There's no better gift than one that keeps on giving, like living plants. There are lots of classic holiday plants you can gift this month, but I personally think unique potted plants to gift for Christmas are much more exciting.
Of course, traditional Christmas plants like poinsettias will always be a joy to receive, but the best potted plants to gift for Christmas are those more unexpected. From potted fruit trees to striking houseplants, there are so many unique living gifts to give this year.
To help you choose the perfect pick for your green-fingered loved ones, I've compiled my top six potted plants to gift, alongside some tips you can pass on to care for them successfully – spoiler: they're all straightforward to look after.
6 Potted Plants to Gift for Christmas
The best potted plants to gift for Christmas don't just include holiday houseplants, it also includes additions for container gardens. Here are six beautiful choices I promise anyone will be happy to receive:
Calamondin is one of the best indoor fruit trees, providing gorgeous oranges that taste delicious. Indoors, these trees can fruit successfully, so long as they have around six to eight hours of direct sun a day and you fertilize citrus trees during spring and summer months (using this orange tree fertilizer from Amazon). Outdoors, you can grow this citrus tree in US hardiness zones 8-11.
If you're looking to gift an indoor plant to infuse subtle scent into the home, opt for the beautiful Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda). Just like in the image above, these are often trained into a wreath shape, making them a beautiful ornamental for indoor displays. Outdoors, it can grow in US hardiness 10-12, but it works as a perennial to grow as a houseplant in all zones. To encourage blooms, provide Madagascar jasmine with bright, indirect light, and avoid direct sun which can cause leaf scorch.
Another flowering shrub to grow indoors is florist azalea. This variety from Walmart, 'Autumn Fire', is the perfect burgundy shade for the festive season. 'The main care requirements for florist azalea are cool temperatures and acidic soil,' says Plantum plant expert Marina Prokaten. As for planting outside, just like florist hydrangeas, it isn't recommended to plant out florist azaleas. This is because they have been grown for controlled indoor environments and may experience shock if planted in the ground, potentially killing it off.
There's no cuter potted plant to gift than a bonsai tree. The hinoki cypress is a particularly good choice because it's one of the easier bonsai trees to look after. Plus, the art of bonsai allows the gift recipient to find mindfulness in pruning and tending to the tree. Just make sure to avoid bonsai mistakes, like letting the soil dry out and over-pruning, which will leave the tree looking bare.
One of the best red houseplants is flowering kalanchoe, though it also comes in other hues of white, yellow, and pink. These are often found in supermarkets at Christmas for gifting because they flower at this time of year, often all the way until spring. They're best grown as houseplants because they're succulents, only hardy to zone 10+. To care for a kalanchoe and encourage bright displays of blooms, give this plant plenty of sunlight and warmth. Cold room temperatures may cause foliage discoloration and root rot.
While this one may not be a potted plant yet, it provides an incredibly rewarding activity. With this kit, you can grow an oak tree from an acorn. The vase allows the gift recipient to watch as roots develop and they can eventually pot it up to grow outside in the yard. Place acorn vase on a bright, sunny windowsill to encourage root growth, and take water propagation mistakes on board for this method of growing an oak tree.
Beautiful Gardening Accessories to Accompany a Plant Gift
These pretty florist scissors are ideal for pruning houseplants, potted plants, and taking stem cuttings for indoor floral arrangements.
This gorgeous garden apron has multiple pockets to carry garden and florist tools. It has a pretty floral detail and an adjustable waist tie.
This beautiful gift set includes a stylish amber watering can and gold plant mister for indoor and outdoor use.
Marina Prokaten is a resident plant expert for the Plantum app, which helps users identify plant species, diagnose their conditions, and get specific care advice. She has three years of experience consulting on botany-related topics for Plantum.
FAQs
Are There Any Potted Vegetables You Can Gift?
Some of the best potted vegetable plants to gift are those that have ornamental value, like dwarf varieties of tomatoes and peppers – though these are technically fruits. For example, this Fire Pepper Plant from Walmart is a good choice for growing indoors on a kitchen windowsill.
For even more inspiration on potted plants to gift for Christmas, have a look at our guide to poinsettia alternatives.
