The experts' favourites: Alternative Christmas flowers
- Norwegians have to get out of the traditional bubble, and perhaps try something new, says flower decorator Marte Gulli.
Most of us are used to the traditional Christmas plant classics such as poinsettias, amaryllis, turnips and lilies. But there are several beautiful flowers that go well with Christmas. Here are the flower experts' Christmas favourites.
Makes wreaths and Christmas balls
Flower decorator Marte Gulli runs the flower shop Tørka blomster in Grünerløkka, where she makes bouquets of both dried and fresh flowers.
Now that Christmas is approaching, Gulli is well underway with, among other things, making Advent wreaths from dried flowers.
- I am trying to make a more artistic Advent wreath. I want to think new things, and think about what I can make from the materials we have. Because you can actually make most things out of flowers, including Christmas things. I like to mix pastels, which are not a typical Christmas colour, with the more traditional ones, such as green and red, says Gulli.
Dried flowers have again become an interior trend after it died out in the 90s along with both spiral candles and pastel colours. Now the fashion and interior design is inspired by the 90s, and Instagram abounds with both dried flowers and spiral candles. The wonderful thing about dried flowers is that they are immortal.
These are Gulli's Christmas favourites:
Amaryllis
- Amaryllis an eternal favourite. It is so majestic and beautiful that I think it is a shame that it is only used in December. Would love to have it all year round. It is available in many nice colors and shades that are not "Christmas colours" as well.
Tips: Tape or put a rubber band on the stem at the very bottom so that the stem does not curl. Then the flower lasts longer. ️
CHRISTMAS FAVOURITE: Amaryllis is a nice traditional Christmas plant. Photo: Sara Boquist.
Colored moss
- Colored moss can be used in many nice ways. For example as a table decoration, in an Advent wreath or door wreath. I like to use more non-traditional colors such as pink, says Gulli.
Mistletoe
- Only because I like to kiss, hehe.
Dried Amaranthus
- Not particularly traditional, but love the shape and expression it gives. Can almost look like dripping icicles. Like to use this in, for example, a door wreath.
Sells flowers and Christmas trees
At the Oslo-based flower shop Botanik, they have noticed a great demand for Christmas trees since the beginning of November.
Managing director Hedda Braathen says that they want to offer a mix of the traditional and innovative.
- Christmas plants for us are a good atmosphere, warmth and joy. We have looked for plants and flowers in more special colors such as salmon pink, delicious green and burgundy. Our focus is on finding the colors of which there are fewer on the market, says Braathen.
These are Braathen's Christmas favourites:
Buttercup
- We always wait with excitement for the first buttercups. They are so delicate, yet strong. They come in lots of colors and sizes. The largest ones look almost like peonies when they are in full bloom. We love using them in small vases that hang on the Christmas tree.
Swivel
- Hyacinth/swivel creates the scent of spring in December. It is a less expensive plant than amaryllis and blooms a little faster. It comes in pink, blue and white. Most often, the pot it stands in is an indication of what color the flower will be. It should be watered very sparingly.
Cyclamen hederifolium (a type of alpine violet)
- This is a super exciting Christmas flower. It comes as a tuber that looks a bit like a flat potato. Beautiful flowers grow from the tuber on long thin stems. Towards the end of flowering, small green leaves appear and they can continue to grow for months.
Christmas tree
- The fact that we have been inside a lot makes us aware of how important it is to surround ourselves with plants and greenery, and Christmas is an excellent time to bring nature inside. Which brings us to our favorite plant by far; the Christmas tree. And of course it has to be real.
Is the Christmas tree perhaps the most beautiful flower of Christmas? Photo: Private.
Allergic? - If you belong to those who are allergic to many Christmas flowers, we recommend orchid, azalea or mountain violet. The latter gets a completely different and more modern look if you pinch off all the leaves. This turns an otherwise somewhat boring Christmas plant into something quite beautiful and exciting, concludes Braathen.
– Choose a green plant
Author of the book Plantelykke, ANDERS ROYNEBERG, wants to see more people think outside the box, become more inventive and make slightly different choices of Christmas plants. He himself likes to combine the more traditional, such as a poinsettia, with other plants.
- Why not choose a nice, green plant instead? It is a more sustainable choice as they not only last through Christmas but can live for a very long time. I personally think Christmas plants can quickly become a bit sweet and romantic, and prefer plants that break more and are more masculine.
RESEARCH shows that plants have a positive effect on our health. Now that winter depression is setting in for many, there are small joys in everyday life that can help you feel better.
- Now that it is colder and we spend up to 80 percent of our time at home, I think it is important to bring nature into the home, at school and in the office. We feel better when we surround ourselves with green plants.
Røyneberg's three favorite Christmas plants:
November cactus
- November cactus is one of the oldest potted plants in Norway. It is a plant that is often passed down between generations, as it can be over 100 years old. What is special about it is that it blooms in the dark in strong colors in white and pink. It is my favorite plant in the run-up to Christmas.
November cactus with fresh colors. Photo: Private.
Christmas rose
- Christmas rose or Helleborus as it is also called is a really robust and beautiful plant. It produces white, pink or purple flowers. The Christmas rose does well in colder weather, so it is perfect for Norway, winter and Christmas time. It can be well placed by your front door.
Peace lily
- The peace lily is very traditional and has properties that make it very nice at Christmas time. It is hardy and tolerates the dark well. It has a fiery green color with white flowers.
My fashion article
The experts' favourites: Alternative Christmas flowers
- Norwegians have to get out of the traditional bubble, and perhaps try something new, says flower decorator Marte Gulli.
Most of us are used to the traditional Christmas plant classics such as poinsettias, amaryllis, turnips and lilies. But there are several beautiful flowers that go well with Christmas. Here are the flower experts' Christmas favourites.
Makes wreaths and Christmas balls
Flower decorator Marte Gulli runs the flower shop Tørka blomster in Grünerløkka, where she makes bouquets of both dried and fresh flowers.
Now that Christmas is approaching, Gulli is well underway with, among other things, making Advent wreaths from dried flowers.
- I am trying to make a more artistic Advent wreath. I want to think new things, and think about what I can make from the materials we have. Because you can actually make most things out of flowers, including Christmas things. I like to mix pastels, which are not a typical Christmas colour, with the more traditional ones, such as green and red, says Gulli.
Dried flowers have again become an interior trend after it died out in the 90s along with both spiral candles and pastel colours. Now the fashion and interior design is inspired by the 90s, and Instagram abounds with both dried flowers and spiral candles. The wonderful thing about dried flowers is that they are immortal.
These are Gulli's Christmas favourites:
Amaryllis
- Amaryllis an eternal favourite. It is so majestic and beautiful that I think it is a shame that it is only used in December. Would love to have it all year round. It is available in many nice colors and shades that are not "Christmas colours" as well.
Tips: Tape or put a rubber band on the stem at the very bottom so that the stem does not curl. Then the flower lasts longer. ️
CHRISTMAS FAVOURITE: Amaryllis is a nice traditional Christmas plant. Photo: Sara Boquist.
Colored moss
- Colored moss can be used in many nice ways. For example as a table decoration, in an Advent wreath or door wreath. I like to use more non-traditional colors such as pink, says Gulli.
Mistletoe
- Only because I like to kiss, hehe.
Dried Amaranthus
- Not particularly traditional, but love the shape and expression it gives. Can almost look like dripping icicles. Like to use this in, for example, a door wreath.
Sells flowers and Christmas trees
At the Oslo-based flower shop Botanik, they have noticed a great demand for Christmas trees since the beginning of November.
Managing director Hedda Braathen says that they want to offer a mix of the traditional and innovative.
- Christmas plants for us are a good atmosphere, warmth and joy. We have looked for plants and flowers in more special colors such as salmon pink, delicious green and burgundy. Our focus is on finding the colors of which there are fewer on the market, says Braathen.
These are Braathen's Christmas favourites:
Buttercup
- We always wait with excitement for the first buttercups. They are so delicate, yet strong. They come in lots of colors and sizes. The largest ones look almost like peonies when they are in full bloom. We love using them in small vases that hang on the Christmas tree.
Swivel
- Hyacinth/swivel creates the scent of spring in December. It is a less expensive plant than amaryllis and blooms a little faster. It comes in pink, blue and white. Most often, the pot it stands in is an indication of what color the flower will be. It should be watered very sparingly.
Cyclamen hederifolium (a type of alpine violet)
- This is a super exciting Christmas flower. It comes as a tuber that looks a bit like a flat potato. Beautiful flowers grow from the tuber on long thin stems. Towards the end of flowering, small green leaves appear and they can continue to grow for months.
Christmas tree
- The fact that we have been inside a lot makes us aware of how important it is to surround ourselves with plants and greenery, and Christmas is an excellent time to bring nature inside. Which brings us to our favorite plant by far; the Christmas tree. And of course it has to be real.
Is the Christmas tree perhaps the most beautiful flower of Christmas? Photo: Private.
Allergic? - If you belong to those who are allergic to many Christmas flowers, we recommend orchid, azalea or mountain violet. The latter gets a completely different and more modern look if you pinch off all the leaves. This turns an otherwise somewhat boring Christmas plant into something quite beautiful and exciting, concludes Braathen.
– Choose a green plant
Author of the book Plantelykke, ANDERS ROYNEBERG, wants to see more people think outside the box, become more inventive and make slightly different choices of Christmas plants. He himself likes to combine the more traditional, such as a poinsettia, with other plants.
- Why not choose a nice, green plant instead? It is a more sustainable choice as they not only last through Christmas but can live for a very long time. I personally think Christmas plants can quickly become a bit sweet and romantic, and prefer plants that break more and are more masculine.
Also read: EIGHT SCULPTURAL AND FUN VASES
Røyneberg with a Peace Lily. Photo Elisa Vagle
Gets better with plants
RESEARCH shows that plants have a positive effect on our health. Now that winter depression is setting in for many, there are small joys in everyday life that can help you feel better.
- Now that it is colder and we spend up to 80 percent of our time at home, I think it is important to bring nature into the home, at school and in the office. We feel better when we surround ourselves with green plants.
Røyneberg's three favorite Christmas plants:
November cactus
- November cactus is one of the oldest potted plants in Norway. It is a plant that is often passed down between generations, as it can be over 100 years old. What is special about it is that it blooms in the dark in strong colors in white and pink. It is my favorite plant in the run-up to Christmas.
November cactus with fresh colors. Photo: Private.
Christmas rose
- Christmas rose or Helleborus as it is also called is a really robust and beautiful plant. It produces white, pink or purple flowers. The Christmas rose does well in colder weather, so it is perfect for Norway, winter and Christmas time. It can be well placed by your front door.
Peace lily
- The peace lily is very traditional and has properties that make it very nice at Christmas time. It is hardy and tolerates the dark well. It has a fiery green color with white flowers.
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