10 of the Best Plants to Give as Gifts (2024)

Warning

Some of the plants on this list are toxic to pets. For more information about the safety of specific plants, consult the ASPCA's searchable database.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

The Christmas cactus is a succulent that makes a great gift plant, with showy flowers that appear in winter. Its impressive flowering display might make you assume that this is a fussy plant, but nothing could be further than the truth. It prefers bright, indirect light and thrives in average potting soil or cacti mix. Though succulents tend to be very drought tolerant, this tropical native prefers a steady watering schedule, especially in late fall and winter during its blooming season. To encourage more growth, plant it in a hanging container that allows its limbs to drape.

Jade Plant (Crassula argentea)

The jade plant is a large succulent that makes a perfect gift for someone who's mastered parenting smaller succulents and cacti. With a woody stem, it resembles atreeonce it grows tall enough. Besides occasional watering and a bright window, the jade plant has few other requirements. A good challenge for ambitious owners is to try to promote vertical growth, which can be accomplished by regularly pruning its heavy foliage to reduce weight. As a bonus, trimming also reveals its unique trunk, which otherwise would be hidden by its fleshy leaves.

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)

For some reason, the orchid has become something of a poster child for fussy houseplants, which might be enough to scare you away from considering this beautiful flowering plant as a gift. But commercial varieties of orchids are hardy and easy to grow with only moderate attention. It's most important to get the climate right—orchids prefer moist, temperate conditions and partial, indirect light. Getting orchids torebloomcan be something of a challenge, but decreasing light and temperatures are cues for them to begin the process. As long as temperatures don't drop below 55 degrees, placing them outside overnight in fall can be a good way to create these conditions.

Paperwhite (Narcissus papyraceus)

Some people just aren't interested in keeping houseplants around long-term, and paperwhite flowers are an excellent gift for anyone you know who fits this mold. These flowers may not last forever, but they will outlive cut flowers by a large margin and still provide your recipient with some of the perks of plant ownership. Paperwhites, which are a type of daffodil, grow from bulbs and will bloom out of season. The roots need to be kept relatively damp, but once they are blooming, there's not much that can go wrong. They can be replanted outside after they have run their course.

Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

The bird's nest fern is a good gift for anyone with a shady house or apartment that wouldn't support other, sun-loving species. It's a hardy fern variety, adapted to living on forest floors, where the air tends to be cool and damp. It does well in moist, well-draining soil, and likes to be misted as well. This doesn't always mean you need a misting bottle—spraying it in the sink or hanging it near a shower that's used often works as well.

Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

TheNorfolk Island pineis a great gift choice as a small, sustainable Christmas tree. Unlike most cut Christmas trees, they can be purchased in a pot and continue to thrive as houseplants for many years. It's important to note that, despite their appearance, they are not true pine trees. These tropical natives won't survive outdoors in cold climates like a pine or fir tree will. Indoors, they prefer a regular watering schedule and plenty of sunlight.

Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)

The corn plant is another excellent gift choice for someone living in an apartment or house with lots of shade. They are forgiving of variable light conditions and watering routines. It grows slowly, but can reach a height of four to six feet, and at maturity can make an impressive floor plant in a large pot. Their leaves are an indication of the amount of sun they receive—turning paler in direct sun to reflect the extra light, and darker green in shady conditions to maximize sunlight absorption.

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

The snake plant is a striking houseplant that makes an especially good gift for new plant owners who you might not trust to keep a plant alive. It's a hardy species that grows happily in just about any conditions. While it prefers bright light, it doesn't mind shade or even artificial light. Plus, thanks to its thick, fleshy leaves, it stores water with remarkable efficiency, which makes it very drought tolerant. The snake plant would rather be neglected than overwatered, and is a great gift plant for anyone who might forget about it entirely on a regular basis.

Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla)

The resurrection plant makes a unique gift thanks to its singular ability to return to life before your very eyes. This native of the Mexican desert has adapted to survive in extreme drought bycurling into a balland remaining in this lifeless state for years, if necessary. In its spherical form, it can be transported by the wind across the arid landscape to areas with water. In your home, it will revive within hours in a shallow bowl of water, unfurling and transforming into a verdant, green moss.

Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

The Chinese money plant is a flowering species that makes a good gift for experienced plant parents looking for a new challenge. It has interesting, round leaves that can grow up to four inches in diameter and often sit horizontally to the ground. It prefers a moderate amount of indirect light, and to dry out slightly between watering sessions. It propagates easily without any input, growing sprouts or "pups" directly from its root system. These can coexist in the same pot for a time until they grow large enough to transplant.