive harsh and cold conditions that cause many other plants to perish or become dormant.
Many Christmas arrangements include ivy. It’s very easy to find and easy to work with. That said, it does tend to dry out fairly fast so you need to keep the ends in water or be prepared for the ivy to dry out. If you need a fresh wreath or design and you cannot keep your ivy hydrated, you should make it as close to the event as possible.
Boxwood
This foliage is usually included in wreaths and garlands. It has a unique fragrance and most people will either love it or completely dislike it. If you are considering using this foliage in the design, you should make sure that you are familiar with the scent and that you like it. If not, look for an alternative.
The key to choosing the right foliage for a Christmas display is to ask your florist for evergreen foliage. Using any other type of foliage will mean that your displays will cost more and they may not last quite as long as you’d like.