Occasions
Which flowers are traditional for Christmas in New Zealand?
Pōhutukawa, which bursts into brilliant red blossom in December, is known as New Zealand's Christmas tree and has traditionally been used to decorate homes and churches at Christmas since the 1850s, in place of the northern-hemisphere holly and mistletoe.
Details
| Topic | What we know | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | Beyond pōhutukawa, popular Christmas flowers from NZ florists include gerberas, roses, lilies, chrysanthemums and alstroemeria, chosen for being vibrant and heat-tolerant, with white lilies a particularly popular scented choice. | |
| Christmas lily | The Christmas lily (Lilium regale) is strongly associated with the Christmas season in New Zealand and, once established in the ground, naturally flowers in December. |
Good to know
- Each fact was checked on the date shown. Florists' stock changes, so check with the florist before you order.
Sources and last checked
Last checked .
- Department of Conservation: https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/pohutukawa/. Checked .
- Te Papa: https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2018/12/20/the-christmas-tree-in-new-zealand/. Checked .
- Te Ara: https://teara.govt.nz/en/public-holidays/page-2. Checked .
- Bloomex NZ: https://bloomex.co.nz/blogs/news/christmas-flowers-in-nz. Checked .
- Flowers Auckland: https://www.flowersauckland.co.nz/shop/product-detail/christmas-lilies/. Checked .
- NZ Herald: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christmas-is-season-for-lilies/Y57VSNZZO45DSZKPS5QUJGDOFM/. Checked .
- NZ Bulbs: https://nzbulbs.co.nz/Item/Christmas-Lily-Regale. Checked .