FIVE FESTIVE CRACKERS

1 CYCLAMEN PERSICUM

Candy coloured flowers with swept-back petals, above, held on short stalks above a nest of attractive marbled leaves.

2 CHRISTMAS CACTUS

In early winter, buds on the ends of arching, flattened stems open into 4in-long, hot pink flowers with protruding stamens.

3 POINSETTIAS

An iconic plant from Mexico that’s grown for its colourful red leaves (technically bracts) that surround a head of tiny yellow flowers.

4 PHALAENOPSIS

Moth orchids have flowers in many dazzling shades and are floriferous – a single spike can hold up 30 individual blooms for months.

5 SOLANUM CAPSICASTRUM

Winter cherry forms a bushy, 12in-tall plant covered with orange berries. Keep out of the reach of kids as they are toxic.