The Gift of Plants

Red Amaryllis flowers with natural bokeh background

By Marc Hess

“Plants are popular gifts that recipients can enjoy long after guests have returned home and holiday decorations are packed away. In fact, many holiday plants can flourish for years, reminding that someone special of your caring and thoughtfulness no matter what the season.”

Are plants an appropriate holiday gift?

My wife and I have debated this question and we have both changed our minds many times. On one hand, giving someone a plant is also giving them the responsibility of taking care of something they did not choose to have—like a puppy. Or a horse. Or a pet snake, for that matter. An acquaintance of ours once gave us a large tropical hibiscus as a heartfelt thank you gift. It was as beautiful as her intentions. But we were in the middle of a drought and there was a scorching Texas sun that the plant needed in the morning and had to avoid in the afternoon.

 

The worst part was that the gift-giver passed through our neighborhood with some frequency so we felt obliged to keep it looking good. We hand-watered in accordance with drought restrictions; we lugged the container in and out of the sun almost every day. It became quite a chore. The hibiscus, as striking and glowing as it was, didn’t really fit in with our Texas-native, xeriscape-theme garden beds. That winter our well-meaning acquaintance moved away and we forgot to protect that tropical hibiscus from the February freeze.

On the other hand: plants can make the perfect gifts that provides a palatable significance to the recipient. Plants are lovely and can match the décor in any home, adding a touch of greenery to a room, making  everything feel cozier and more complete. They’re good for your health. They help with the air quality, and provide a calming and stress-relieving effect. Taking care of plants and nurturing something as it grows is a fulfilling experience that even your friends who claim to have a “black thumb” deserve to experience. It’s no wonder that plants are popular holiday gifts that recipients can enjoy long after the holidays.

 

Back to our initial question: are plants an appropriate holiday gift?

 

The simple answer is yes. But like all gifts, plants must be thoughtful and appropriate to the recipient. Of course, you are going ask yourself questions like:

➢ Is your friend allergic to flowers? If so, giving succulents as a gift will be better than flowering plants.

➢ Does your neighbor have pets? Make sure the plant you are gifting isn’t poisonous to the type of pet they have.

 

Likewise, you will need to pair your gift with the person who is receiving it. Match your choice of plants with the style of your recipient. If they are a gardener, notice what kinds of plant they like and choose your gift accordingly.

 

The Most Popular Holiday Plants

 

POINSETTIAS

Poinsettias are classic and familiar plants that make a stunning holiday gift. The broad, colorful petals are actually the plant’s leaves, and can be red, pink, white, magenta, orange, salmon, purple or variegated shades. Poinsettia sizes vary, and their bushy, mounding shape is ideal for centerpieces and bold arrangements. Poinsettias can be planted outside after the holiday season and will grow until summer’s heat overtakes them.

 

AMARYLLIS

Amaryllis bulbs grow thick, upright stems with large, stunning blooms in red, white, pink, peach, orange or variegated hues. These plants are easy to care for and are stunning accents around a holiday home.

 

PAPERWHITES

Paperwhites are also called white narcissus or paperwhite narcissus. These small, upright blooms grow from bulbs and can be several inches tall. They are often arranged in groups to create a snowfall effect when they flower, and binding the stems with ribbon adds an extra festive accent to the plant.

 

CHRISTMAS CACTUS

Christmas Cactus is not really a cactus but actually a succulent with flattened, lobe-like trailing foliage. These plants bloom in the winter in bright red, pink, orange or purple shades. Properly cared for they can live for many years, reliably reblooming to celebrate each holiday successive season.

 

NORFOLK ISLAND PINE

In Texas these pines can be beautiful house plants with the soft, pliable needles and spreading branches. They can be decorated as living Christmas trees or even grown to plant outdoors in the landscaping. They do not do well as outside plants in our growing area.

 

ROSEMARY

Rosemary is a fragrant and delicious herb. Rosemary is often trimmed into a tree-shaped bush to be a fun holiday gift. Not only are these beautiful plants, but they can be used to deliciously season a wide variety of savory holiday meals, making them just as practical as they are attractive.

 

CYCLAMEN

A low mounding perennial with broad green foliage. The red, pink or white blooms of cyclamen are stunning decorations for the holidays. These plants will bloom prodigiously for weeks, and need very little care to stay beautiful all season long. In South Texas, cyclamen will thrive in your outside garden beds as long as they do not get direct sun for too long.

 

KALANCHOE

Kalanchoe is a winter-blooming succulent. Kalanchoe brings a beautiful touch of the tropics to winter homes. The flowers sprout in tiny clusters that may be yellow, peach, pink or other shades. New plants can easily be grown from the cuttings of healthy, vibrant plants.

 

LUCKY BAMBOO

The ultimate in easy-care, hard-to-kill plants, Lucky Bamboo arrangements are available with different numbers of stalks as well as elaborate twists, turns and curls. A more exotic option for a holiday gift, these plants will always be welcomed and appreciated.

 

Any house plant will work as a holiday gift. A plant doesn’t have to be a traditional holiday option to be a good gift choice. Select the gift recipient’s favorite plant types, or choose any plant they might enjoy. Succulents, air plants or even heirloom seeds are all fun choices that can be thoughtful gifts.

 

Some Tips for Giving Plants as Holiday Gifts

No matter what plant you give as a holiday gift, you can add special touches to make it a more meaningful present.

When selecting your gift choose only a lush, healthy plant, and carefully trim off any wilting or discolored foliage or blooms as needed to help the plant look its very best.

Consider adding a top dressing to cover the soil and create a neat appearance. Gravel, moss, marbles and crushed shells are lovely options for dressing the spoil.

You should water the plant two or three days before giving it away so it will be lush and vibrant but will not be leaking any excess water or wet soil when you give it to the recipient.

It is very thoughtful to include the plant’s care instructions with the gift so the recipient will know how to keep the plant healthy and thriving long after the holidays.

You can add your own special touches by decorating the pot with a foil cover, ribbons or other accents to give it a festive presentation suitable for a gift.

 

The Gift That Missed

It was very thoughtful for our acquaintance to give is that lovely hibiscus but it was a gift that didn’t work out for us. If she could have been more observant of our gardening style she may have noticed that we had a garden bed full of less dramatic Texas tough plants. Had she given us a Mexican Bird of Paradise (aka Pride of Barbados) I promise you that her gift would still be thriving next to my front door today, reminding me of her thoughtfulness and kindness every time I went out into my front yard. Like all meaningful gifts it is the selection that matters most.