Christmas Trees with a difference!

New ideas for Christmas trees with poinsettias

November 2022. What would Christmas Eve be without a decorated tree? There's barely a household that doesn't have this epitome of Christmas. The experts at Stars for Europe (SfE) share Christmas tree ideas using poinsettias that will appeal to lovers of real trees as well as those who prefer alternative options. 

For minimalists: Starry trees with cream poinsettias

Cream poinsettias fit perfectly with a minimalist, Scandi-style Christmas look. With their star-shaped bracts, they have a real festive feel and, as cut flowers, make Christmas trees and presents stand out. Here, cut poinsettias tucked into baubles work wonderfully as vases with their hanging loops removed.

Its triangular shape makes this simple wooden shelf an ideal Christmas tree substitute for anyone who wants a reusable alternative to the classic fir. To decorate, fill the shelf with poinsettias, cones, foliage plants, gifts and Christmas decorations, then add a string of lights. Done! The castors allow you to move this minimalist tree substitute wherever it attracts the most attention. DIY tip: You can build a triangular shelf yourself using a wooden stepladder. Simply attach wooden boards between sets of opposite rungs, as well as under the feet so you can screw castors underneath.

A poinsettia plant to replace a Christmas tree? No problem with this imposing columnar specimen! Especially practical: the magnificent, cream-coloured bracts make additional decorations unnecessary. Poinsettias come in many different colours, sizes and growth forms. Columnar plants are rare and not easy to obtain. Your best chance of finding them is at the beginning of the season in a good specialist shop.

For romantics: Fairytale Christmas tree alternatives

This homemade Christmas tree decorated with winterberry (ilex verticillata) and fairy lights is both fabulously romantic and modern. It consists of five 1.8m long natural round logs tied together at one end and set up like a tepee. The central focus is the basket planted with poinsettias in the middle. Gifts can be arranged under the wooden frame to save space.

Left: Branches decorated with Christmas decorations and cut pink poinsettias and placed in the vase make a creative alternative to the classic Christmas tree. The poinsettia stems are in test tubes filled with water.

Hanging decoration as an alternative Christmas tree: You can find a suitable spot anywhere for this wire spiral, covered with juniper twigs and decorated with poinsettias and mini baubles. This pretty hanging decoration is simple to make with a little skill.

For the mini Christmas tree to hang, you need craft wire (1 - 2 mm thick), two pairs of pliers (one pair of side cutters for cutting and one pair of flat-nose pliers for bending the wire), juniper twigs, small Christmas balls, string/tape, silver thread, three test tubes and three mini Christmas stars.

Here's how it's done:

Step 1: Cut a 50-60cm length of wire using the wirecutters. Use the flat nose pliers to make a small loop at one end for hanging.

Step 2: Starting from the loop, form the wire into a spiral one circle at a time. Add another loop at the end.

Step 3: Bind the juniper twigs onto the wire with the silver thread.

Step 4: Attach the mini baubles and test tubes to the juniper-wrapped wire with ribbon and hang your mini Christmas tree in your chosen spot. Then fill the test tubes with water and place the cut poinsettias inside.

Alternative vintage wall tree with poinsettias

With this homemade Christmas tree made of poinsettias and a mismatched collection of nostalgic Christmas decorations, there are no limits to your imagination. This creative wall display is a space-saving solution for anyone who wants an original alternative to the classic Christmas tree. In addition to the poinsettias, the embroidery hoops with Christmas motifs are also really eye-catching. They can be made in just a few steps.

You will need an old Christmas jumper, scissors, embroidery hoops and hot glue and glue gun.

Here's how it's done:

Step 1: Place the inner ring of the embroidery hoop in the centre of your chosen motif on the jumper and mark a circular cutting line at least two centimetres larger than the hoop. Cut out the motif along this line.

Step 2: Place your circle of jumper centrally over the inner ring. Place the open outer ring on top and tighten the tension screw. When the motif is in your desired position, attach the excess to the inside of the frame with hot glue.

Tip: This DIY wall tree offers space for several Christmas embroidery frames in different sizes.

Poinsettias as cut flowers

Whether individually in a vase, as a flower arrangement or in a bouquet, cut poinsettias have a long vase life. The gorgeous, star-shaped bracts will stay fresh for about two weeks if you stop the milky sap from oozing out of the cut ends of the stems. To do this, first immerse the stems in hot water of around 60°C for about five seconds then plunge into cold water.

For more Christmas trees ideas using poinsettias and lots of other information and decoration tips with this winter flowering plant, visit: https://www.starsuniteeurope.eu.

Stars for Europe

Stars for Europe (SfE) is the marketing initiative of the European poinsettia breeders Dümmen Orange, Selecta One, Beekenkamp Plants and Syngenta Flowers. The initiative was founded in 2000 with the aim of promoting and securing long-term poinsettia sales in Europe. SfE activities currently take place in 22 European countries. From 2021 to 2024, marketing activities are supported by the EU as part of the "Stars Unite Europe" campaign in seven countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Spain.

Reproduction is free of charge on condition that the image credit "Stars for Europe" is included. Please send a copy.

Press Contact

Charlotte Cowell – charlotte@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk / 01442 863646

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Editors notes

Stars for Europe (SfE) is a marketing initiative founded by European poinsettia breeders Dümmen Orange, Selecta One, Beekenkamp and Syngenta Flowers, supported by MNP Flowers. The initiative began in 2000 with the aim to promote and secure long-term poinsettia sales in Europe. SfE activities are currently taking place in 22 European nations.