There is a reason people have brought greenery indoors in midwinter for centuries. When the days are at their shortest, a vase of fresh flowers and pine makes a room feel looked after.
It is also one of the easiest gifts to send to someone you won't see over Christmas. Here is our guide to the stems that feel most like the season, how to choose between red, white and frosted blue, and how to keep a festive bouquet looking good until Boxing Day.
The flowers that feel like Christmas
Most Christmas bouquets are built from the same handful of seasonal ingredients. Here is what each one brings.
Deep red feels traditional. White brings a quiet, frosted look that suits a hallway or a mantelpiece.
Round, glossy berries in red or cream. The simplest way to make a bouquet feel festive.
Tight clusters of deep red buds that hold well in the vase. You will find it in The Crimson.
Drama and scale. Rich red lilies open slowly over several days, and sit at the heart of The Mulberry.
The foliage and much of the scent. Eucalyptus drinks a lot, so keep the vase topped up.
Not flowers, but they make a room smell like Christmas. The Fireside uses whole dried oranges, and The Snowdrop adds cinnamon.
Red, white or frosted blue
Colour is the quickest way to choose. Think about the room the flowers will live in, and the person receiving them.
Five red roses · Hypericum · Eucalyptus · Pine cones · Dried oranges
The classic red Christmas bouquet, kept small and cosy. Five red roses sit among bright hypericum berries and silvery eucalyptus, with natural pine cones and whole dried oranges for warmth.
It suits a traditional home, a kitchen table, or anyone who loves Christmas properly.
Five white roses · Creamy hypericum · Eucalyptus · Pine cones
The calm alternative. Five white roses with creamy hypericum berries, silvery eucalyptus and pine cones, like coming in from the cold.
White and silver look wintry rather than festive, so it stays right well into January, and it goes with any decorations.
Carnations · White lisianthus · Stocks · Eryngium · Solidago · Pine
The frosted blue and white choice. Creamy carnations and pure white lisianthus set a soft, wintry palette, white stocks add a gentle clove-like scent, and blue eryngium gives it a crisp, frosted edge.
It fits through any standard UK letterbox, so it is the easiest way to send a little Christmas to someone far away. For the same frosted look, see The White Christmas Letterbox Flowers further down.
More Christmas bouquets
-
The Mulberry Festive FlowersFrom £36. Red lilies, carnations and hypericum berries with eucalyptus. Rich and generous.
-
The Snowdrop Bouquet£47. White roses, carnations, snapdragons and alstroemeria with cotton pods and cinnamon.
-
The Crimson£53. Red roses, deep red skimmia and kangaroo paw with pine cones and pistache.
-
The Noel£68. Red and cream Avalanche roses, waxflower, eryngium and hypericum with spruce.
-
Luxury Christmas White Rose Bouquet and Vase£100. Twenty white roses, eucalyptus, pussy willow and pine cones, delivered with a vase.
-
The Christmas Tablescape£50. Four red bud vases and 15 seasonal stems to arrange on the Christmas table.
Letterbox or hand-tied?
December is the month when people are least likely to be at home. Letterbox flowers are packed in a slim box that fits through any standard UK letterbox, so nobody needs to be in. The recipient trims the stems, puts them in water, and watches them open over the next few days.
Hand-tied bouquets arrive ready to go straight into a vase. Choose one when you know someone will be home, or when the flowers are the centrepiece of the day.
-
The White Christmas Letterbox Flowers£27. White snapdragons, alstroemeria and carnations with blue eryngium and red hypericum.
-
The Dew£27. White roses with hypericum, snapdragons, eucalyptus and pine cones.
When to order Christmas flowers
Earlier than you think. The last week before Christmas is the busiest of the year for couriers, so leave yourself some room. You can order now and choose your delivery day at checkout, and you will find our last order dates on the Christmas gift shop.
For flowers on the Christmas table itself, aim for delivery two or three days before. Roses and lilies will have opened a little by then, which is exactly how you want them.
Keeping Christmas flowers fresh
Central heating is the main enemy in December. A few small habits make a real difference.
-
01
Trim the stems at an angle before they go in water, and again every couple of days.
-
02
Change the water every two days and keep it topped up. Pine and eucalyptus drink more than you would expect.
-
03
Keep them cool, away from radiators, open fires and sunny windowsills.
-
04
Keep them away from the fruit bowl. Ripening fruit releases a gas that makes flowers fade faster.
-
05
Remove lily pollen as each flower opens, so it doesn't stain petals, clothes or tablecloths.
For more, see our guide to caring for roses and making them last longer.
Frequently asked questions
-
When should I order Christmas flowers?
Order early in December for the widest choice of delivery dates. You can choose your delivery day at checkout, and our last order dates are on the Christmas gift shop.
-
Can I send Christmas flowers to someone who won't be home?
Yes. Our Christmas letterbox flowers fit through a standard UK letterbox, so nobody needs to be in to receive them.
-
Which flowers are traditional at Christmas?
Red and white roses, berries such as hypericum and skimmia, red lilies and amaryllis, with pine, spruce and eucalyptus for foliage and scent.
-
Do you deliver Christmas flowers across the UK?
Yes. We deliver nationwide, with next-day delivery on most orders placed before 3pm.
-
How long do Christmas flowers last?
Every bouquet is covered by our 7-day freshness guarantee. Keep them cool and change the water every couple of days, and most will last longer.
Christmas flowers from £27, delivered across the UK.