| Common Name |
Plant Family |
Species |
Notes |
Poinsettia
Flor de Noche Buena |
Euphorbiaceae
Spurge Family |
Euphorbia pulcherrima |
Native to tropical America including Mexico |
| Mistletoe |
Viscaceae
Mistletoe Family |
Species ofPhoradendron, Viscum, Arceuthobium |
Parasites or hemiparasites of other plants |
| Holly |
Aquifoliaceae
Holly Family |
commonly Ilex aquifolium (Old World) or Ilex opaca (eastern United States) |
Most species are dioecious |
| Christmas Cactus |
Cactaceae
Cactus Family |
Schlumbergera x buckleyii |
Native to Brazil |
| Christmas Tree |
Usually Pinaceae
Pine Family or
Cupressaceae
Cypress Family |
Abies, Pseudotsuga, Pinus, Juniperus, etc. |
Local traditions may use other plants |
| Ivy |
Araliaceae
Ginseng Family |
Hedera spp. |
Perennial vines native to the Old World |
Toyon
Christmas Berry |
Rosaceae
Rose Family |
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Native to southern California and Baja California |
| Peppermint |
Lamiaceae
Mint Family |
Mentha piperita |
|
| Ginger |
Zingiberaceae
Ginger Family |
Zingiber officinale |
Native to tropical Asia |
Chocolate
Cacao |
Sterculiaceae
Chocolate Family |
Theobroma cacao |
Native to tropical America |
| Nutmeg |
Myristicaceae
Nutmeg Family |
Myristica fragrans |
Native to East Indies |
| Rosemary |
Lamiaceae
Mint Family |
Rosmarinus officinalis |
Native to southern Europe |
Laurel
Bay |
Lauraceae
Laurel Family |
Laurus nobilis |
|
| Cloves |
Myrtaceae-Myrtle Family |
Syzygium aromaticum |
This family includes eucalyptus trees |
| Cinnamon |
Lauraceae
Laurel Family |
Cinnamomum zeylanicum or Cinnamomum lourerii |
Native to tropical Asia |
| Christmas Rose |
Ranunculaceae
Buttercup Family |
Helleborus niger |
Poisonous plant; native to Europe |
| Frankincense |
Burseraceae
Torchwood Family |
Boswellia spp. |
Incense gum resin native of Africa and Asia; related to our Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla) |
| Myrrh |
Burseraceae
Torchwood Family |
Commiphora spp. |
Aromatic gum resin native of India, Arabia, and eastern Africa; related to our Elephant Tree (Bursera microphylla) |
| Sugar Cane |
Poaceae
Grass Family |
Saccharum officinarum |
Native to the East Indies; used for sugar |
| Sugar Beet |
Chenopodiaceae
Goosefoot Family |
Beta vulgaris |
Used for sugar |
| Yam |
Dioscoreaceae
Yam Family |
Dioscorea esculenta |
|
| Sweet Potato |
Convolvulaceae
Morning Glory Family |
|
|
| White Potato |
Solanaceae
Nightshade Family |
Solanum tuberosum |
|
| Wheat Flour |
Poaceae
Grass Family |
Triticum aestivum |
|
Corn Flour
Maza |
Poaceae
Grass Family |
Zea mays |
|
