Festive Foliage: Cultivating Christmas plants in the Island and surrounds

By Mole 

With the jacaranda blooms giving way to summer's heat in southeast Queensland, it's time to turn our green thumbs towards holiday horticulture. As of late October 2025, you have about eight weeks to nurture those iconic Christmas plants into stunning displays for December 25. Our subtropical climate – warm, humid and occasionally stormy – is ideal for many festive favourites, whether potted on patios or planted in gardens. Drawing from expert sources, here's how to grow poinsettias, Christmas bush, Christmas orchids, Hippeastrum (often called Christmas lilies here) and Norfolk Island pines, ensuring they're at their best for the big day. 

1. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) – The vibrant holiday star 

Poinsettias with their bright crimson bracts and tiny yellow buds are a Christmas staple, forced to bloom in time for the season despite naturally colouring in winter.  They're perfect for southeast Queensland's warmth, but need shade from intense sun. 

Pot or Garden? Excellently suited to pots for easy movement; garden beds work in sheltered spots. 

Timeline to Christmas display 

• Start now (late October): Purchase healthy young plants from nurseries. Opt for those not yet in full colour to avoid early fading. 

• Planting: Use well-draining potting mix; add perlite for garden soil to prevent waterlogging. Space 30-50cm apart in beds. 

• Position: Morning sun with afternoon shade; east-facing spots are prime to avoid scorching. 

• Watering and feeding: Keep soil moist but not soggy – water when the top 2cm dries. Feed fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser until November. 

• Colour induction trick: From early October, provide 14 hours of complete darkness nightly (use a cover or indoor relocation after 5pm) to trigger bract colouring by December.  

• By Christmas Day: Expect vivid bracts from early December. Use in vases, wreaths, or as table centrepieces; prune post-holiday for next year. 

Pest Tip: Watch for whitefly; treat with neem oil. Gloves on – the sap can irritate skin.  

2. Christmas Bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum) – Native red spectacle 

This New South Wales native adapts well to southeast Queensland, producing creamy-white spring flowers followed by pinky-red bracts by Christmas. It's a rounded shrub that can grow into a small tree. 

Pot or Garden? Prefers gardens for space, but dwarf varieties like ‘Johanna’s Christmas’ thrive in large, well-drained pots.  

Timeline 

• Now: Plant in well-drained soil; avoid clay. Enrich with compost. 

• Position: Full sun for optimal flowering; protect from strong winds. 

• Watering: Regular deep soaks to establish; mulch with pine bark to retain moisture in our humid summers. 

• Feeding: Apply blood and bone or low-phosphorus native fertiliser post-planting.  

• Pruning: Tip-prune after bracts fade (January) for bushier growth next season. 

• By Christmas Day: Bracts should redden from late November. Cut stems for indoor arrangements – dip ends in boiling water for longevity.  

Pro Tip: In Brisbane, it may seed profusely; manage seedlings to prevent thickets.  

3. Christmas Orchid (Calanthe triplicata) – Fragrant ground dweller 

Native to QLD and NSW, this evergreen orchid boasts showy white blooms on erect stems over summer, thriving in rainforest shade.  

Pot or Garden? Excellent in pots; naturalises in shady garden beds. 

Timeline 

• Now: Divide established clumps or buy potted specimens. 

• Planting: Use bark or leaf mulch mix; ensure excellent drainage. 

• Position: Heavy shade, moist but not waterlogged – mimic rainforest understory. 

• Watering: Keep consistently moist; increase during dry spells. 

• Feeding: Light application of orchid fertiliser in spring. 

• By Christmas Day: Blooms from summer onset; pot up for patio displays to attract bees and butterflies.  

Note: Fragrant and low-maintenance once established.  

4. Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) – Bold trumpet blooms 

Often called Christmas lilies in Australia, these bulbs produce large, trumpet-shaped flowers in red, pink or cream, blooming 6-8 weeks after planting.  

Pot or Garden? Pots for control; gardens for mass displays. 

Timeline 

• Now: Plant bulbs 5-10cm deep in well-drained, humus-rich soil. 

• Position: Full sun to partial shade; protect from afternoon heat. 

• Watering: Minimal until growth appears, then regular; keep moist when flowering. 

• Forcing: Plant now for December blooms; bring pots indoors mid-November for warmth if needed. 

• By Christmas Day: Sequential flowers for ongoing show; use as cut flowers or potted centrepieces. 

Tip: Store bulbs in a cool, dry spot post-bloom for replanting. 

5. Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) – The living tree 

A coastal favorite in southeast Queensland, this pine grows symmetrically, making it an ideal eco-friendly Christmas tree. 

Pot or Garden? Start in pots; transplant to gardens after a few years. 

Timeline 

• Now: Select 30-60cm specimens in pots. 

• Planting: Use orchid or pine bark mix; keep roots intact. 

• Position: Bright indirect light or dappled shade; avoid hot western sun. 

• Watering: Let top 5cm dry; mist leaves for humidity. 

• Decorating: From December, add lightweight ornaments and LEDs – no heavy items. 

• By Christmas Day: A fresh, green focal point; water post-decorating to prevent needle drop. 

Southeast Queensland-Specific Care Essentials 

• Humidity boost: Group pots on pebble trays with water.  

• Pests: Neem oil for scale or mealybugs.  

• Heat waves: Shade and mist during 35°C+ days. 

• Sustainable twist: Opt for natives like Christmas bush to support local wildlife. 

By starting today, your garden or balcony will burst with festive life come Christmas – a true Queensland celebration amid the barbecues and beach trips.