The Christmas Rose, also known as the Lenten Rose or Snow Rose thanks to its incredible winter hardiness, is a tough-as-nails outdoor plant that brings some much-needed life to a dreary winter garden. But did you know you can also bring that beauty inside? If you find the right spot, these stunning blooms make for a gorgeous, natural holiday decoration.
The Christmas Rose as a Houseplant
It’s super common to see Christmas Roses popping up in shops during the holiday season. While they are famous for blooming right around Christmas, they aren’t actually traditional houseplants. They really prefer the great outdoors, but you can keep them inside successfully if you have a cool enough spot. The rule of thumb here is: the cooler the room, the longer the flowers will last. A cozy, heated living room isn’t exactly their happy place. Instead, look for a bright spot that stays between 50°F and 60°F. Great options include:
- A bright windowsill in a hallway
- A bedroom window
- An unheated entryway or mudroom
- An unheated sunroom or enclosed porch
Care Tips
If you want your Christmas Rose to thrive indoors, give it some legroom! These plants have long roots that like to spread out, so make sure you use a deep pot. Watering is the trickiest part: you don’t want the soil to dry out completely, but you absolutely have to avoid “wet feet” (standing water). Make sure your pot has a large drainage hole, and I always recommend putting a few shards of broken pottery or pebbles at the bottom for extra drainage. Good news for low-maintenance fans: they’re fine with regular tap water and don’t need any fertilizer while they’re indoors.
Once the blooms start to fade, it’s time to prep them for life outside. Don’t just toss them into the cold! They hate sudden temperature shocks, so you’ll want to “harden them off” by putting them outside for a few hours a day, gradually increasing the time. Once the ground isn’t frozen anymore, you can transplant them into a patio container or directly into your garden beds.
A Quick Safety Note: They are Toxic
As much as we love their look, it’s important to remember that every part of the Christmas Rose is highly toxic. You’ll want to wear gloves when handling them to avoid skin irritation, and definitely keep them out of reach of curious kids and pets. Even eating a tiny amount can cause some nasty symptoms, including:
- Intense thirst
- Nausea and diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Irritation or swelling of the mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Irregular heartbeat
