Plant gifts: why a plant is a better present than you think

A plant is one of the few presents that is still around a year later. Flowers last a week, chocolates last an evening, and a decent pot plant sits on a windowsill quietly reminding someone you thought about them. That is why plant gifts have grown so fast in the UK, and why they turn up now for birthdays, new homes, thank yous and funerals alike.

They also solve the hardest gifting problem: someone who already has everything. Nobody has too many plants, a plant takes up no cupboard space, and the price range is enormous - a supermarket succulent for three pounds sits happily next to a sixty pound olive tree.

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.

Why a plant works as a present

• It lasts. A peace lily bought for a birthday is still going at the next one, which almost nothing else in the price range manages.
• It suits nearly everyone. Students, new parents, retirees, someone moving house - a plant reads as thoughtful in all of those situations without needing to know their taste in anything.
• It scales with budget. Ten pounds buys a good sized pothos. Fifty buys a statement plant in a real pot. The gift looks generous at both ends.
• It is quietly personal. Choosing a plant means choosing light levels, space and effort, which shows you have actually pictured their home.
• It keeps giving something back. Watering a plant is a small daily win, and that matters more than usual for anyone who is unwell, grieving or living alone.
• It is easy to post. Most UK plant sellers now deliver in a box designed for the job, so you can send one three hundred miles without a car.

What to spend on a plant gift in the UK

• Under £10: a small succulent, a cactus or a rooted cutting in a plain pot. Fine as a thank you or a desk gift.
• £10 to £20: the standard plant present - a pothos, a spider plant, a Chinese money plant, usually in a decorative pot.
• £20 to £40: a large houseplant or a nicely potted orchid. This is the range for a big birthday, a new home or a leaving present.
• £40 to £80: an olive tree, a mature monstera or a tree for the garden. Group gifts and milestone occasions live here.
• Above £80: usually a garden tree, a planted arrangement or a plant subscription. Worth checking they have the space first.

When a plant is the wrong present

• They are moving abroad, into halls, or into anywhere temporary - a plant becomes a problem to solve rather than a gift.
• They have said, more than once, that they kill everything. Give a hardy plant or skip it.
• They have a cat that eats greenery, unless you have checked the plant is safe.
• They are in hospital - many UK wards still refuse plants and flowers.
• They have hay fever or a dust allergy and the plant is a heavy pollen producer.

What to write on the card

• Something to keep alive, unlike the last one. Happy birthday.
• A housewarming present that grows with the house. Congratulations on the new place.
• Water on Sundays and think of me. Thank you for everything.
• It's low effort and hard to kill, so I thought of you immediately.
• Something living, because the house deserves it. Welcome home.

Shop cards

Pin badges to pin on the wrapping

A small extra that survives even if the plant doesn't.

How to write it so it lands

• Check the light in their home before choosing - a sun lover in a north facing flat will die and they'll feel guilty about it.
• Repot it, or buy it already potted. A plastic nursery pot makes a good plant look like a last-minute one.
• Write the care instructions on the card. It saves them googling and it makes the gift feel finished.
• Buy the plant a day or two ahead, not weeks - the shorter it sits in your hallway the better it looks.

Where to shop next

• What plant to give for each occasion
• How to wrap a plant as a gift
• 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

Are plants a good gift?

Yes, for most people. They last far longer than flowers, suit almost any occasion and work at any budget. The exceptions are people who are moving, in hospital, or living with pets that chew plants.

How much should I spend on a plant as a present?

£10 to £20 covers most occasions in the UK. Spend £20 to £40 for a big birthday, a new home or a leaving gift, and more only if you know they have the space.

Is it rude to give a cheap plant?

No. A £6 plant in a nice pot with a handwritten card reads far better than a £20 gift chosen in a hurry. The card does most of the work.

Can you post a plant in the UK?

Yes. Most UK plant sellers ship in boxes built to hold the pot still. Order early in the week so it isn't sitting in a depot over the weekend.