Needing inspiration for your festive season decor? Incorporating living plants into your Christmas table really is the gift that keeps giving, continuing to delight long after the decorations have been packed away.

Words and Photographs Natalie Light, Heyne’s Garden Centre

With the festive season almost upon us, it’s only natural to consider how we can freshen up tired spaces and decorate our homes in preparation for the summer holidays and Christmas entertaining period.

This need not be a daunting task, as it is entirely possible to gain fantastic results simply by using your green thumb. From dressing the decks to table setting ideas and living Christmas trees, there are some great, green ideas to try inside and out this summer.

As longer days and pleasant weather draw us out of hibernation, we tend to gravitate outdoors, creating special memories as we share time and holidays with our loved ones.

Patios and courtyards are the heart of outdoor entertaining at this time of year. Give them an instant lift with the addition of some thoughtfully positioned greenery. Plants placed in a home’s living areas create relaxing vibes and a sense of calm, while also offering the aesthetically pleasing backdrop for those fabulous festive photos.

Enter the pot cluster. Three is not a crowd when it comes to this set up. By choosing three different sized pots and staggered plant heights, you can create a very effective and dramatic display.

If space is limited, troughs are a great option. They are narrow enough for high traffic areas, they can also be used to divide, section and draw focus from unsightly objects. Species like monstera and schefflera work well together in displays, offering those quintessential tropical vibes. So too do philodendron, strelitzias and palm varieties.

The variegated ficus elastica ruby features a showstopping burst of colour. To add a touch of Christmas cheer with nostalgic red and white blooms, interplant salvia, petunia, calibrachoa and mandevilla.

Lunch is the focal point for families on Christmas day as we exchange gifts and share food, laughter and joy. A touch of greenery on table settings can really bring life to dining areas and offer a fresh, natural element with the contrasting textures and colours of pots, foliage and beautiful blooms.

Classic red flowering plants like anthuriums and poinsettia make stunning table centerpieces or gifts for your guests. Spathiphyllum marble creates a beautiful winter wonderland feel, featuring a gorgeous white variegation running through the attractive slender green leaves. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) and other vining varieties can create a stunning table runner. Add some artificial berries and fairy lights to really set the scene as day turns to night.

Incorporating glass and greenery is a fun way to accentuate more intricate plants, and a great way to create a talking point over dining. Glass Christmas ornaments are timeless. Use round miniature terrariums as baubles, with the unusually beautiful colours and contours of tillandsia (air plants). Hang or display in a dish; the more the merrier.

If you are feeling creative, a Christmas-themed terrarium looks fantastic, plus they are just so much fun to build. Add miniature pines with red and white baby indoor plants. The final touches to festive decorating would not be complete without the most important symbol of Christmas – the tree!  Living Christmas trees have grown in popularity due to the reusable potential, vast selection choices as well as the satisfaction of growing your own masterpiece.

It’s also a beautiful way to introduce a new family tradition as you select, nurture and lovingly decorate the tree each holiday season. This could be in a pot, but even a special plant or tree in the garden can be delightfully decorated.

Australian natives are an iconic choice, charming us with their unique flowers and foliage, while also providing invaluable assistance to our precious wildlife through habitat and food source. The wonderful Woolly bush (Adenanthos sericeus) ticks all the boxes with a luscious full canopy, soft, velvety green-grey foliage and small red flowers over spring and summer. The aptly named Bush Christmas lilly pilly (Syzygium australe) features gorgeous glossy dark foliage, attractive new red growth and stunning berries (which are edible) over summer. Both of these options are happy potted for years and can be clipped into the perfect Christmas tree shape with ease.

A more traditional choice is the Lemon Cypress, featuring magnificently bright yellow/lime foliage that not only looks the part but permeates a light lemon fragrance when gently brushed against. These look fantastic against simple textures, just let the foliage do the talking.

By using green life, you can really make a huge impact with the possibilities only being limited by your imagination when it comes to selection. You can also use what you already have at home and add a touch of enchanting Christmas flair to your existing house and garden plants.

Get inventive and create something special this season. That’s a wrap –  merry gardening!