I Tracked Down Jennifer Aniston’s Beloved Christmas Ornament – and It Inspired a Fresh, Fruity Twist for My Holiday Decor

Holiday décor trends increasingly embrace natural materials and personal touches – ideas that work well for making natural Christmas decorations. Even celebrities have been leaning into more organic, meaningful designs.

Jennifer Aniston shared a charming example on her Instagram Stories: a Christmas tree ornament shaped like a tiny jar of olives. She captioned it, “If you know me, you know,” with an olive and red heart emoji – a playful nod to her long-standing love of olives.

The Friends star has even mentioned in interviews that she sometimes travels with jars of pimento-stuffed olives so she never has to be without them.

If you want to recreate Jennifer's style with your own decorative jar of olives, we’ve found the exact ornament she loves on Etsy.

Fruit and foliage have always had a place in festive decorating, too. The Beckhams even dressed a miniature olive tree as a Christmas table centerpiece, proving how living plants can bring a chic, seasonal feel to holiday styling.

That inspired me: why not create an outdoor Christmas display using hardy, potted fruit trees? These living decorations serve a purpose year-round, and during the holidays, they become beautiful canvases for lights, ornaments, and natural accents.

And, if you share Jennifer's love of olives, then this National Plant Network white olive tree from Lowe's is perfect for getting you started.

Why Living Fruit Trees & Shrubs Work Beautifully

Using container-grown fruit trees or berry bushes offers practicality while also serving an aesthetic purpose.

• Sustainability & longevity: Instead of using a Christmas tree that you will just throw away after Christmas, you’re working with a living plant that can thrive throughout the seasons.
• Natural character: Mediterranean-style trees such as olives and citrus bring a tropical flair, while classic fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries) or small berry shrubs give a cozy, homey look. They look especially beautiful when lit up with fairy lights, hung with ornaments, or with rustic touches like dried fruit or burlap ribbons. These Pextian Store Dried Orange Slices from Amazon look lovely on a tree.
• Versatility for small or large gardens: Whether you have a balcony, small patio, or a backyard, container-friendly trees adapt well and let you tailor them to the size of the space you’re working with.

Bonus tip: Several types of fruit trees are strong enough to survive colder winters (with minimal protection), and can safely stay outside in pots; this makes them great candidates for holiday decorating that lasts.

Which Fruit Trees & Shrubs Are Good Picks?

Below are some of the most winter-tolerant, fruit options that are also suitable for containers and work well as outdoor holiday decorations:

• Dwarf apple or pear trees: These tree types have wide, reliable varieties that tolerate cold well, meaning they will do well outdoors.
• Cold-hardy sour cherry or plum trees: Some smaller cherry varieties (like dwarf sour cherry) and plums handle frost well and do fine in containers if they’re protected from the cold.
• Hardy Mediterranean/edible plants (when climate allows): In milder climates, certain Mediterranean-style plants, including Jennifer Aniston’s beloved olives, can add exotic character. With winter protection, they can often survive outdoors in pots or containers.

Decorating Ideas & Tips

• Keep it light and natural: Use string lights, wood ornaments, dried fruit slices, pine cones, or even twine. This Northlight Burlap Star and Pine Cones Christmas Ornament from Target is the perfect mix.
• Group different plants: A mix of potted shrubs, small fruit trees, and evergreen accents can make fuller, more aesthetically pleasing Christmas decorations.
• Watch for winter stress: Even the strongest trees in containers can have vulnerable roots compared to those planted in the ground. Consider insulating pots if temperatures drop below freezing – Martha Stewart recommends the burlap frost-protection method.
• Bonus tip: Make sure the soil is well-drained so roots don’t sit in water that can freeze.
• Enjoy living decor year-round: Once Christmas is over, simply remove the decorations, and the plants remain part of your garden into the summer.

By taking a page from Jennifer Aniston’s holiday style, you can turn your love of fruit into living, festive decor that will last well beyond the season. Whether you choose olives, apples, pears, or berry bushes, decorating these plants with lights or ornaments brings personality and a rustic aesthetic to your garden. Best of all? When Christmas is over, your trees continue to thrive, offering beauty for years to come.