31 Beautiful Plants to Gift and Receive This Holiday Season

Fall ushers in cooler weather, shorter days, and musings of the upcoming holiday season.  With a bit of planning, a plant from the garden (or garden center) makes a thoughtful gift for the special giftees on your list.  

Whether you have houseplants or garden selections in mind – or both – this list of beautiful plants to gift and receive this holiday season is sure to draw gift inspiration for all types of gardeners and nongardeners alike. 

A hand-selected plant makes a perfect exchange for any holiday occasion, like family visits, festive get-togethers, and office parties. A well-gifted plant makes a beloved gift for teachers, coworkers, friends, and family.

Amaryllis

	botanical name Hippeastrum
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 18-24 inches
	hardiness zones 8-10

Amaryllis makes a beautiful gift to span the weeks of the holiday season with large, bold blooms in various colors. For a tailor-made gift, plant a single amaryllis bulb in a pot slightly larger than the bulb, leaving the top half of the bulb exposed. Use sheet moss to cover exposed soil as a unique flourish, creating an elegant gift that will grow and bloom with the season. Amaryllis can take six to eight weeks to bloom, so it’s perfect to give in early November for flowers around the holidays.

The joy of amaryllis lasts beyond a single season. Plant them directly in the garden in warmer climates after the final frost. Store bulbs in a cool, dark, dry place in colder climates until repotting the following fall season. 

With so many beautiful amaryllis varieties, enjoy picking the perfect bulb for your recipient.  Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ is bright red, ‘Apple Blossom’ is a lovely pink, ‘White Christmas’ is pure white, and ‘Candy Cane’ has striped petals of red and white – just to name a few!

Christmas Cactus

	botanical name Schlumbergera bridgesti
	sun requirements Part shade
	height Up to 2 feet tall
	hardiness zones 9-11

Christmas cactus is a popular houseplant that’s easy to care for and propagate – ideal for sharing and gifting!  Aptly named for its bloom time, Christmas cactus blooms for four to six weeks near the holidays. Buds emerge along branches in late fall and become billowy blooms in winter, ranging from white to red to purple.

Ready to create more cacti? Follow a few simple steps for propagating Christmas cactus in spring. These baby cacti will be set for gifting come holiday time.

Paperwhite narcissus

	botanical name Narcissus tazetta
	sun requirements Full to part sun
	height 16-24 inches
	hardiness zones 8-11

Paperwhites bring a bouquet of holiday cheer to the gift plant exchange. Quick-flowering bulbs bloom within four to six weeks of planting. ‘Ziva’ is a classic variety with crisp white blooms on tall stems (and a musky scent). For a lighter and sweeter fragrance, look for cultivars like ‘Inbel,’ ‘Ariel,’ and ‘Nir’ from your local nursery, or order directly from growers.  

Paperwhites are small bulbs that make the greatest impact planted in numbers. For a lovely gift, plant a bundle of bulbs in a shallow bowl filled with soil or pebbles. Place bulbs one inch apart or less – they handle crowding well and present many blooms.

Poinsettia

	botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima
	sun requirements Part sun
	height 2 feet
	hardiness zones 9-11

Poinsettias are traditionally associated with the holiday season around the globe. Wild specimens originate in Mexico, where they can grow to 15 feet tall. The colorful, compact plants we celebrate today are available in various colors and patterns, from bright red to white to pink to blotched, with merry names like ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘Winter Rose,’ and ‘Plum Pudding.’

The poinsettia performs best indoors, in indirect light, out of drafts, and away from heater vents and fireplaces to avoid withering leaves.

Not ready to part with your poinsettia after the holidays? Extend the poinsettia’s life by pruning it back in March or April, place it on a sunny windowsill, and move it outside when temperatures warm. Await reblooming!

Rosemary

	botanical name Salvia rosmarinus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6 feet
	hardiness zones 8-10

Rosemary brings form and fragrance to the holiday home, making it an ideal gift for the gardener or chef. Best of all, it can go right into the garden after the winter season. 

Gift a rosemary plant already pruned into conical or standard tree forms for a unique twist on the herb, or pot up a classic upright or trailing variety in a decorative pot. Rosemary ‘Barbecue’ has sturdy stems that can be used in grilling, ‘Arp’ is more cold hardy, and ‘Tuscan Blue’ cascades in a container or as a groundcover.

Rosemary grows indoors quite well, given a sunny location and well-drained soil. In warmer zones, rosemary is hardy year-round. Blue blooms cover stems of evergreen needles in early summer, attracting pollinators to the garden. Enjoy the lemony scent throughout the season, and add flavor to holiday dishes with fresh herb clippings.

Red Anthurium

	botanical name Anthurium scherzerianum
	sun requirements Part shade
	height 18 inches
	hardiness zones 11-12

Anthurium is associated with hospitality, so what better gift than a stately plant that can live indoors in almost any spot? Anthurium boasts vibrant spathes year-round for the home, office, or floral arrangement. Red anthurium features bold red spathes (colorful leaves) atop a base of heart-shaped deep green leaves, making it a festive choice for winter.

Share the hospitality of anthurium over and over by dividing the plant in spring. Remove any offsets from the mother plant and pot new shoots in small containers to grow and give.

Cyclamen

	botanical name Cyclamen persicum
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 6-16 inches
	hardiness zones 9-11

Speaking of heart-shaped leaves, cyclamen offer a sweet choice for the holiday season in white, pink, purple, red, or bicolor flowers. Cyclamen blooms from November through April, giving months of color and active growing until summer dormancy – when they thrive on neglect.

Because cyclamen originate in the Mediterranean – with cool, wet winters and warm, arid summers  – they experience summer dormancy to conserve energy. During this time, move cyclamen to a cool, dark spot (no need to water). Plants reemerge in the fall to begin actively growing and blooming once again.

Lemon Cypress

	botanical name Hesperocyparis macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 10 feet
	hardiness zones 7-10

Lemon cypress adds a pop to the holiday setting with its fine, bright yellow needles and conical form. A tidy evergreen with a tight, uniform habit, lemon cypress is available in dwarf varieties like ‘Gold Crest Wilma,’ well-suited for containers. Fresh, lemony-scented needles complement its striking color.

Use lemon cypress as a garden specimen or in a container to add vibrant color and fine texture against a backdrop of deeper greens. As a houseplant, lemon cypress needs bright light and morning sun (avoiding hot afternoon sun, which can damage the plant) and weekly watering so the soil doesn’t dry out. 

Camellia ‘Yuletide’

	botanical name Camellia sasanqua ‘Yuletide’
	sun requirements Part shade
	height 8-10 feet
	hardiness zones 7-10

A gorgeous evergreen shrub, camellias bloom in fall and winter, depending on variety.  Camellia ‘Yuletide’ blooms throughout the holiday season, when bright red flowers contrast glossy, evergreen leaves. 

Camellia ‘Yuletide’ lends a lush look to the landscape year-round, and the striking winter blooms are a joy when little else is blooming. Pollinators agree!  Camellias attract bees and other insects as flowers provide a valuable food source.

Camellias grow best in the American South, preferring a partial or full shade location. The gift of a classic camellia brings years of enjoyment (and low maintenance) to the garden.

Hellebore

	botanical name Helleborus orientalis
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 18 inches
	hardiness zones 4-9

Hellebores, or Lenten Roses, feature large, cupped-shaped nodding blooms atop dark green palmate leaves. Perennials that bloom in late winter/early spring, hellebores grace the garden with evergreen or semi-evergreen leaves, depending on climate.

Heavily hybridized, hellebores bloom in various colors, from creamy white to soft pink to wine red, with single or double flowers. A four-season perennial, hellebores form a clumping habit and can slowly spread to naturalize a woodland garden.

Orchids

	botanical name Orchidaceae
	sun requirements Full to partial sun
	height 6-10 inches
	hardiness zones 9-12

A classic addition to any interiorscape, orchids add an elegant flare to the holiday season.  Opt for a readily available, stunning Phalaenopsis variety for a reliable, easy-care orchid.  Phalaenopsis stems produce numbers of large, bright blooms at once.

Oncidium orchids, or Dancing Ladies Orchids, host blooms that resemble dresses with long skirts dancing on tall stems (cue the “eight ladies dancing” refrain).

These epiphytes can grow outdoors in warm climates, absorbing water and nutrients through exposed roots. Grow orchids indoors, at least during winter months, in colder climates.

Meyer Lemon

	botanical name Citrus x meyeri ‘Improved’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-10 feet
	hardiness zones 8-11

Meyer lemon trees produce abundant sweet lemons, have rich green evergreen foliage, and bloom twice a year with deliciously sweet-smelling clusters of white blossoms. Best planted in late winter, Meyer lemon trees bring a showy, fragrant culinary plant to the garden.  

Meyer lemon trees are a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange or mandarin, making the yellow-orange fruits sweeter and less acidic than other varieties. The shrubby form of the Meyer lemon makes it easier to grow in containers and prune than other fruit trees.

Money Tree Plant

	botanical name Pachira aquatica
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 6 feet
	hardiness zones 10

The money tree plant is associated with prosperity, good fortune, and positive energy, making it a perfect gift for the new year. An adaptable houseplant, the money tree is well-suited to various conditions and not finicky, tolerating low light conditions. The money plant is often sold with multiple stems braided into a trunk. It has glossy palmate leaves, the houseplant form of a tropical tree.

As a tropical plant, the money tree prefers bright, indirect light and dries out a bit between thorough waterings. It will forgive occasional neglect and is an excellent choice for new and experienced plant parents.

Lavender

	botanical name Lavandula spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3 feet
	hardiness zones 5-8

Lavender brings an invigorating fragrance into the home any time of year, and its calming properties may be beneficial during busy holidays. Loved for its silvery foliage, purple bloom spikes, and many uses – from cleansing to relaxation to culinary – lavender is beautiful in the garden. Whether it’s one of the many varieties of English, French, Spanish, or Dutch lavender, blooms attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators.  

This sun-loving Mediterranean perennial thrives in arid, warm summers and cool winters.  It’s drought-tolerant and a great companion to rosemary and other dry-condition perennials.  Lavender is a gift that keeps on giving. Take clippings and dry them for fragrant bouquets indoors.

Zuzu Plant

	botanical name Zamioculcas zamifolia
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 2-3 feet
	hardiness zones 9-11

The Zuzu, or ZZ plant, is a popular houseplant due to its structural form of arching stems and low maintenance needs. Zuzu adds a touch of architectural greenery with solid stems and lush oval leaves. It requires little water and can improve air quality by filtering volatile compounds.

Zuzu is available in dark green, deep purple, and variegated varieties, adding interest to the indoor garden and making a unique gift option. ZZ plants tolerate low to bright, indirect light and grow well in fluorescent lighting – perfect for the home or office.

Caladiums

	botanical name Caladium spp.
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 18-24 inches
	hardiness zones 9-11

Caladiums, or angel wings, are prized for their decorative foliage and arrow-shaped leaves.  Striking colors dapple each leaf in veins and blotches, creating flags of color. 

Caladium ‘White Christmas’ features crisp white leaves lined in dark green veins and edges, brightening its spot in the garden or home. Extremely easy to grow (and gift!), purchase caladiums as potted plants or small bulbs. 

Caladiums are tropical and prefer warm climates, so treat them as annuals or houseplants in cold winter zones. They make a spectacular display in a mass or as a border planting under a tree canopy, but even a singular pot brings colorful interest to the houseplant collection.

Prayer Plant

	botanical name Maranta leuconeura
	sun requirements Part shade
	height 10-12 inches
	hardiness zones 11-12

Prayer plant is a tropical plant with striking foliage and leaves that fold at night, resembling hands in prayer. Leaves of the prayer plant open by day with bold patterns in deep purple and green hues. Leaf undersides, evident when plants fold, are deep red or purple. 

Prayer plants make beautiful interior hanging baskets. They’re also ideal in low bowls and dish gardens and offer a thoughtful gift during the holidays.

Flapjacks

	botanical name Kalanchoe luciae
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12-18 inches
	hardiness zones 9-10

Not just for breakfast anymore, flapjacks are drought-tolerant succulents with a fabulous name and architectural structure to match, sure to be a talking point when exchanging gifts. Leaves are paddle-shaped and stacked like pancakes, in colors of lime green with deep red edges.  Flapjacks grow well in containers indoors in bright light, with little water, or outdoors in warm climates.

Succulents represent a vast world of exciting plants in all shapes, colors, and textures.  Mix and match them in a decorative pot for a fun, eclectic holiday gift. Tiny, adorable succulents in a small vessel also make a versatile gift in any exchange. With little care requirements, succulents can brighten any space.

Begonia ‘Angel Wing’

	botanical name Begonia coccinea
	sun requirements Part shade
	height 12-30 inches
	hardiness zones 10-11

Cane-type begonia, or angel wings, are prized for their richly patterned foliage and frilly, colorful blooms. Silvery dots mark deep green, wing-shaped leaves with red underside.  Clusters of pendulous white, red, pink, or salmon blooms suspend from arching stems.  

Angel wing begonias make an excellent houseplant and can live indoors year-round, offering outstanding foliage plus a long bloom time. Lovely on a windowsill or interior hanging basket, many varieties have been bred for a more compact form, bolder leaf pattern, and longer bloom time – a truly unique gift!

Ornamental Pineapple

	botanical name Ananas bracteatus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3 feet
	hardiness zones 11-12

Ornamental pineapples aren’t known for edible fruits but rather for striking foliage and adorable, miniature pineapples. The strappy leaves are colorful and rich in texture in white variegation and red, with red pineapple fruits. Fruits are produced as days get cooler and shorter, making it a sweet holiday gift.

Olive Tree

	botanical name Olea europaea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 25 feet
	hardiness zones 8-11

A symbol of peace and friendship, consider extending the olive branch (or tree) this holiday season. Olive trees boast a lovely form of evergreen leaves with a graceful habit.  Slender leaves are – you guessed it- olive green and have a silvery underside.

One of the oldest fruit trees, olives have a long history in the garden and the home. Tiny white blooms cover the trees in late spring and become ripened fruit from October through December. 

Fresh olives can be cured for eating, pressed for oils, or left for wildlife as a food source. An elegant plant with a rich cultural history, the evergreen olive tree makes a long-lasting gift.

Blue Star Fern

	botanical name Phlebodium aureum
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 12 inches
	hardiness zones 8-13

Blue star fern gets its stellar name from silvery blue-gray fronds with deep lobes. One of the easiest ferns to grow as a houseplant, its unique color, texture, and structural foliage bring a graceful and contemporary feel to the indoor garden. The blue star makes a lovely holiday gift that can shine in any home garden.

Relatively carefree as ferns go, blue stars need medium to bright, indirect light and should be watered when surface soil feels dry. Avoid watering the crown of the blue star, where epiphytic roots and stems are susceptible to rot if kept too wet. 

Norway Spruce

	botanical name Picea abies
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 40-60 feet
	hardiness zones 2-7

A classic Christmas tree-shaped evergreen, sometimes shaped into spirals or topiaries, Norway spruce makes a beautiful addition to the winter patio.

A hardy evergreen in zone 7 or colder, keep Norway spruce in a container outside to control growth (eventually, however, Norway spruce will outgrow a pot and need to be planted in the landscape). For rock gardens and smaller spaces, look for dwarf varieties.

Monstera

	botanical name Monstera deliciosa
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 4-5 feet
	hardiness zones 10-11

Unrivaled in the houseplant jungle, monstera makes a huge tropical statement with large, lush leaves with natural splits and hole patterns. Monstera deliciosa means “delicious monster,” and many indoor gardeners can’t resist its deliciously oversized and lively form. Suited well to container culture, monstera leaves reach a dramatic one to two feet long.

For a unique holiday gift, consider Monstera variegata – a cultivar that houses smaller leaves than deliciosa but with striking white and green variegation. Highly sought-after dramatic plants in the houseplant market add a stylistic container option to the home (think Phantom of the Opera in masked-leaf form).

Gardenia

	botanical name Gardenia jasminoides
	sun requirements Part shade
	height 4-6 feet
	hardiness zones 7-10

If you catch the sweetest fragrance wafting from white blossoms on a shrub of dark green, glossy evergreen leaves, it’s notably a gardenia. Best suited for gardens in the American South, enjoy gifted gardenias in a patio container during the holiday season and later planted in the garden. In colder climates, bring gardenias indoors to overwinter.

Indoors, try a gardenia near a bright window. Gardenias can be finicky if conditions aren’t quite right, especially inside, so move the plant outdoors as temperatures warm.

Holly

	botanical name Ilex spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 4-15 feet
	hardiness zones 6-9

Hollies brighten the winter landscape with their glossy evergreen leaves and vibrant red berries that provide food for wildlife, winter interest, and enjoyment as festive decoration during the holiday season. With so many species of holly, landscape uses have no end.  At holiday time, the gift of ‘Christmas Jewel’ holly may provide a versatile and fitting option for the garden.  

‘Christmas Jewel’ is a dense, upright, and compact holly of pyramidal form requiring no cross-pollination to fruit. Discovered as a natural hybrid in South Carolina, ‘Christmas Jewel’ has large red berries in winter and tiny white flowers in spring, attracting birds and bees.

Ficus Bonsai

	botanical name Ficus retusa
	sun requirements Part sun
	height Varies
	hardiness zones 10-11

Bonsai is the art of growing ornamental plants in dwarf form by controlling growth with pruning techniques. Almost any tree or shrub can be bonsaied and can live for years in bonsai form with proper care and knowledge of specialized techniques. During the holidays, bonsai makes an exciting gift for adults and children alike, offering a connection to nature in a fun and novel way.

An easy indoor bonsai plant is the ficus tree. Available in a range of pot sizes, gift a full and well-shaped specimen. The recipient can enjoy the bonsai in its gifted form with optional attention, pruning as desired as the plant grows.  

Eucalyptus

	botanical name Eucalyptus cinerea
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 30 feet
	hardiness zones 8-10

Eucalyptus, or gum tree, has a refreshing menthol fragrance, silver dollar foliage, and peeling bark. The ‘Silver Dollar’ gum is one of over 700 species of Eucalyptus, all native to the region of Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding islands. 

‘Silver Dollar’ produces showy, upright stems lined with silvery, round leaves and is excellent for flower arrangements and drying. Place a sprig in the shower for a refreshing aroma or in a decorative vase or wreath form.

Norfolk Island Pine

	botanical name Araucaria heterophylla
	sun requirements Full sun to part shade
	height 3-200 feet
	hardiness zones 10-11

Norfolk Island pines feature fine, soft evergreen needles in a loose pyramidal shape for a lush look any time of year. Decorate with strands of tiny lights for a festive gift during the holiday season, useful as a tabletop tree.

Norfolk Island pine is not a pine at all but a native to the South Pacific. Norfolk Island pine thrives as a houseplant. You can move them outdoors during warmer months or grow them indoors year-round.

Pear Tree

	botanical name Pyrus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-30 feet
	hardiness zones 3-10

Pears have long been associated with the holiday season. December is National Pear Month, as many pear varieties ripen in the late fall, yielding the deliciously juicy fruit as a season’s specialty. Other varieties ripen throughout late summer/early fall, bringing flavor as the weather turns chilly.

The symbolism of the pear tree is varied and deeply rooted. It is associated with abundance and longevity. The pear has appeared throughout history, making the gift of a pear tree a beautiful plant with global origins.

Give pear trees grown in containers from dwarf rootstocks for a compact, shorter plant. They can grow in shrubby, tree, or espaliered forms along a trellis. Come spring, pear branches bear tons of white blossoms ready to greet pollinators.

Staghorn Fern

	botanical name Platycerium bifurcatum
	sun requirements Part to full shade
	height 3 feet
	hardiness zones 9-11

Staghorn fern fronds are blue-green, broad, and deeply lobed, resembling the forked antlers of deer or elk. Staghorns make a handsome gift potted in a container or mounted on a piece of wood or bark. Grow them indoors in colder months. 

Staghorns create coppery shields around basal frond clusters, and epiphytic roots absorb water and nutrients. These shields multiply and overlap as the fern grows and establishes more fronds in quite a striking habit.

Final Thoughts

As a gardener, there’s nothing more enjoyable than giving (or receiving!) a new plant for the home or garden. But you don’t have to enjoy gardening to relish a living plant, especially in winter. The gift of nature offers a connection beyond the material hustle and bustle of the holidays. Have fun choosing an inspired plant for the perfect recipient on your list, and maybe indulge in a happy plant gift for yourself!