December Birth Flower: Holly & Narcissus

By Thehomesprouts Team · September 26, 2026

December Birth Flowers

December has two official birth flowers: holly (Ilex) and narcissus (specifically paperwhite narcissus). Both carry deep winter symbolism and are associated with holiday traditions around the world.

Holly: Protection and Goodwill

Symbolism

Holly has been sacred across cultures for millennia. The Druids believed it protected against evil spirits. Romans gave holly branches during Saturnalia as a symbol of goodwill. Christians adopted it as a Christmas symbol, with the red berries representing drops of blood and the pointed leaves representing the crown of thorns.

Growing Holly

Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Acidic, well-draining (pH 5.0-6.0)
Water: Moderate, drought-tolerant once established
Important: Holly is dioecious — you need both male and female plants for berry production. One male can pollinate up to 5 females within 40 feet.

Popular Garden Varieties

English holly (Ilex aquifolium), American holly (Ilex opaca), and compact Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) for hedging.

Narcissus (Paperwhite): Hope and Renewal

Symbolism

The narcissus represents hope, renewal, and new beginnings — fitting for December as the year turns. In Chinese culture, paperwhite narcissus blooming on New Year's Day is considered extremely lucky.

Forcing Paperwhites Indoors

Paperwhites are the easiest bulbs to force for winter bloom:

Place bulbs in a shallow bowl with pebbles and water (just touching the bulb base)
Keep in a cool, dark place for 2-3 days to initiate root growth
Move to bright light once shoots appear
Blooms appear in 4-6 weeks and last 2-3 weeks

Tips to Prevent Leggy Growth

Once roots are established, replace water with a 5% alcohol solution (1 part vodka to 7 parts water). This stunts stem growth by one-third while flowers remain full size — producing compact, upright plants instead of floppy ones.