For the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas 2025 issue, we really wanted to lean into everything our readers love, while making a seasonal nod to Australian summer. However, the idea of fresh flowers was a step too far – because we wanted this celebration to be a) affordable, and b) live on for weeks – if not years. Read on to find out how we researched, designed, and created a bold, affordable, and easy to replicate (because we did all the hard work for you!) celebration with fantastic artificial flowers for a brightly blooming summer Christmas.
How to decorate a Christmas tree with fake flowers
Create a bloomin’ big statement with artificial blooms of silk or plastic!
Step 1: Figure out your colour palette
First, define your colour palette. Scott Cassidy (BHG’s Creative Director) and I researched different inspiration, mainly via Pinterest, finding bouquets and arrangements we loved. We then built on tonal combinations that just screamed summer! As you can see below, we landed on pink and orange being our hero colours, with accents of yellow and red to keep the warm tones strong. Finally, we added a hint of balance with pale, lime greens and of course the deep green of the faux pine Christmas tree.
Step 2: Find the perfect flowers
What then followed for us was hours of research to find fake floral suppliers that weren’t too expensive, but created realistic flowers – both Aussie natives and your favourite showstopping garden varieties (hello hydrangeas!). Lucky for you, we’ve saved you the time, and listed all the suppliers we could find below. Jump to our list here.
But we still weren’t 100% sure our vision would translate on the real thing. So, I cut out pictures of all our shortlisted flowers, and mocked them up on a picture of a Christmas tree I found online. This took three versions until we were happy with the combination!
Step 3: Build your structure
We followed a path of diagonal pink and orange lines to give the tree a clear flowing form.
Pink bougainvillea created our base from bottom left to top right in two bands, then anthurium, proteas and green orchids were used to frame hero pale green and pink hydrangeas. The orange lines are marked by orange dahlias, orange and red orchids and red waratahs, with pops of yellow wattle.
The flowers all come on fairly flexible wire, and I recommend wrapping this around the trunk of your tree where you can, to give your design ultimate stabillity.
Where to find the best faux florals
Artificial flowers can be found from a range of suppliers, including Florabelle Living Group, Forever Flowering, Koch & Co, The Silk Studio and Target. They are priced mostly under $10 each, ranging from orchids for $5 to red cone hydrangeas for $68. We also sourced fake gumnuts and other Christmas florals for the issue from our local newsagents.
Here are a couple of options for making a Christmas tree as floral as ours!
Here’s the full list of florals we used to make our cover tree:
Anthurium:
Artificial anthurium
Bougainvillea:
Bougainvillea in pink
Dahlias:
Dahlia spray in hot pink
Artificial silk dahlia in orange
Hydrangeas:
Cone hydrangea in coral red
Silk artificial hydrangea in lime
Orchids:
Real touch orchid in orange
Cymbidium orchid in green
Dancing orchid in peach
Proteas:
King protea in pink
Queen protea in pink
Waratahs:
Waratah real touch in red
Wattle:
Wattle mimosa real touch
Add florals to your Christmas home decor
- Decorate the unexpected: Elevate your regular artwork displays at Christmas by attaching a sprig of eucalyptus and a festive bow. Use twine to attach to your wall hook.
- Posies in summer: Using either dried or faux florals (we used these artificial bouquets from Target – pictured below), wrap twine around floral bunches to create a bright hanging garland.
- Next level curb appeal: Who cares about lawns when your front door can look this good? Make a gorgeous wreath using completely fake florals! We used a mix of dancing orchids and gum leaves, and nuts, all twined around a base branch structure made of monkey vine available from your local florist.
Floral Abstract II art print
$9.95, Olive et Oriel
Coast to Coast Advent Calendar
Available at participating newsagents
Christmas stripe bonbons
$5, Big W
Kendale I eucalyptus botanical print
$39.95, French Knot
Australian House & Garden textured ceramic vase
$79.95, Myer
SNEAK PEEK: Geneva Vanderzil’s DIY Santa sack
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