The December birth flowers are the narcissus, usually the paperwhite, and holly. The narcissus symbolizes hope and good wishes, and holly symbolizes defense and domestic happiness. Some lists add the poinsettia as a third December flower.
The December birth flower has two standard options: the narcissus, specifically the paperwhite, and holly. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists both, and UK florists such as Appleyard London add the poinsettia as a third December flower, which makes December the month with the most birth flower options.
None of the three blooms outdoors in December across most of the United States. Paperwhites are grown indoors from bulbs, holly is valued for its evergreen leaves and red berries, and poinsettias are raised in greenhouses for the holidays.
This page covers each flower’s meaning, the paperwhite planting dates for December blooms, why some holly bushes have no berries, and pet safety for all three.
Table of Contents
What is the December birth flower?
The December birth flower is the narcissus (paperwhite), with holly as the second December flower and the poinsettia as an alternative.
The table compares all three.
| Attribute | Narcissus (paperwhite) | Holly | Poinsettia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status for December | Primary birth flower | Second birth flower | Alternative in some UK lists |
| Meaning | Hope, rebirth, good wishes | Defense, foresight, domestic happiness | Associated with Christmas |
| Genus | Narcissus | Ilex | Euphorbia |
| Native range | Warm Mediterranean regions | Varies by species; American holly is native to the eastern US | Mexico |
| How it is grown for December | Forced indoors from bulbs | Cut branches and garden shrubs | Greenhouse potted plant |
| Colors | White, some yellow varieties | Green leaves, red berries | Red, pink, white, cream bracts |
| Toxic to pets | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses (ASPCA) | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, low toxicity (ASPCA) | Mild (Pet Poison Helpline) |
The meanings for narcissus and holly come from the Farmers’ Almanac.
The narcissus: primary December birth flower
The narcissus is the main December birth flower, and the paperwhite is the variety most closely linked to the month. Paperwhites belong to the same genus, Narcissus, as the daffodil and jonquil, March’s birth flowers, so people born in March and December share a birth flower family.
What does the narcissus symbolize?
The narcissus symbolizes hope, rebirth, and good wishes when given as a gift, according to the Farmers’ Almanac. The same source notes a second, less positive set of associations: self-admiration, formality, and egotism. These come from the flower’s name.
The Greek myth behind the name
The narcissus is named after Narcissus, a youth in Greek mythology who fell in love with his own reflection. The Farmers’ Almanac recounts that Narcissus “became transfixed by the sight of his own reflection in a pool of water” until the gods turned him into a flower.
The same source notes that the stems bend near the top, so the blooms lean downward as if checking their own reflection.
Why paperwhites bloom indoors in December
Paperwhites need no cold period to flower, which is why they are the narcissus associated with December.
According to Iowa State University Extension, “unlike tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses, paperwhite narcissus don’t require a cold storage period to flower.” The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that paperwhites are native to warm Mediterranean regions, so they skip the winter chilling that other narcissus need.
Iowa State Extension gives about 5 to 6 weeks from planting to bloom: 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, dark place for roots to form, then flowering after the pot moves into light. Bulbs can be grown in water on a layer of gravel or stones, or potted in soil with the tips exposed.
The Farmers’ Almanac gives a shorter estimate of 3 to 5 weeks to bloom; the planting table below uses Iowa State’s longer range, so blooms are not late.
When to plant paperwhites for December blooms
To have paperwhites in bloom for Christmas 2026, plant the bulbs between Friday, November 13, and Friday, November 20, 2026.
The dates below count back 5 to 6 weeks from each target, following Iowa State Extension’s timeline. Indoor temperature and light can shift bloom by several days.
| Bloom target | Target date | Plant 6 weeks before | Plant 5 weeks before |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Poinsettia Day | Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Saturday, October 31, 2026 | Saturday, November 7, 2026 |
| Winter solstice | Monday, December 21, 2026 | Monday, November 9, 2026 | Monday, November 16, 2026 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Friday, November 13, 2026 | Friday, November 20, 2026 |
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Friday, November 20, 2026 | Friday, November 27, 2026 |
For a December birthday, count back 5 to 6 weeks from the birthday itself. Staggering plantings a week or two apart keeps paperwhites blooming through the month.
How to keep paperwhite stems from flopping
A little alcohol in the water keeps paperwhite stems shorter without harming the flowers. The Old Farmer’s Almanac cites Cornell University research showing that “a little alcohol helps keep stems and leaves short but does not harm the flowers.”
Iowa State Extension also recommends moving plants out of direct sunlight once they flower to make the blooms last longer. Most paperwhites have a strong musky scent; Iowa State notes that the variety ‘Grand Soleil d’Or’ has a sweeter, fruity fragrance.
Holly: second December birth flower
Holly is the second December birth flower, prized for its glossy evergreen leaves and red berries rather than its small white flowers.
The Farmers’ Almanac describes holly as “the most common secondary December flower in U.K. tradition and old Almanac sources” and gives its meaning as defense, foresight, and domestic happiness.
Why some holly bushes have no berries
Most hollies are dioecious, which means each plant is either male or female, and only female plants produce berries.
According to the New York Botanical Garden, the most common reason a holly has no berries is a missing partner: a female plant needs a male of a compatible type nearby for pollination. Bees can carry holly pollen up to 200 feet, so the male does not need to be planted right next to the female.
The table lists the causes NYBG gives for berryless holly.
| Cause | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Male plant | Male hollies never produce berries | Plant a female nearby |
| No compatible male | Female flowers are not pollinated | Plant a matching male within about 200 feet |
| Young plant | Seed-grown hollies take 3 to 5 years to fruit | Wait |
| Poor conditions | Drought, excess fertilizer, or late frost reduce fruiting | Improve care |
| Pruning at the wrong time | Flower buds are removed | Adjust pruning timing |
Matching matters. NYBG gives ‘Jersey Knight’ as a pollinator for American holly and ‘Silver Milkboy’ as a partner for the English holly ‘Silver Milkmaid.’ A few cultivars, such as Ilex ‘Nellie Stevens,’ can set fruit without a separate male.
The poinsettia: a third December flower
The poinsettia appears as a third December flower in some UK florist lists, including Appleyard London’s. It is not part of the standard Old Farmer’s Almanac list, but it is widely sold in the United States in December.
Where the poinsettia comes from
The poinsettia is native to Mexico and is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US Minister to Mexico.
According to the Library of Congress, Poinsett came across the plant in Taxco, in the state of Guerrero, in 1828 and brought specimens to his home in South Carolina. The Aztecs called the plant cuetlaxóchitl, which the Library of Congress translates as “a flower that withers.”
National Poinsettia Day
National Poinsettia Day is December 12, the anniversary of Joel Poinsett’s death in 1851. The Library of Congress notes that Congress recognized the day in 2002. National Poinsettia Day falls on Saturday, December 12, 2026, and Sunday, December 12, 2027.
Are December birth flowers safe for pets?
All three December flowers can harm pets, but the risk varies widely. The table compares them.
| Flower | Status | Most toxic part |
|---|---|---|
| Narcissus (paperwhite) | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses | Bulbs |
| Holly | Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses; leaves and berries are low toxicity | Leaves and berries |
| Poinsettia | Mildly toxic to dogs and cats | Milky sap |
The narcissus carries the most serious risk. The ASPCA lists lycorine and other alkaloids as its toxic principles and warns that large ingestions can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and heart arrhythmias, with the bulbs as the most poisonous part.
Paperwhite bulbs sitting in bowls of water are within easy reach of pets, so place them high up. Poinsettias are far less dangerous than their reputation suggests: the Pet Poison Helpline notes that signs are generally mild and self-limiting.
Other December birthday symbols
People born in December have three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon. Jewelers of America lists all three on the modern birthstone list, which was standardized in 1912. December and June are the only months with three birthstones each.
| December symbol | Item | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Primary birth flower | Narcissus (paperwhite) | The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
| Second birth flower | Holly | The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
| Alternative flower | Poinsettia | Appleyard London |
| December Birthstones | Turquoise, tanzanite, blue zircon | Jewelers of America |
December also contains the start of winter. The winter solstice falls on Monday, December 21, 2026, and Tuesday, December 21, 2027, in US time zones.
The November birth flower is the chrysanthemum, and the January birth flower is the carnation, with the snowdrop as the second.
What the December birth flower is not
The December birth flower is not the daffodil, even though daffodils and paperwhites share the genus Narcissus; the daffodil is March’s birth flower.
Holly is also not mistletoe, a separate parasitic plant used as a Christmas decoration. Finally, the December birth flower is not the flower for the Sagittarius or Capricorn zodiac signs, which follow star sign dates that change in late December.
Frequently asked questions
What is the birth flower for December?
The birth flower for December is the narcissus, usually the paperwhite, with holly as the second December flower. Some UK florists add the poinsettia as a third option. The narcissus symbolizes hope and good wishes, and holly symbolizes defense, foresight, and domestic happiness, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
What does the December birth flower mean?
The narcissus means hope, rebirth, and good wishes, although its name also links it to self-admiration through the Greek myth of Narcissus. Holly means defense, foresight, and domestic happiness. The poinsettia, an alternative December flower, is associated with Christmas and National Poinsettia Day on December 12.
When should I plant paperwhites to bloom for Christmas?
Plant paperwhites 5 to 6 weeks before you want them to bloom. For Christmas Day 2026, that means planting between Friday, November 13, and Friday, November 20, 2026. Iowa State Extension notes that paperwhites need no cold period, just 2 to 3 weeks in a cool, dark place to root.
Why does my holly have no berries?
Your holly may be a male plant, or a female without a compatible male nearby. Most hollies are dioecious, so only females produce berries, and they need pollen from a male within about 200 feet, according to the New York Botanical Garden. Young plants, drought, and poor pruning also reduce berries.
Are paperwhites poisonous to cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists narcissus, including paperwhites, as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The bulbs are the most poisonous part, and large amounts can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, and heart problems. Keep bowls of forcing bulbs out of reach of pets.
What is the December birthstone?
December has three birthstones: turquoise, tanzanite, and blue zircon, according to Jewelers of America. The modern birthstone list was standardized in 1912 by the American National Retail Jewelers Association. December and June are the only months with three birthstones.
Sources:
- Farmers’ Almanac – December Birth Flower lore
- Iowa State University Extension – Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac – How to Grow Paperwhites
- New York Botanical Garden – Why doesn’t my holly produce berries?
- Library of Congress – Poinsettia: How a U.S. Diplomat Made a Mexican Flower an International Favorite
- ASPCA – Narcissus
- ASPCA – Holly
- Pet Poison Helpline – Poinsettia
- Jewelers of America – Birthstones
