Christmas plants from the tropics bloom naturally in the winter. The temperatures are warmer all year long and south of the equator December is in the middle of the summer. In the warmest areas of the country, these plants can be grown outdoors. In the other areas, the Christmas plants grow as house plants. Other plants are native to the United States, are more cold-hardy and grow in a wide area of the country.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrids) grows from a tropical bulb native to the tropical regions of Central and South American. The plant grows from 18 to 20 inches tall producing from two to seven, 6-inch long, lily-shaped flowers on a single stem. The leaves are dark-green, from 16 to 20 inches long and the flowers are white, pink, red or orange. Plant amaryllis in shade outdoors. Keep the plant in filtered sunlight indoors. The plant needs a well-drained soil. House plants should not be watered when the bulb is dormant. Amaryllis is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is native to the tropical areas of Central America and Mexico. The plant is a shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall with large, dark-green, oval-shaped leaves and flowers with yellow centers surrounded by eight to 10 scarlet, white, pink or coral petals that are actually modified leaves measuring from 4 to 12 inches long. Plant poinsettia in full sun and a moist soil. Mulch plants that are grown outdoors and let the soil dry out before watering plants grown in containers. The plant is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.
Dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) is a tree that is native to Eastern United States and grows up to 30 feet tall with smooth leaves that measure from 2 to 4 inches long. The 1-inch wide small white flowers bloom in the spring. The plant will be either male or female and only the female plants will produce either yellow or red berries. Plant dahoon holly in full sun, partial shade or full shade and a wet, light, sandy soil. The plant is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 10.
Christmas palm (Veitchia merrillii), also known as Manila palm and adonidia, grows in containers as well as in the garden. The tree grows up to 16 feet tall and features a smooth stem accented with leaf scars from where old leaves have dropped off. A shaft grows from the top of the tree with approximately 12 feathery 5-foot long leaves. Gray green flowers grow in clusters 2 feet long only at the point where the trunk and shaft meet. Green fruits appear in autumn, growing 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide and turning bright red at the end of December. Christmas palm is a native of the Philippines that likes full sun and a moist soil. The plant is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.