| By Katelyn Rutt |
While the holidays in North Carolina may not arrive wrapped in a snowy blanket, the season brings something even more magical—Southern charm. Here, the landscape offers an abundance of vibrant flora that no artificial decor can rival, from glossy magnolia leaves to holly berries and wispy pine branches. Woven into the home, these natural elements are a sustainable way to display holiday spirit and pay homage to North Carolina’s innate beauty.
Unsure where to begin? We chatted with local interior design and gardening experts to bring you the best tips for choosing, maintaining, and styling local greenery. Let these ideas spark creativity in your home to create your brightest hosting season yet.
Build Your Base
Start your hunt at Garden Supply Company, a beloved Cary mainstay since 1996. It’s not just a full-service garden—it’s a sustainable paradise, boasting a greenhouse plus a landscape and design hub. Enjoy the sensory delights of fresh Christmas trees, seasonal plants, handcrafted arrangements, and more.
Outdoor gardener and plant buyer Mary Tuski and interior decor buyer and visual merchandiser Dany Trevino keep it simple: Beautiful holiday styling begins with greenery and a “no rules” approach to choosing trimmings for your home.
Pine Perfection
From the forests of western North Carolina, Fraser firs offer an invigorating pine scent and a color that works with every decor style. Tuck sprigs into Christmas tree branches for extra fullness, drape DIY swags or garlands over banisters, mantels, and doorways, or arrange smaller trimmings around candles for a cozy tablescape.
PRO TIP: Place cut greens in soil, if possible, and water them like a houseplant! Or mist them daily.
Magnolia Magic
Native to North Carolina, the Southern magnolia is about as elegant as it gets. The long stems and shiny green leaves with velvety brown undersides add dimension to any arrangement, wreath, or garland. Its blooms are also a perfect addition to smaller holiday touches, from gift wrapping and napkin rings to table runners.
PRO TIP: Add eucalyptus stems to magnolia for a beautiful fragrance and a frosty blue hue.
Berry Bright
While perhaps best known for its clusters of crimson berries, winterberry holly also has sturdy stems that support even the fullest arrangements. Try spraying the stems gold for centerpieces, or dust them with fake snow to fill in tree branches. Feeling classic? Cut small berry branches to add further festive touches throughout the home.
Add Some Sparkle
Susanne Ordonez, principal designer and owner of House of Maevie in Raleigh, brings European influence and thoughtful elegance to the holidays. Surrounded by North Carolina’s lush greenery, she’s constantly inspired by new ways to incorporate sustainable outdoor finds that add depth, warmth, and natural texture to her holiday decor.
As for her favorite holiday trimmings? “Magnolia leaves carry a glossy richness, holly offers traditional structure with its sharp edges and berries, and pine softens the mix with its wispy shape,” Ordonez says.
PRO TIP: Adding citrus slices or clusters of berries keeps the greenery feeling fresh and adds pops of color. Keep it simple. Simplicity always looks more sophisticated.
Focus on the Details
Whether styling a garland, mantel, or tabletop, Ordonez recommends going a step beyond greenery. Try tucking in natural berries, dried orange slices, or sprigs of baby’s breath—a fluffy, snowlike touch that feels perfectly wintery. These natural trimmings help create a holiday home that feels layered, authentic, and inviting.
Celebrate Your Home
Sustainable holiday decor doesn’t have to mean rustic! Ordonez notes that both modern and traditional homes shine with eco-friendly styling. She loves to highlight standout features in her space, like draping greenery beneath the large range hood in her kitchen or layering it across the fireplace mantel.
PRO TIP: I’ll tie a little bunch of greenery to a sconce with a velvet ribbon, and it looks so pretty against an aged brass finish.
Embrace Holiday Hues
While it’s important to make sure your decor is cohesive with your design aesthetic, there’s something to be said for a vibrant, festive home. Ordonez is a self-proclaimed “big fan” of the collected, colorful look often seen in British holiday decor. “It reminds me of the cheerful, painted homes along the Southern coast. Both celebrate color in a way that feels joyful and unpretentious,” she adds
PRO TIP: Instead of committing to a strict color scheme, mix shades of cinnamon, soft pinks, powder blues, bright reds, and even hints of orange. Paired with natural greenery and berries, the result feels playful and layered, rather than staged.
