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Christmas plants other than poinsettia: 9 that last past New Year

By the Grove Plant Care team · Updated November 10, 2026

Want a holiday plant that's still going strong in February? Give an amaryllis, a cyclamen, a kalanchoe, a moth orchid or a bowl of paperwhites for flowers, a bromeliad or an African violet for color that keeps coming, or a Norfolk Island pine or rosemary tree for a little living tree. Moth orchid flowers can last four months or more, and five of the nine are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

A red and white amaryllis with four large trumpet flowers on a tall stalk, growing from a bulb in a green pot by a window blind
Photo by Ella Wei, Pexels License, via Pexels

What can I give instead of a poinsettia?

NC State Extension in Union County suggests amaryllis, kalanchoe, cyclamen, orchids and Christmas cactus as holiday plants beyond the poinsettia. Here's how our nine picks compare, straight from their care cards:

What can I give instead of a poinsettia?
PlantWhy it lastsBlooms again?PetsCare rating
AmaryllisOne bulb can bloom year after yearYes, after a summer of growth and a cool restToxic to cats, dogs and horses, moderateModerate
CyclamenBlooms 2 to 4 months with good careYes, after a summer rest; trickyToxic to cats, dogs and horses, moderateModerate
KalanchoeFlowers last for weeks; a forgiving succulentYes, after six weeks of long nightsToxic to cats and dogs, moderateEasy
PaperwhitePlant a new bowl every two weeks for flowers into MarchNo; forced bulbs are tossed after bloomingToxic to cats, dogs and horses, moderateModerate
Moth orchidFlowers can last four months or moreYes, with more light and cooler fall weeksNon-toxic to cats, dogs and horsesModerate
BromeliadIts colored star stays bright for monthsNo; it grows baby plants that carry onNon-toxic to cats, dogs and horsesEasy to moderate
African violetCan bloom almost all yearYes, nearly nonstop in good lightNon-toxic to cats, dogs and horsesModerate
Norfolk Island pineAn evergreen houseplant for yearsNo flowers; it's a coniferNon-toxic to cats, dogs and horsesEasy to moderate
Rosemary treeAn evergreen herb you can cook withHas small flowers; grown for its leavesNon-toxic to cats, dogs and horsesModerate

The care rating comes from five factors each card scores from university and botanical garden sources. The classic you may be thinking of, the Christmas cactus, is a great pick too: it's non-toxic to cats and dogs and can live for decades.

Which Christmas flowers last the longest?

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From longest to shortest, according to the sources on each card:

  • Moth orchid. Flowers can last four months or more, say NC State and growers in the Royal Horticultural Society's trial. Keep it in bright, indirect light, out of hot midday sun.
  • Bromeliad. The colorful star is made of bracts, special leaves around tiny flowers, and NC State says the display can last 2 to 4 months. Wisconsin Extension and Clemson say it lasts for months.
  • Cyclamen. With good care it blooms for 2 to 4 months, say UGA, NC State and the New York Botanical Garden; Clemson says about 4 weeks. Cool rooms make the flowers last longer: it likes nights near 50°F (10°C), and warm rooms are its biggest enemy.
  • African violet. Each cluster of flowers can last three to six weeks, says Clemson, and new ones keep coming: with enough light, Iowa State, NYBG, the RHS and Colorado State say it can bloom almost all year.
  • Kalanchoe. The flowers last for weeks: about 4 by NC State's count, 6 to 8 by Arkansas Extension's. Cool nights make them last longer.
  • Paperwhite. One bowl blooms about 4 to 6 weeks after planting and doesn't last long, so the trick is to keep planting: start a new bowl every 10 days to two weeks, and Clemson says plantings from mid-October can bloom from Thanksgiving into March. A cool spot out of direct sun keeps open flowers going longer.
  • Amaryllis. Sources disagree on how long each flower lasts, so we don't give a number. What we can say: keeping it out of direct sun and away from heaters once it opens makes the flowers last longer, and the bulb itself can bloom again for years.

Want greenery that lasts all winter? A Norfolk Island pine or a rosemary tree makes a living Christmas tree. Our living Christmas trees guide covers both.

Which holiday plants bloom again next year?

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Here's each plant's trick in two sentences. The care card has the full steps.

  • Amaryllis. After it blooms, keep it growing in sun all summer so the leaves can refill the bulb, then give it a cool, dark rest of at least 8 to 10 weeks. Waxed bulbs are sold to bloom once, so treat a second bloom as a bonus. (Amaryllis care card)
  • Cyclamen. In late spring the leaves yellow and it rests through summer, which can look like dying. Iowa State, Wisconsin and NYBG all call reblooming difficult, though with bright light and cool nights it can flower again by midwinter. (Cyclamen care card)
  • Kalanchoe. Starting in early October, give it 14 hours of complete darkness every night for at least six weeks. Iowa State says it can be tricky, so enjoying it for one season is fine too. (Kalanchoe care card)
  • Moth orchid. Give it more light and a few weeks of cooler temperatures in fall. If the old flower spike is still green, cutting it above a node can bring a side branch of flowers in about 8 to 12 weeks. (Orchid care card)
  • Bromeliad. Each plant blooms only once, then slowly fades over a year or two while it grows baby plants, called pups. Keep caring for it, and the pups carry on. (Bromeliad care card)
  • African violet. No trick needed beyond bright, filtered light: too little light is the usual reason it stops. Feed it lightly and keep it a little snug in its pot. (African violet care card)
  • Paperwhite. It won't. Iowa State, Clemson, Colorado State and Missouri say to throw out forced bulbs after they bloom, because forcing uses up the bulb. Where winters stay mild, UC ANR says soil-grown bulbs can go in the garden. (Paperwhite care card)
  • Christmas cactus. Long nights or cool nights in fall set its buds. Then leave it alone while they form. (Christmas cactus care card)

Which ones are safe for cats and dogs?

  • Non-toxic: moth orchid (the ASPCA listing covers Phalaenopsis only, so check other orchids on their own), bromeliad (Guzmania, the one sold as a gift), African violet, Norfolk Island pine, rosemary and Christmas cactus. Any plant can still upset a pet's stomach if it eats a lot. For the Norfolk pine, a UC Master Gardeners column notes that some vets report stomach upset when pets chew the needles.
  • Toxic: amaryllis, where the bulb is the most poisonous part; cyclamen, where the tuber at the soil line is the most dangerous part; kalanchoe, which contains heart toxins; and paperwhite, where the bulbs are the most poisonous part.
  • And the poinsettia? The ASPCA lists it as toxic, with mild effects, and calls it generally over-rated in toxicity. The poinsettia care card has the details.

If a pet eats a toxic plant and seems unwell, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). Our guide to Christmas plants and pets covers every holiday plant, including holly and mistletoe.

Which ones are easiest to keep?

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Our care rating scores five things: missed waterings, light, humidity, pests and how the plant handles change. A kalanchoe scores low on almost all of them, which is why it's also on our list of easy plants to give as gifts. Each Moderate plant mostly asks for one thing done right: a cool room for the cyclamen, a sunny window for the rosemary, a summer of sun for the amaryllis, a sunny, cool window for paperwhites.

Whichever you give, send the care card along: text the link, or print the card's share image as a gift tag.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can a waxed amaryllis bloom again?

Sometimes. Waxed bulbs bloom on the food already stored inside, and the wax keeps them from taking in more, so Iowa State, Clemson, Illinois and NC State describe them as made to toss after flowering. If the bulb is still firm, you can peel off the wax and pot it, but success isn't guaranteed. See the amaryllis care card.

My cyclamen is turning yellow after the holidays. Is it dead?

If it's late spring and the flowers have finished, it's most likely going dormant. Cyclamen rest through summer, and many people throw them out at this point by mistake. Water less as the leaves yellow and keep the pot somewhere cool and shady. The cyclamen care card explains how to wake it up.

Is the colorful part of a bromeliad a flower?

Not quite. The bright star is a set of bracts, special leaves that hold the plant's tiny true flowers. The true flowers are small and short-lived, while the bracts keep their color for months. A poinsettia's red "petals" are bracts too.

What plants are associated with Christmas?

The poinsettia and the Christmas cactus are the classics. Amaryllis, cyclamen, kalanchoe and paperwhites are common holiday gifts, and the Norfolk Island pine and rosemary are sold as small living trees. Holly and mistletoe are holiday decorations, and our pets guide explains why to keep them out of reach.

What should I give someone who has never kept a plant?

Start with the Christmas gift plants guide, which matches plants to the person, or the easy gift plants list for someone who forgets to water.

Sources

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