Christmas Centerpiece Ideas with Fresh Flowers

Quick Answer

The Christmas centerpiece that works on almost any table is low, fresh and built on evergreen: roses, amaryllis and orchids set into noble fir, in a red, white or gold palette. We keep it at 12 inches or lower so the people across the table can see each other. Candles sit beside it in their own holders, never inside it.

I am Mariia Berezovska, Lead Florist at Casa Dei Fiori in Beverly Hills. In December I say the same thing to every host: the table piece has two jobs, look like the holiday and leave room for the food.

Here is what separates a good Christmas table centerpiece from a pretty one, and the flowers to build it on. Then five Christmas centerpiece ideas, three of them shown with our own arrangements.

 

What Makes a Great Christmas Centerpiece?

A great Christmas centerpiece is fresh flowers on fresh greenery, kept low, with the candles kept out of it. The evergreen does the holiday work, the flowers do the color, and the height rule keeps the conversation going.

The greenery comes first: noble fir for soft boughs, cedar for scent and drape over the rim, eucalyptus to cool the palette, holly for the berries.

The candles are the rule people break. The Los Angeles Fire Department says to keep a candle at least 12 inches from anything that can burn, in a holder that will not tip. December is the peak month for home candle fires. A Christmas table centerpiece with a flame inside the fir is the one thing we try to talk a host out of. Christmas centerpieces with candles work when the candles sit in their own holders beside the flowers.

A great Christmas centerpiece means:

• Fresh flowers set into fresh evergreen
• A low profile that keeps the sightline clear
• Candles in their own holders, beside the flowers

Best for:

• Family dinners where everyone talks across the table
• Hosts who want the holiday without the clutter
• Tables that already have the candles sorted

Best Flowers for a Christmas Centerpiece

The best Christmas centerpiece flowers are the ones December gives you. Amaryllis and orchids are at their winter peak, hellebore is strong all winter, roses and carnations run all year, the first ranunculus are back, and amaranthus does the trailing line.

Roses. Available all year, in red for the classic table and white or cream for the winter one. The flower a Christmas floral centerpiece is built around.

Amaryllis. At its winter peak in December, with a tall stem and a trumpet bloom that reads as the holiday from across the room. One stem is a statement, three are a centerpiece.

Orchids. Cymbidium orchids peak in winter, and white orchids carry the cool palette. Browse our orchid arrangements for the shapes we work in.

Ranunculus. The first stems of the season return in winter. Layered petals, small heads, perfect at the low edge of a design.

Hellebore. The Christmas rose, strong in winter bouquets and the quietest flower on the list. It sits low and nods.

Carnations. All year, in deep red, with a round head that fills the gaps between the roses.

Amaranthus. The dark red tendrils that spill over the rim and soften the edge of the vessel.

Greens. Noble fir for the base, cedar for scent and drape, eucalyptus for a modern note, holly for the berries. For what each of these means, see our guide to traditional Christmas flowers.

Amaryllis, hellebore, ranunculus, carnations and orchids are special orders for us in December.

 

Christmas centerpiece flowers mean:

• Classic, in red roses and carnations
• Winter, in white orchids and roses
• Height and drama, in amaryllis

Best for:

• Christmas floral centerpieces in red, white or gold
• A formal table that wants orchids
• A long table that wants ranunculus and hellebore kept low

 

Christmas Centerpiece Ideas by Style

Pick the palette first and the flowers follow. These five Christmas centerpiece ideas cover the range we are asked for in December, each shown with one of our own pieces where we have one. Stems vary by season, so the look is the promise, not the flower.

Classic red and green. Red roses and carnations on noble fir, with amaranthus over the rim. Ask for red when you order Flocon Rouge, our hat box of fresh and dried flowers on tree branches.

White winter. White orchids and roses on noble fir with amaranthus, finished with ornaments. Frozen, our Christmas centerpiece for the table that wants snow rather than red, is this idea built out, in a standard and a medium size. It comes with candles, inside the piece or in their own holders beside it, your call when you order, and we recommend beside.

Gold with candles. Cream roses and white orchids on cedar in a gold vessel, gold ornaments in the greenery, candles in gold holders on either side. This is the elegant Christmas centerpiece we build to order.

Hat box. Fresh and dried flowers on full Christmas tree branches in a hat box, which is Flocon Rouge, or branches, pinecones and ornaments in the same box, which is Winter Wonderland, our holiday hat box arrangement. Both are Christmas bouquet ideas that arrive ready, with no vase to find.

Minimalist, amaryllis only. Three red amaryllis stems in a clear cylinder, nothing else. For a Christmas centerpiece with candles, this is the shape to choose, since the stems rise well above the holders.

Height holds all five together. The design guides we checked keep a dining centerpiece low enough for eye contact, and one sets the line at 12 inches or lower. A round table can take one taller piece. For long Christmas table centerpieces, low and spread out works, and height is yours to set when you order.

Christmas table centerpieces mean:

• Classic, in red roses and carnations on fir
• Winter, in white orchids and roses on fir
• Gold, in cream roses and white orchids with separate candles

Best for:

• Red and green for a family table
• White for a formal dinner
• Amaryllis alone for a small table or a console

 

How to Keep a Fresh Christmas Centerpiece Beautiful Through the Holidays

A fresh Christmas centerpiece wants three things: water, a clean cut and distance from heat. Change the water about every two days and recut the stems you can reach at a 45-degree angle. Keep the piece away from the fireplace, the heater vent and the oven, out of direct sun, and away from the fruit bowl, since ripening fruit gives off ethylene.

The candles matter here too. A flame beside a Christmas floral centerpiece warms the greenery, so give it the 12 inches the fire department asks for.

One reviewer, Natali, described our work as "Elegant, fresh, and luxurious" and called Casa Dei Fiori "one of the best luxury florists in Los Angeles." The care above is your half of that. For the full routine, see our guide to how to keep cut flowers fresh.

 

Ordering a Christmas Centerpiece in Los Angeles

Tell us your date when you order, and earlier for a specific flower, since the winter stems are special orders. Christmas flower arrangements can be customized by flower, color, height and container. Christmas centerpiece delivery in Los Angeles runs same-day. The areas are Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Century City, Santa Monica, Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills, DTLA, Marina Del Rey, Pasadena and Burbank. For December 24 and December 25, ask when you order.

Setting the table? Tell us the seat count and the palette and we will build the centerpiece to fit. Browse our Christmas flower delivery in Los Angeles, call (424) 303-2291, or order Los Angeles flower delivery online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some easy centerpiece ideas for Christmas?

Red roses and carnations on noble fir, white orchids and roses on fir, or three red amaryllis stems in a clear cylinder. All three sit low.

What flowers are used in Christmas centerpieces?

Roses, amaryllis, orchids, ranunculus, hellebore, carnations and amaranthus, on a base of noble fir, cedar, eucalyptus and holly.

How long does a fresh flower Christmas centerpiece last?

It depends on the flowers, the water and the room. Change the water about every two days, recut the stems, and keep it away from the fireplace and direct sun.

Can you put candles in a fresh flower centerpiece?

Not inside it. The Los Angeles Fire Department asks for 12 inches between a candle and anything that can burn, so the candles go in sturdy holders beside the flowers.

How tall should a Christmas centerpiece be?

Low enough for eye contact across the table. One design guide we checked sets the line at 12 inches or lower.

When should I order Christmas flowers?

As soon as you know your table, and earlier for a specific flower, since the winter stems are special orders for us. For December 24 and December 25, ask when you order.

Do you deliver Christmas centerpieces in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles?

Yes. Same-day delivery covers Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Century City, Santa Monica, Hollywood, the Hollywood Hills, DTLA, Marina Del Rey, Pasadena and Burbank. Casa Dei Fiori is at 9895 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.