Is a Plant a Good Housewarming Gift? Best Plants for a New Home
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Is a plant a good housewarming gift?
A plant is close to the perfect housewarming gift: it needs no storage, it suits any room, it doesn't clash with a kitchen they've just chosen, and it makes an empty house feel lived in within an hour of arriving. The only real risk is giving something fussy to people who are still living out of boxes.
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.
New home cards to go with it
Designed in house and printed in the UK, for the plant you're carrying in.
Best plants for a new home
- Snake plant - upright, architectural, copes with low light and a fortnight without water.
- Pothos - trails off a shelf, grows fast enough to feel like progress, and forgives everything.
- ZZ plant - the hardiest common houseplant in the UK, ideal for a dark hallway.
- Spider plant - cheap, cheerful and it produces babies they can spread through the house.
- Potted rosemary or bay - useful on a kitchen windowsill from day one.
- Peace lily - it tells you when it's thirsty by drooping, which suits distracted new owners.
- Olive tree - the statement version, for a big house move or a group gift.
What to avoid
- Anything that needs daily attention while they're still finding the kettle.
- Very large plants, unless you know the room - a two metre plant is a burden in a small flat.
- Cacti in a house with small children.
- Anything toxic if they have a cat or dog.
- Cut flowers dressed up as a housewarming gift - they'll be dead before the boxes are gone.
What to spend on a housewarming gift
- £10 to £15 for a plant on its own - completely normal and nobody expects more.
- £20 to £30 for a plant in a decent pot, which is the standard for close friends.
- £30 to £50 for a group gift or a first home, usually a large plant or a tree.
- Add a card at any price point - it's what makes the gift memorable rather than generic.
New home card lines
- Something living for the new place. Congratulations.
- It only needs water and the occasional kind word. Welcome home.
- The first thing in the house that isn't in a box. Congratulations on the move.
- Every new home needs one thing you have to look after. Here it is.
- Happy new home. Please don't kill it before we visit.
How to write it so it lands
- Ask which room it's for. Light level is the only thing that decides whether the plant lives.
- Take it potted. Nursery plastic undersells an otherwise generous gift.
- If you don't know the house, pick a small plant and a good card over a big plant and a gift bag.
- Offer to repot it later - it's a second gift that costs nothing.
Where to shop next
- Plant gifts UK
- What plant to give for each occasion
- How to wrap a plant as a 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
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- Pin badges
Frequently asked questions
Is a plant a good housewarming gift?
Yes. It needs no storage, suits any decor, and makes a new house feel lived in immediately. Choose a hardy one, since the first few weeks in a new home are chaotic.
What is the best plant for a new home?
A snake plant, pothos or ZZ plant. All three survive low light, irregular watering and being moved from room to room while the house gets sorted.
How much should I spend on a housewarming gift?
£10 to £30 covers almost every situation in the UK. Group gifts for a first home often land around £40 to £50.
Is it bad luck to give a plant as a housewarming gift?
No. Some traditions treat certain plants as unlucky to give, but in the UK a plant is one of the most common and welcome housewarming presents there is.