What Is a Good Houseplant to Give as a Gift? Our Favourite Choices for UK Homes
A houseplant is one of our favourite gifts to send. It brightens up a home, lasts far longer than a bunch of flowers and becomes part of someone’s everyday life long after the occasion has passed.
At Happy Houseplants, we spend our days surrounded by plants, and the ones we recommend as gifts are not simply the ones that look good in a photograph. They are plants we genuinely love, grow and have dotted around our own homes too. Some are easy care favourites that always seem to get better with age. Others are unusual little conversation starters that people would probably never buy for themselves.
If you are looking for a birthday gift, a housewarming present, a thank you or simply something lovely to send to someone, these are a few of our favourite choices.
What is a good houseplant to give as a gift?
In our view, a good houseplant gift should feel personal but not complicated. It should suit the person receiving it and feel good from the moment they open it.
For someone new to plants, we would always recommend an easy care favourite that will settle happily into most homes. For a real plant lover, it is lovely to choose something a little more unusual. And if you want the gift to feel properly special, a plant already paired with a beautiful pot or basket makes all the difference.
Kokedama String of Hearts for someone who loves something unusual
The Kokedama String of Hearts Hanging Planter is one of those plants that always makes us smile.
A kokedama is a Japanese inspired moss ball planting, and the delicate String of Hearts trails down from it beautifully. It feels fun, unusual and a little unexpected, which is exactly why we love it as a gift. It looks brilliant hung beside a window, from a shelf or in a bright corner where the trails can do their thing.
This is a lovely choice for someone who already has a few plants, enjoys their interiors or is simply hard to buy for. It is not the obvious choice, and that is rather the point.
Golden Pothos for an easy care gift that keeps growing
We always recommend the Golden Pothos on Pole in Basket when someone wants to send a plant that looks generous from day one but is still easy to live with.
Golden Pothos is one of those brilliant plants that just gets better as it grows. We have grown them in our own homes for years and love watching the heart shaped leaves appear, followed by long trailing stems that can be encouraged around shelves or allowed to climb. Given a good spot and a little attention, it grows with real enthusiasm.
The basket makes this one feel ready to give straight away. It is ideal for a first home, a birthday or someone who says they are not very good with plants but would love to be.
Aglaonema Pink Star for the wow factor
If you want to send something that feels like a proper present, we would point you straight towards the Aglaonema Pink Star Luxury Gift in Mint Como Pot.
We love this plant. The pink, green and darker foliage is so striking, and every leaf has something slightly different going on. Paired with the mint Como pot, it looks finished and luxurious from the moment it arrives.
This is one we would choose for someone who loves colour, enjoys their home or deserves a little wow factor. It looks beautiful on a table, sideboard or shelf where those leaves can really be admired.
Pachira Tree for a thoughtful housewarming gift
The Pachira Tree in Basket, often known as a Money Tree, has long been associated with good fortune and prosperity. We think that makes it a particularly lovely gift for a new home, a new job or a fresh start.
Whether you believe the money tree story or not, we always recommend Pachiras because they grow beautifully. We love their delicate leaves, upright shape and slightly tropical feel. They add a real architectural accent to a room without taking over the space, and look especially good in a corner that needs a little height and life.
Like all plants, it will be happiest with some natural light, but it copes well with the gentler light many UK homes have. The basket gives it a relaxed, natural finish and makes it feel especially giftable.
ZZ Plant for someone who wants a robust, unfussy plant
The ZZ Plant in Basket is one of our forever favourites.
It has glossy, upright leaves, a strong sculptural shape and a wonderfully calm presence. It is a very robust, easy care plant, which is why we so often recommend it for busy homes, offices and people who want a beautiful plant without lots of fuss.
It has a more pared back look than some of the softer, trailing plants, and it suits almost any space. We love it in the black basket too. If you are buying for someone who likes clean interiors, wants something dependable or has a darker corner that needs lifting, this is a very good choice.
Oxalis triangularis for a small but memorable gift
The Oxalis triangularis, or Purple Shamrock, is one of the loveliest smaller gifts we have.
We have always had a soft spot for this one. Its deep purple leaves are such a beautiful change from the usual green houseplant, and there is something quite magical about the way the leaves gently open and close with the light. It has an almost butterfly like look when it is sitting happily on a table or windowsill.
It is perfect for tabletops, desks and smaller spaces. We would send this for a thank you, a dinner party, a teacher gift or a little birthday present when you want something more memorable than the usual token gift.
What should you buy someone who loves indoor plants?
If they already have lots of plants, we would choose something with personality. The Kokedama String of Hearts is a lovely surprise because it is not something people tend to buy for themselves. The Aglaonema Pink Star is perfect for someone who loves unusual foliage and colour. And a larger Pachira Tree makes a real statement without feeling too formal.
For someone beginning their plant journey, we would choose a Golden Pothos or ZZ Plant every time. They are both beautiful, adaptable and far less demanding than many people expect.
What are some good indoor plants to give as gifts?
Some of the best indoor plants to give as gifts are easy care favourites that still have real character. A Golden Pothos is perfect for someone who wants a plant that will grow and change with their home. A ZZ Plant is ideal for someone busy who wants something robust and stylish. For more of a special occasion, an Aglaonema Pink Star or Pachira Tree makes a much bigger impression.
We think a plant paired with a basket or pot is always a particularly good gift. It arrives ready to enjoy, with no extra job for the person receiving it.
What are some good houseplant gifts in the UK?
The best houseplant gifts for UK homes tend to be plants that can cope with central heating, shorter winter days and the slightly unpredictable light we all have from room to room.
That is why we return to Pothos, ZZ Plants, Aglaonemas and Pachira Trees time and again. They all have plenty of character, but they are also practical plants for real homes and real lives.
What are some quirky plant gifts I can give?
If you are looking for a quirky plant gift, choose something with an unexpected shape, colour or way of growing. Our Kokedama String of Hearts is a brilliant example, with its trailing foliage growing from a moss ball rather than a traditional pot. The Purple Shamrock is another favourite, with its deep purple leaves and delicate, butterfly like appearance.
These are the plants we would choose when you want the recipient to say, “I have never seen one of those before.”
A gift that keeps growing
There is something genuinely lovely about sending a plant. It marks the occasion when it arrives, then carries on growing and becoming part of someone’s home afterwards.
Whether you are looking for something unusual, easy care, colourful or properly impressive, we hope this has helped you find a plant they will really love.
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