Julens stjärna

The Julstjärna (Christmas Star) – A Beloved and Versatile Swedish Winter Classic

The julstjärna, or Christmas star (Poinsettia), is as indispensable in Swedish homes during Advent as the Christmas tree is on Christmas Eve. Originally revered by the Aztecs as a sacred plant, the Christmas star has become one of the strongest symbols of Swedish yuletide celebrations and is the top-selling flower in December.

Tradition and Popularity

Year after year, Swedish shops offer an expanding selection of julstjärnor in a wide range of colors, forms, and sizes. The classic red remains a favorite, available in several hues, but today's assortment also features variants with creamy white, apricot, or light pink bracts, and sometimes even spotted or striped varieties. See examples here, here, and here.

Swedes buy around 11 million julstjärnor every year, with 60-70% of all sales taking place around the first Sunday of Advent. However, the season for the Christmas star stretches from November all the way to Christmas. Its name aptly comes from the plant’s star-shaped bracts and its timely blooming in December.

Varieties and Decorative Trends

There are about thirty different varieties available in Sweden, showing how the plant’s popularity is matched by its diversity. Beyond classic reds, you'll find hues ranging from delicate apricot to creamy white, soft pinks, or even bracts with decorative spots and stripes. Some modern cultivars are even artificially colored, and new leaf shapes—pointed, round, or resembling oak leaves—are continually being developed.

Julstjärnans size options range from the standard 30 cm plant to smaller mini and midsized variations. Thanks to innovative breeding, you can now find julstjärnor on tall stems, as bushy plants, or even trained into tree-like forms. Browse diverse forms here, here, and here.

Decorating with the Christmas Star

The Christmas star is perfect for creative arrangements:

Place creamy or white julstjärnor on a tray, bowl, or decorative pot combined with dried orange slices, fragrant cinnamon sticks, and candles.
Pastel shades, like pink or apricot, wrapped with gold thread offer a modern touch.
Traditional arrangements of red or white julstjärnor, in a basket with white moss and red apples, may be intertwined with ivy for a classic holiday feel. See more arrangement ideas here, here, here, and here.

Julstjärnan’s versatility means it can brighten up the longest nights of winter, enrich the Christmas atmosphere, or serve as a thoughtful seasonal gift.

Care Tips for Julstjärnan

The julstjärna is an easy-care plant—even for those without a green thumb. Follow these tips to keep your plant beautiful all season:

Buy plants with yellow-green buds (the true flowers) between the colorful bracts still closed, as these will last the longest.
Protect the plant from the cold on the way home by wrapping it in newspaper.
Place in a bright, warm spot, free from drafts—ideally at 18°C, out of direct sunlight.
Water moderately with room temperature water. Let the soil stay lightly moist, but avoid making it soggy (“blöta fötter”).
Do not fertilize while blooming.
Avoid placing fruit nearby, as ethylene gas from fruit can accelerate wilting.
If you wish to keep the plant as a green houseplant after Christmas, cut off the flower bracts and leave 3–4 green leaves. Pinch back new shoots a couple of times to keep the plant compact.

Advanced Care: Reblooming Your Julstjärna

To encourage the bracts to change color the following year, you’ll need to provide complete darkness for at least twelve hours per day, for several weeks—an advanced challenge even for the ambitious plant lover.

The Fascinating History Behind the Christmas Star

The julstjärna is native to Mexico, where it’s known as “Flores de la Noche Buena”—flowers of the holy night. In the wild, it’s a shrub that can reach up to five meters and is also found in the Caribbean, on the Canary Islands, and Madeira.

Ancient Roots and Modern Journey

Aztec mythology tells that the Christmas star received its classic red color when a heartbroken goddess died, her blood coloring the plant’s leaves. Red was a sacred color to the Aztecs, who considered the plant both pure and connected to taboo rituals. They used the leaves for red dye and the sap as a fever-reducing medicine.

From Mexico to Swedish Homes

Julstjärnan’s global journey began in the 1830s, when Joel Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico, brought cuttings to the United States and cultivated the plant in botanical gardens. In his honor, the plant is known in English as “poinsettia”. It arrived in Europe in the early 1900s and soared in Swedish popularity during the 1960s, securing its place as a season-defining staple.

The julstjärna, with its radiant colors and fascinating history, continues to light up Swedish homes and hearts, bringing warmth and festivity to the darkest winter days. For more inspiration and care advice, visit Odla.