December Birth Flower - Holly & Narcissus
The festive, meaningful plants symbolizing protection, happiness, good fortune, and rebirth
About December's Birth Flowers
December is blessed with two beautiful birth flowers: the festive Holly with its glossy leaves and bright red berries, and the fragrant Narcissus with its delicate blooms and sweet scent.
Holly (Ilex species) is an evergreen shrub or tree known for its distinctive spiny, glossy leaves and bright red berries that persist through winter. While not technically a flower, holly has been designated as one of December's birth flowers due to its significance in winter celebrations across many cultures. Holly has long been associated with protection, defense, and good fortune, and its ability to remain vibrant during winter symbolizes eternal life and resilience.
Narcissus (Narcissus species), which includes paperwhites and certain daffodils that bloom in winter, produces elegant, often fragrant flowers with six petals surrounding a central cup or trumpet. These bulbous perennials bring cheer to the darkest months with their bright blooms and sweet fragrance. Narcissus symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and hope, as they often bloom during the winter months, promising the return of spring.
Holly & Narcissus Properties
Physical Properties
- Scientific Name: Holly: Ilex species / Narcissus: Narcissus species
- Color: Holly: Green leaves with red berries / Narcissus: White, yellow, orange, or multi-colored
- Bloom Season: Holly: Berries in fall to winter / Narcissus: Winter to early spring
- Growth Habit: Holly: Evergreen shrub or tree / Narcissus: Bulbous perennial
- Fragrance: Holly: None / Narcissus: Sweet, intense
Symbolic Meaning
- Protection: Holly has traditionally symbolized protection against evil
- Defense: Holly's spiny leaves represent defense and foresight
- Happiness: Both plants are associated with joy and celebration
- Good Fortune: Narcissus symbolizes good luck, especially in Asian cultures
- Rebirth: Narcissus represents renewal and the return of spring
- Hope: Both plants bring hope during the winter months
Growing Conditions
- Holly Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Holly Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic soil
- Holly Zone: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9 (varies by species)
- Narcissus Light: Full sun to light shade
- Narcissus Soil: Well-draining soil
- Narcissus Zone: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9 (varies by species)
Care & Maintenance
- Holly: Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-draining soil
- Holly: Water regularly until established, then only during dry periods
- Holly: Prune in winter to maintain shape and encourage dense growth
- Narcissus: Plant bulbs in fall, 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart
- Narcissus: Provide full sun to light shade and well-draining soil
- Narcissus: Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering
The Rich History of December's Birth Flowers
Holly has been revered since ancient times, with a rich history spanning many cultures. The ancient Romans associated holly with their god Saturn and used it during the festival of Saturnalia, which coincided with the winter solstice. They exchanged holly boughs as gifts and used them to decorate their homes during this time of celebration.
Celtic peoples believed holly offered protection against evil spirits and witchcraft, and they brought it into their homes during winter as shelter for woodland spirits. The Druids considered holly sacred, believing it remained green in winter to keep the earth beautiful when the sacred oak lost its leaves. In medieval times, holly was planted near homes to ward off lightning strikes.
In Christian tradition, holly became associated with Christmas, its prickly leaves symbolizing the crown of thorns worn by Jesus, and its red berries representing his blood. The plant's name comes from the Old English word "holegn," which evolved to "holly." By the 15th century, holly had become a traditional Christmas decoration throughout Europe.
The Narcissus has an equally fascinating history, dating back to ancient Greece where it was named after the mythological figure Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection and was transformed into the flower. The ancient Greeks and Romans associated the flower with both death and rebirth, using them in funeral wreaths but also celebrating their appearance as heralding the arrival of spring. In ancient China and Japan, Narcissus has been cultivated for over 1,000 years and is associated with good fortune and prosperity for the New Year. The Victorians associated Narcissus with egotism and unrequited love, reflecting the Greek myth, but also with rebirth and renewal due to its early blooming period.
Holly & Narcissus Varieties
Both Holly and Narcissus come in several varieties, each with its own unique characteristics:
Ilex aquifolium (English Holly)
The classic holly with spiny, glossy green leaves and bright red berries. This is the traditional Christmas holly, widely used in holiday decorations.
Ilex opaca (American Holly)
Native to eastern North America, with duller green leaves than English holly and red berries that persist through winter, providing food for birds.
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
A deciduous holly that loses its leaves in winter, leaving bare branches covered with bright red berries that create a stunning winter display.
Narcissus papyraceus (Paperwhite)
Popular for indoor forcing during winter holidays, featuring clusters of fragrant, pure white flowers. Unlike other narcissus varieties, they don't require a cold period to bloom.
Narcissus tazetta (Chinese Sacred Lily)
Cultivated for centuries in Asia, with fragrant white petals and yellow cups. Traditionally grown in water with pebbles for Chinese New Year celebrations.
Narcissus 'Ziva'
A popular paperwhite cultivar with exceptionally fragrant white flowers that bloom quickly when forced indoors, making them perfect for holiday displays.
Fascinating Facts About December's Birth Flowers
Fact #1
Holly trees are dioecious, meaning individual trees are either male or female. Only female holly trees produce the iconic red berries, and they need a male tree nearby for pollination.
Fact #2
The wood of holly trees is dense and pale, and has been used historically for chess pieces, piano keys, and walking sticks. It takes dyes well and can be stained to resemble ebony.
Fact #3
There are over 400 species of holly worldwide, ranging from evergreen to deciduous, and from small shrubs to trees that can grow up to 50 feet tall.
Fact #4
Narcissus bulbs contain lycorine, a toxic alkaloid that acts as a natural defense against animals that might dig up the bulbs. This toxicity is what makes them deer and rodent resistant.
Fact #5
The name "Narcissus" comes from the Greek word "narke," meaning numbness or sleep, referring to the plant's narcotic properties. This is also the root of the word "narcotic."
Fact #6
Paperwhite narcissus can be grown without soil, simply placed in a shallow dish with pebbles and water, making them popular gifts and decorations during the winter holiday season.
Uses of December's Birth Flowers
Both Holly and Narcissus have been used in various ways throughout history, from decorative to medicinal purposes:
Holly Uses
- Decorative: Holly is widely used in Christmas and winter holiday decorations, including wreaths, garlands, and table centerpieces. Its bright red berries and glossy green leaves provide color during the winter months.
- Landscaping: Holly shrubs and trees are popular in landscaping for their year-round interest, ability to form dense hedges, and wildlife value. The berries provide food for birds during winter.
- Traditional Medicine: In folk medicine, holly leaves have been used to treat fever, rheumatism, and as a diuretic. However, it should be noted that holly berries are toxic to humans and should not be consumed.
- Woodworking: Holly wood is prized for its fine grain, hardness, and ability to take dyes well. It has been used for inlay work, chess pieces, piano keys, and walking sticks.
Narcissus Uses
- Ornamental: Narcissus bulbs are widely planted in gardens and forced indoors for their beautiful, fragrant flowers during winter and early spring. Paperwhites are especially popular for indoor forcing during the holiday season.
- Perfumery: The essential oil extracted from narcissus flowers, particularly jonquils and daffodils, is used in high-end perfumery for its rich, sweet scent.
- Traditional Medicine: In traditional Chinese medicine, narcissus bulbs have been used to treat wounds, burns, and swellings. However, all parts of the plant contain toxic alkaloids and should be handled with care.
- Research: Compounds from narcissus, particularly galantamine (first isolated from snowdrops but also found in narcissus), are used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Cultural Significance
- In many European countries, holly is considered a symbol of good luck and protection. In some traditions, bringing holly into the home before Christmas Eve was considered bad luck.
- The ancient Romans exchanged holly wreaths as gifts during Saturnalia, a tradition that influenced modern Christmas customs.
- In China, narcissus bulbs are often grown in decorative bowls with pebbles and water for Chinese New Year, symbolizing good fortune and prosperity for the coming year.
- In Wales, it was believed that the first person to bring holly into the house on Christmas Eve would rule the household for the coming year.
- The narcissus is the national flower of Wales, where it is associated with St. David's Day on March 1st (though this typically refers to the daffodil, which is a type of narcissus).
- In Japan, narcissus (suisen) is one of the auspicious New Year's plants and is associated with good fortune.
Connection to December's Birthstones
December's birth flowers share interesting connections with its birthstones, Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon:
December's birth flower (Holly) and birthstones (Turquoise, Tanzanite, and Zircon) share protective qualities, with holly traditionally used as protection against evil and turquoise believed to protect its wearer from harm.
The narcissus's association with rebirth and renewal complements the healing properties attributed to turquoise and the spiritual awareness associated with tanzanite.
Both December's birth flowers and birthstones feature vibrant colors that brighten the winter season – the red berries of holly, the blue of tanzanite and turquoise, and the bright white or yellow of narcissus.
Like the clarity and purity of blue zircon, narcissus flowers represent clarity of vision and self-awareness, while holly's evergreen nature symbolizes eternal life and resilience.
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