There's Still Time to Recreate Kourtney Kardashian's Iconic 'Cut Garden' Holiday Table

Kourtney Kardashian shared a glimpse of her deep-red Thanksgiving table on Instagram Stories, and gardeners everywhere made heart eyes. The layered reds were unmistakably seasonal yet moody and natural; it felt intentional rather than overdone.

With a little planning, you can create your own holiday cut garden focused on red tones that lets you to harvest fresh stems, berries, and evergreen foliage throughout the winter months. The result? A gorgeous table arrangement that feels alive, personal, and endlessly refreshing.

What to Grow for a Red-Focused Cut Garden

The key to a successful holiday cutting garden is diversity. You’ll want flowers, berries, and foliage that mature at slightly differing times and still hold up indoors. A tricky ask, but it can be done.

Poinsettias: The obvious star of Christmas (after the tree, of course). Unfortunately for poinsettias, they’re often treated as disposable houseplants. Once Christmas is over, most people don’t bother keeping them around. But these can be grown intentionally for cutting. Look for varieties that have been bred for branching rather than single-stem forms. Poinsettias are widely available in winter – these ones from Walmart are perfect.

Winterberry: For berry color, plant winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata). This drops its leaves in winter and reveals vivid red berries. Keep in mind, you’ll need both male and female plants for fruiting. For other long-lasting red accents, try cotoneaster and rose hips.

If you want your arrangement to have a bit more structure, evergreen stems are essential. Try spruce, fir, pine, boxwood, and yew to bring a bit of holiday flair to the table.

Prune for Continuous Cutting

The more you cut plants, the more they produce. For shrubs like winterberry, make sure you prune selectively; don’t remove more than one-third of the stems at a time. This keeps the plant healthy, while still giving you enough material for your arrangements all season long.

Evergreens also benefit from good pruning. Keep in mind, though, you should always cut secondary branches rather than the central leaders. Also, make sure you vary where you cut so plants retain their natural shape.

These bypass shears from Lowe’s have an ergonomic grip and are used for cutting flower stems as well as shrubs and small tree branches.

Condition Stems for Longer-Lasting Arrangements

Even after you’ve harvested your stems, how you treat them makes a big difference in how long your arrangement stays party-ready.

Start by cutting stems early in the morning, as that’s when plants are most hydrated. Immediately place them in a bucket of lukewarm water. To prevent bacteria buildup, cut away any foliage that sits below the waterline.

Woody stems like holly, boxwood, or rose hips should be split at the base or lightly crushed with pruners to make water uptake easier for them. Evergreen stems will last weeks if kept cool and get new water every few days.

If you have poinsettias, you’ll need to complete one extra step. Briefly dip the cut ends in hot water to stop the milky sap from sealing the stem. It’s a little thing, but it will dramatically extend the life of cut poinsettias when they are kept in a vase.

Styling a Red Holiday Table

When it comes to styling your red flowers, you'll want abundance rather than stiffness. Think loose arrangements down the center of the holiday table, small clusters of berries in bud vases, or single evergreen stems tied with twine for a rustic yet elegant touch.

Layer lots of textures: glossy leaves with matte berries and feathery evergreens. Allow red be the unifying thread rather than the only color. If you want the red color to really pop, add deep green, hints of brown, or neutral linens. By doing this, the red stands out without overwhelming the table. This Hearth & Hand table runner from Target is a light beige color and has little green accents on the side.