Top six Yuletide foliage plants

Eucalyptus

Carried on wiry stems, the silvered foliage of E. gunnii (above) interweaves easily with other plants. Most need regular hard pruning in spring to keep to a manageable size, but Azura (‘Cagire’) is naturally bushy and small-leaved.

Pinus

I like pines for their long needles and glossy colouring. However, the best, including bluish P. wallichiana (above) with its 8in (20cm) needles in clusters of five, can be hard to find ready cut. Growing your own is the answer.

Picea

In addition to the spruce of Christmastree fame, there’s also blue spruce

(P. pungens Glauca Group, above), which brings a different style and colour to holiday wreaths and arrangements. Cut carefully to preserve the shape.

Ilex

The Christmas classic; for variegated foliage and masses of berries go for ‘Golden King’ or snowy-edged ‘Argentea Marginata’; for berries without a pollinator choose ‘J.C. van Tol’ (above). ‘Bacciflava’ has yellow berries.

Euonymus

Large and small shrubs with large and small foliage – often edged or splashed in gold or white and sometimes with pinkish winter tints. Neat forms of

E. fortunei (like ‘Harlequin’, above) are good in windowboxes with cyclamen.

Hedera

Pliable stems and the huge variety of variegated foliage patterns and shapes make ivy a top wreath and garland plant. Pick the colours and patterns you like. Plant on a fence; snipping for Christmas will keep it to size.