Christmas plants

From the frankincense and myrrh mentioned in the Bible as two of the gifts given to baby Jesus by the 'Three Wise Men', to the holly and mistletoe that decorate our houses today. Browse through our selection of photos and illustrations of plants that have connections with Christmas.

21 Nov 2011

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Gallery Images

Christmas star orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale) When Charles Darwin was sent a specimen of the Madagascan Christmas star orchid in 1862, he predicted that sin ...more

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Illustration of Ilex fargesii Hand-coloured lithograph of Ilex fargesii by Lilian Snelling, after a watercolour by Lilian Snelling and Stell ...more

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Fruits of mistletoe (Viscum album) Typical shoot of a female plant of Viscum album showing ripe fruit and flower buds. Photographed by Wolfgang S ...more

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Giant redwood lit up at Wakehurst The country’s tallest Christmas tree is the 113-foot giant redwood at Wakehurst, Kew’s country estate in West ...more

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Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

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Frosted holly leaves and fruits

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Holly (Ilex aquifolium)

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Mistletoe (Viscum album) attached to an apple tree One of the most well-known evergreens, mistletoe has inspired fascination throughout history, and is held in e ...more

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Dried specimen of myrrh (Commiphora guidottii) Believed to be the source of the scented myrrh mentioned in the Bible, Commiphora guidottii is a tree native t ...more

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Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) trees in Dhofar Boswellia sacra trees in Dhofar, southern province of the Sultanate of Oman. Photographed by Helen Pickering.

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Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) resin Frankincense is an oily gum resin from the tree Boswellia sacra and related species. It is named in the Bible ...more

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Illustration of Angraecum sesquipedale A hand-coloured lithograph of Angraecum sesquipedale by W.H. Fitch. This illustration was featured in Curtis’s ...more

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Giant redwood lit up for Christmas at Wakehurst The twinkling tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum decorated with 1,800 lights each Christmas, is a local landmark t ...more

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Illustration of Christmas camellia (Camellia sasanqua) Colour print of Camellia sasanqua after a watercolour by Stella Ross-Craig. This illustration appeared in Curt ...more

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