While perennial favorite Christmas holiday decoration Poinsettias continued a decades long domination at florists, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a clear cut lead. As consumer tastes become more sophisticated, other flowers and decorative plants are making inroads over the holiday season, continually nibbling away at market share. While this battle takes place over preferred Christmas blooms, another product has begun to carve out a solid niche in the gift giving market; Christmas gift baskets, always a mainstay at the corporate level, have become increasingly popular with consumers as well.

There are any number of reasons that could explain why consumer tastes have been changing. While Poinsettias hold fond memories for many people, especially the baby boomers who grew up with these colorful plants serving as a focal point for decorating (and contrasting nicely with the green of the Christmas tree), homeowners of all ages are now more comfortable with trying out new things. So while the potted plant with the scarlet leaves retains its spot as the best selling Christmas flower, the lead it holds has been eroding. Arrangements of red and white roses make for ideal Christmas flowers according to some, with the beautiful colors providing a suitable alternative while the fragrance given off by the roses is difficult to match. For those who appreciate a subtler look, the option of pink or white Poinsettias was an option, but now there is an increased popularity in pastel arrangements and table centerpieces that can be created to complement any decor. Depending on the room they’ll be placed in, a range of flowers including Lilies, Roses, Mums, Daisies and Carnations have proved to be extremely popular year round. Will roses or the mixed floral arrangement eventually unseat the Poinsettia as the most popular Christmas flower? Only time will tell.

One area where trends are less difficult to forecast is Christmas gift baskets. These were always popular at the corporate level, where the sending of a gift basket let clients know you appreciate their business. Employees at companies always look forward to receiving a Christmas gift basket, knowing it will be stuffed full of treats to keep them all snacking for days. Given the success of the idea, it’s no wonder that someone realized this would be the perfect gift for individuals and families as well. Rather than search all over for that perfect gift for someone, sending a basket full of goodies that would appeal to them makes for a much more complete gift; a Christmas gift basket radiates the idea that someone has put a lot of thought into selecting a gift. It doesn’t hurt that instead of spending hours shopping at the mall you can fire up your browser and order a Starbucks themed basket (containing everything from signature coffee, tea, biscotti, flavor syrups and scone mix) for your coffee loving sister. It’s no wonder that Christmas gift baskets were so popular last year, and that trend is expected to continue.