When the holidays roll around and you’re rushing to find the perfect gift, houseplants are a living piece of art that can grow alongside your giftee. The real challenge is matching the right plant to the right person. You don’t want to overwhelm a newbie with finicky, high-maintenance plants, nor do you want to bore the diehard collector with a common plant. Still, houseplants are thoughtful gifts with purpose — while studies show mixed results about how much they actually clean our air, they are shown to improve our moods and benefit our overall mental health. Bringing greenery indoors mimics nature to bring comfort to our nervous systems. Whether it’s a holiday, birthday, pick-me-up, or any special occasion that merits a botanical surprise, we’ve put together our list of the best houseplants to gift to everyone on your list.
Houseplant Starter Packs for Beginners
Everyone starts somewhere. We chose these plants because they’re attractive, easy to find, and resilient enough to thrive under the care of someone who’s just dipping their feet into plant care. All plants need adequate light, water, and nutrients and will grow slower under less-than-ideal conditions, but we strongly believe that you don’t need to be a full-blown “plant person” to enjoy the benefits of indoor plants. These mainstays are reliable fits for nearly everyone.
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) — With lush and fast-growing foliage, this tropical vine is one of the most satisfying plants for budding indoor gardeners. They are easy to grow and help build plant-care confidence as they develop into a lush green waterfall.
Snake Plants & Dracaenas (Dracaena sp.) — Originating from arid environments, low-maintenance dracaenas’ intriguing spikes offer height to nearly any space. They thrive on infrequent but deep watering and can stand up to surprisingly low light, though they’ll grow better in bright conditions.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) — Often found in the dark corner of an office lobby, ZZ plants are attractive architectural plants with a reputation for being astoundingly forgiving. They stand out for tolerating low-light conditions and infrequent watering, so we frequently recommend these plants to help so-called “brown thumbs” bring some life to their space.
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) — Being trees, ficuses need more light than anything else on this list and appreciate an occasional hearty drink to support their growth, but they can be incredibly fuss-free for a plant that readily grows large enough to make a serious statement.
Gifting a plant is an invitation into the wonderful world of indoor jungles — just let them know you won’t take it personally if your gift doesn’t survive. For beginner-friendly plant care tips that break down exactly how to take care of plants and why, point them in the direction of our free online Houseplants 101 series.
Unique Finds for Avid Collectors
It can be both simple and vexing to try to pick the right gift for someone who seems to know everything about plants. It’s not as easy as a quick, tried-and-true plant list. Maybe they’re choosy or maybe they already have a massive collection — either way, you want to choose a plant that impresses their expert taste.
Opt for Oddities
Some plants are so unique that even many houseplant experts haven’t given them a shot. For example, orchids and the otherworldly staghorn fern are epiphytes (plants that naturally grow on trees rather than in soil) with unique care requirements that can deter the average indoor gardener. Carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps and pitcher plants are another group with their own distinct needs and community of fans. Your plant-obsessed friend might not have tried growing these oddballs yet, but gifting one can take off some of the pressure and presents an intriguing opportunity to dig into something new.
Think Outside of the Pot
Sometimes, it’s not just about the plant — it’s the one-of-a-kind presentation! Our Houseplants team is always assembling gorgeous new houseplant arrangements, already pre-designed using plants with similar care needs. Terrariums (or terrarium kits, for the do-it-yourselfer) are self-contained curiosities that create their own living ecosystems, so no two are the same. Bonsai is another technique that produces unique results each time, growing into miniaturized landscapes that add something special to your plant pal’s collection.
Work Out a Wishlist
Sometimes, it’s best to just ask your giftee what they would like. Other times, you can covertly sus out exactly what they want by paying close attention. Were they just ogling a certain plant online or complaining about losing a prized piece in their collection? Inviting them along for a casual trip to the plant shop and taking notes is always a sneaky way to find out more about their preferences — they might lead you to the perfect gift without even realizing it!
Ask for Help
If all else fails, the plant experts at your local garden center or plant shop (like us!) are a great resource for narrowing down the perfect plant. We set aside a table of rare houseplants at the center of our checkout greenhouse for easy shopping and we’re always happy to answer questions, offer ideas, and come point you in the right direction to guide your gifting.
Evergreen Gifts for Plant People
When you’re shopping for a plant lover, it’s always worth looking beyond the plants themselves. Tasteful pottery is an investment that helps spruce up an existing collection, while handy devices like humidifiers and grow lights are often welcome additions to help those plants thrive. There’s no need to think strictly utilitarian, though! Our gift shop curates everything from botanical earrings and adorable indoor decor to cozy t-shirts just for plant people. If you’re really stuck, there’s always an easy way to take the pressure off: give a gift card! That way, there’s no guessing and your favorite plant person can choose their own present.
P.S.: A Little Love for Holiday Houseplants
When the holidays roll around each year, jingling bells and twinkling trees welcome a whole new crop of houseplants. Delicate paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs reward you with cheery blooms at the darkest time of year, but a sleigh of other plants poinsettias — with continuous care, they make gorgeous foliage plants and can be coaxed into displaying those vibrant red hues when the days grow shorter each winter. Similarly, there’s no comparison to the pride of a ‘Christmas cactus’ (Schlumbergera sp.) that blooms year after year.
