Are you looking for an amazing last-minute gift for a plant lovers in your life? Believe it or not, crazy, I love giving plants and flowers to family members during the holiday season. Even though winter is officially here, they are a great way to bring a smile to anyone’s face and help give them hope throughout the cold months that warmer weather will be here before you know it. One of my biggest shocks is that buying plants locally in my area, even in a suburban metro city, is nearly impossible. Because there is so little competition, there is almost no variety, and the live plants they carry are priced horribly for something that has received improper care. Luckily, some fantastic online stores have the perfect gifts for any plant lover this holiday season.
Gifts for Plant Lovers: What to Know First
Before you go online to shop, you must do your research first. After talking to a friend who owned a flower store for years, I usually avoid big-name florist networks and look for mom-and-pop stores. Part of the reason is that the networks promise the world and charge high fees to florists, which come back to you as the customer at extremely high prices. This doesn’t even include the substitution policy, which has ruined many gifts I have sent. For example, I had inexpensive flower arrangements sent instead of live plants to my mother-in-law and Aunt, leading to some embarrassing conversations since it looked like I picked something that was very much not something they would enjoy. After this happened a few times, I decided to only shop in private shops. Below are some of the ones I have personally used to wow during the holiday and gift-giving times.
American Gift Exchange
If there is one store I come back to every holiday, it is the American Gift Change. They have the most beautiful, well-cared-for plants and have NEVER disappointed for the last four years. Even in the middle of winter, they ship quickly, and the plants are packed with the best care. They are the ones I use constantly to send gifts to the New York City area for my Aunt since they are way cheaper than any florist there, and the quality is just beyond anything I have found anywhere. All the plants I have sent have survived for years and wowed her guests, making it one of the best gifts.
One of my most recent gifts, which I sent her at the start of the holidays, was one of the largest, most beautiful Christmas Cactus plants I have seen in years. Her plants were beautiful and sent right before blooming, creating a beautiful show for her Thanksgiving guests.
If you want to go with something less traditional for the holidays, don’t worry—they also have other beautiful options. Last Christmas, I sent my Aunt the most beautiful Gardenia Veitchii Mini Tree and, the year previously, a Bromeliad Guzmania Plant in red. Both arrived in the middle of the snow and were thriving, leaving me as one happy gift-giver and one honestly stunned Aunt. These plants are now part of her standard décor since they are so beautiful. Personally, those are the sort of gifts I love giving.
If you want live plants sent quickly anywhere in the United States and want to impress, American Gift Exchange would be my first choice for gifts for plant lovers!
Succulent Eden
Before I go any further, I will admit this is an Etsy seller. I have given Succulent Eden business off and on for quite some time, giving gifts to my mother-in-law and making purchases for myself. I found them initially looking for Chicks and Hens (her favorite plant) for Mother’s Day. My husband had tried purchasing them locally for her for years, and they always died quickly. After some research, I learned that every major box retailer purchases from the same place, leading to the terrible luck we had helping her keep them alive. After much frustration and determination, we finally gave her one that would live; we purchased a specialty Sempervivum Berry Bomb with Chick Charms from them for her. To say that they were impressive is an understatement. The seller’s packaging completely protected the plant, and the way my mother-in-law lit up is the reaction you want to have for every gift.
I also love this store for gifts for plant lovers because they have some of the most beautiful rare succulents. My husband gave me some of their plants for the holidays, Knowing I would love them, and they have been fantastic additions to my plant room. While none of the rare ones he has purchased for me are currently in stock, I truly love their selection of succulents, making them a must-stop store for succulent plant lovers this holiday season.
Gardens By Kelly C
One of the things I also enjoy during the holiday season is trading plant clippings. When gifting to someone who also loves plants, they are a gift for plant lovers that gives a lot of joy. They are also easy to start in winter, allowing those you are gifting to have gorgeous, not-so-common plants they can plant in their yard once the warmer season is here. Not only have I given plant clippings from Gardens by Kelly C as gifts to plant lovers, but also live plants as well. My favorite that I have done at many gift exchanges is their Christmas Cactus clippings.
They have gorgeous succulents (like this beautiful Black Rose Succulent), are small indoors, and even seemingly for hard-to-find plants. They are someone else I love purchasing from during the colder months since their packing is always packed to protect it from mail carriers and the harsh winter temperatures, making sure you are happy with your purchase every time. While none of the plants I have purchased from them are currently in their store, I have never had a bad experience buying from this store, be it live plants or plant clippings.
Need More Gifts for Plant Lovers
Didn’t find what you were looking for here? Don’t worry; some other amazing small businesses and crafters may have precisely what you are looking for this holiday season for everyone on your gift list. One of the places to look is the Etsy Holiday Gift Hub; they have the most intuitive, well-thought-out gift ideas and guides for everyone on your shopping list. Also, check out our gardening book reviews if you would prefer to give something smaller to plant lovers for the holidays.
About Susan Bewley
Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.
