How to wrap a plant as a gift

Wrapping a plant is the bit everyone gets wrong. Paper crushes the leaves, tape sticks to them, and the soil ends up on the back seat. The methods below all leave the top open so the plant survives the journey and still looks wrapped.

We don't sell plants - we make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. So this is a straight guide to the plant, and the card to send with it.

The paper cone method

• Lay two sheets of wrapping paper in a cross, then stand the pot in the middle.
• Gather the paper up the sides of the pot only, never over the leaves.
• Tie at the pot rim with ribbon or garden twine, and let the paper flare out above the tie.
• Trim the top edge level so it looks deliberate rather than bunched.
• Slide the card into the ribbon rather than taping it to the pot.

The hessian and twine method

• Wrap a square of hessian around the pot and tie once with jute twine.
• Fold the top edge outwards to make a cuff, which hides the plastic nursery pot.
• Add a sprig of eucalyptus or rosemary under the twine for the smell.
• This is the best option for sympathy, housewarming and anything you want to look understated.
• Hessian also grips the pot in a car boot, unlike paper.

The gift bag method

• Pick a bag a few centimetres taller than the pot but shorter than the plant.
• Put the pot in a plastic bag first so any water stays inside.
• Pack crumpled tissue around the pot so it can't tip over.
• Leave the handles untied - the leaves need to come out of the top.
• This is the fastest method and the safest one for a long journey.

Wrapping a plant to post

• Water lightly two days before, not on the day - wet soil is heavy and it goes mouldy in a box.
• Tape a circle of cardboard over the top of the soil with a slit for the stem, so nothing spills.
• Wrap the pot in bubble wrap and wedge it with scrunched paper so it can't move.
• Loosely sleeve the foliage in paper, never plastic, so it can breathe.
• Post Monday to Wednesday and mark the box this way up.

Finishing touches

• A handwritten care label tied to the stem does more than any bow.
• Terracotta, brown paper and twine always look more expensive than shiny paper.
• One ribbon colour only. Two is a hamper, three is a mess.
• Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth before wrapping - dust is what makes a plant look second hand.
• Put the card in front of the pot, not inside the foliage where it gets forgotten.

Shop cards

Pin badges instead of a bow

Pin one to the hessian and they keep it long after the paper's gone.

How to write it so it lands

• Keep the tape off the leaves entirely - it pulls the surface away when it comes off.
• Hessian, brown paper and twine suit every occasion, including sad ones.
• Carry it on the floor of the car, not the seat.
• Write the care instructions on the back of the card so the wrapping stays clean.

Where to shop next

• Plant gifts UK
• What plant to give for each occasion
• Plants as a housewarming gift
• Plant meanings and symbolism
• Low maintenance plants to give
• Sympathy and memorial plants
• Pet safe plants for gifting
• Plants as seasonal gifts
• How to keep a gifted plant alive
• Gift wrapping ideas
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

How do you wrap a plant without damaging it?

Wrap the pot, never the plant. Bring the paper or hessian up to the rim only, tie at the rim, and leave the foliage completely free.

How do you stop soil spilling in the car?

Tape a circle of card over the surface of the soil with a slit for the stem, then sit the pot in a box or a bag packed with scrunched paper.

Should you water a plant before giving it?

Water it lightly a day or two before, so it isn't dry on the day but isn't dripping either. Never water it just before wrapping.

Can you wrap a plant in cellophane?

Only for an hour or two. Cellophane traps moisture and heat, and leaves start to rot if the plant sits sealed overnight.