2026 guide · Occasion

Christmas Flowers: Choosing Amaryllis or Poinsettia

Amaryllis and poinsettia set the festive tone, alongside red roses, holly and fir branches. We compared six Swiss online florists so you can order without the last-minute panic before 25 December.

See the ranking 6 services · updated September 2026

Low Christmas table centrepiece with red amaryllis, white roses, fir, holly, eucalyptus, pine cones and candles on a wooden table. — Table centrepiece with amaryllis

Next date

Friday 25 December 2026

Christmas 2026 falls on Friday 25 December 2026, then on Saturday 25 December 2027. The 25th is a public holiday everywhere, and the 26th, St Stephen’s Day, is one in many cantons, mostly German-speaking, but not in Geneva or the canton of Vaud: aim for delivery on the 23rd at the latest, or the morning of the 24th depending on the service.

Christmas 2026: Friday 25 December 2026

2027Saturday 25 December 2027

At Christmas, ordering flowers comes down to two things: the arrangement and the calendar. Amaryllis brings a tall stem and wide, open blooms, while a poinsettia will brighten a windowsill for several weeks. Around them, red or white roses, fir branches, holly, eucalyptus and pine cones build a display that holds from the first Sunday of Advent right through to Christmas Eve. Budget CHF 50 to 120 for a bouquet or a table centrepiece.

The catch is delivery. In 2026, 25 December falls on a Friday and the week before it is busy at every florist. We suggest aiming for arrival on the 23rd at the latest, or the morning of the 24th if the service offers it. For an order going abroad, it is handled by a local florist in the destination country, so give yourself plenty of time.

Which flowers to give

Which flowers to give at Christmas

Two plants carry the season: amaryllis and poinsettia. Everything else is there to build the display around them.

The classics

The flowers everyone immediately links to the festive season.

Amaryllis wide blooms, upright stem
Poinsettia Christmas star in a pot
Red roses the festive red
White roses a more understated take

Foliage and berries

What gives the arrangement its scent and its structure.

Fir branches scent of resin
Holly decorative red berries
Eucalyptus grey-green foliage
Pine cones a natural touch

The formats

The same flowers play a different role depending on the format.

Table centrepiece low, with candles
Advent wreath order from late November
Potted poinsettia an affordable gift
Red and white bouquet CHF 50 to 120

By recipient

Who you are giving to shapes the choice.

Your dinner hosts low table centrepiece
A small budget potted poinsettia
Someone abroad floral relay network
A bereavement over the holidays understated white and green

Good to know. An Advent wreath should be ordered from late November, in time for the first Sunday of Advent. Then place a second order for 23 December: you will have a fresh wreath all month and a centrepiece made up just before Christmas Eve. Two deliveries beat one tired arrangement on the 25th.

The six online florists compared for Christmas

We looked at the quality of the seasonal arrangements, the delivery times advertised in December and the geographical coverage.

Our top pick

Kanel kanel.ch

Our top pick for Christmas: this French-speaking Swiss studio makes up its seasonal bouquets by hand, delivers within a few hours in Geneva and Lausanne and next day elsewhere in Switzerland. Use code FABIEN10 for 10% off.

Express 4hArtisanSeasonal flowersSympathy & subscriptions

🎁 Promo code FABIEN10, 10 % off

9.6/ 10

from CHF 59

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Fleurop fleurop.ch

A floral relay network since 1946, with thousands of partner florists in Switzerland and abroad: handy for a delivery far from home. The arrangement depends on the florist who makes it up.

National coverageInternationalReliable choice

9.1/ 10

from CHF 45

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Fleuriot fleuriot.ch

A long-established Geneva house going back nearly two centuries, at ease with signature arrangements and end-of-year events. Budgets start higher and the roots remain first and foremost Genevan.

High-endGenevaEvents

8.9/ 10

from CHF 80

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Interflora Suisse interflora.ch

A very wide catalogue, worldwide delivery and gift options such as chocolates or balloons. As with any relay network, the final result depends on the local florist who receives the order.

Large catalogueWorldwideGifts +

8.6/ 10

from CHF 40

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Vaud-Fleurs vaud-fleurs.ch

A polished French-speaking Swiss service, from making up the flowers to delivering them, with good value for money on a table centrepiece. The coverage focuses on the canton of Vaud.

RomandyValue for moneyLocal

8.4/ 10

from CHF 50

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Envoyer-des-fleurs envoyer-des-fleurs.ch

The budget option: artisan bouquets at gentle prices delivered across French-speaking Switzerland. The choice of seasonal flowers is narrower and coverage stops at the French-speaking cantons.

BudgetRomandy artisanSimple

8.1/ 10

from CHF 35

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Our advice

Three situations and what we would do

The right move depends on the date of your meal and the distance to cover.

You are invited on the 25th. Have the flowers delivered to your hosts on 23 December rather than on the day itself: the table is already laid and nobody is hunting for a vase on the 25th. A low centrepiece with candles lets guests see each other across the table. Budget CHF 50 to 120.

You want a gift that lasts. A potted poinsettia is an affordable gift that keeps going for several weeks, well past Christmas Eve. Keep it in the light, away from draughts, and water sparingly. It is also the safe choice if you do not know the person’s taste in flowers.

You are sending flowers abroad. With the big networks such as Fleurop or Interflora, your order is passed to a local florist who makes it up on the spot. It is a busy time of year: order early, give a flexible delivery date and keep the description of the flowers you want fairly broad.

Frequently asked questions

Which flowers should you give at Christmas?

Amaryllis and a potted poinsettia are the two safe bets of the season. Add red or white roses, fir branches, holly, eucalyptus and pine cones for a table centrepiece with candles.

When should you order your Christmas flowers?

Aim for arrival on 23 December at the latest, or the morning of the 24th depending on the service. Christmas 2026 falls on Friday 25 December 2026 and the week before is busy everywhere. For an Advent wreath, order from late November.

Can flowers be delivered on 25 or 26 December?

25 December is a public holiday throughout Switzerland. The 26th, St Stephen’s Day, is a holiday in many cantons, mostly German-speaking, but not in Geneva or the canton of Vaud. So it is better to have flowers delivered on the 23rd, or the morning of the 24th depending on the service.

What budget should you allow for a Christmas bouquet?

Budget CHF 50 to 120 for a bouquet or a made-up table centrepiece. If you are after something gentler on the wallet, a potted poinsettia is an affordable gift that lasts several weeks. The code FABIEN10 gives 10% off at Kanel.

How can you send Christmas flowers to someone abroad?

Go through a large floral relay network such as Fleurop or Interflora: the order is passed to a florist in the destination country, who makes it up and delivers it locally. Order early, as the end of the year is a busy period.

An order to place before the 23rd?

Kanel makes up your Christmas flowers by hand and delivers within a few hours in Geneva and Lausanne, next day elsewhere in Switzerland, with 10% off via FABIEN10.

Order from Kanel ↗

🎁 Use code FABIEN10 for −10 % at Kanel