Christmas shopping is easier when you can picture the person opening the gift. For the people on your list who love flowers, plants or a pretty windowsill, there is an entire category of gifts that can be bought now, wrapped in minutes and enjoyed for weeks. This guide gathers twenty of our favorites, sorted by type, with a few practical notes from a florist’s point of view. Christmas 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, so you have a little over six weeks.
A quick word on how we picked them. Each idea is something that is easy to find, makes sense for a beginner, and looks good on arrival. We have skipped specific brands and prices, because both change from store to store and week to week.
🌱 Part One: Gifts That Grow
A living gift keeps giving after the wrapping is gone, and several of the best ones are timed just right for the season.
1. A waxed amaryllis bulb
The easiest flower gift there is. A waxed amaryllis bulb is a big bulb coated in colorful wax that needs no soil and no water. You simply set it in bright, indirect light, and flower stalks appear in four to six weeks, sometimes sooner, with blooms lasting up to three weeks. Rotate it every few days so the stalk grows straight. Two or three stalks is common. It is a single-use gift: when the flowering is done the bulb is discarded, and the wax should be removed before composting. One tip from the same source: avoid buying a waxed bulb that has already started to bloom or has spent stalks.
2. A potted amaryllis kit
If your recipient likes to garden, a bulb that can be saved and grown again is the better gift. The usual advice is to pot an amaryllis in early to mid-November for bloom around the holidays, which means this is the week to do it. A Dutch-grown bulb typically blooms six to eight weeks after potting, and a South African-grown bulb in three to five, so a bulb potted this week may bloom right around Christmas or a little after. Plant it with the upper half of the bulb above the soil, in a pot with drainage holes and only an inch or two wider than the bulb. The blooms can be eight to ten inches across on a stalk up to 30 inches tall.
3. A paperwhite bowl
Paperwhites are the friendliest bulb gift because they do not need a cold period. Set the bulbs on washed stones in a shallow bowl with no drainage holes, add stones around them with the tips showing, and add water until it touches the bottom of the bulbs. Put them in a sunny window and they bloom in winter. They can grow tall enough, up to 18 to 20 inches, that a little staking helps. Like the waxed amaryllis, paperwhites are discarded after flowering. Most varieties have a strong, musky fragrance, which not everyone loves, so ask first.
4. A moth orchid
A moth orchid is the gift that makes a mantel or kitchen counter look like a magazine cover. Among orchids, the moth orchid is one of the best for beginners. It needs bright, indirect light, the same kind that African violets like, and the key to keeping it going is different care than an ordinary houseplant, not harder care. It suits a recipient who likes elegant and low-maintenance.
5. A holiday cactus
Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are the most generous plant gifts we know of. These plants can live more than a hundred years when properly tended, which makes them genuine family heirlooms. They bloom in red, pink, purple, white, orange or gold, can flower more than once a year with the right care, and like filtered light. Because they are short-day plants that need at least twelve hours of darkness to bloom, the gift note should say not to leave a lamp on near it at night.
6. A poinsettia, thoughtfully chosen
A poinsettia is still the classic. Choose one with plenty of color and tight, healthy foliage and protect it from cold on the way home. We cover the full care routine and the pet myths in our holiday flowers and greens guide.
7. A small dish garden of succulents
For the person who forgets to water, a shallow dish of succulents is nearly foolproof and looks tidy on a desk. Add a ribbon, a small sprig of greenery or a few cinnamon sticks, and it reads as a holiday gift without being a Christmas plant.
8. A rosemary or herb pot
For the cook, a pot of rosemary, thyme or sage doubles as a centerpiece and as dinner. It is the gift that works for the person who says they do not need anything.
💐 Part Two: Cut Flowers and Dried Flowers
9. A fresh bouquet in winter colors
Nothing beats a bouquet for instant happiness. In December, look for deep reds, creamy whites, evergreen touches and berries. Our tips for keeping cut flowers fresh are worth passing along on the gift card. You can browse our bouquets and arrangements for ideas.
10. A bouquet in a reusable vase
A bouquet that comes in a nice container gives the recipient something to keep after the flowers are gone. It pairs well with a note about refilling the water and trimming the stems.
11. A dried-flower bouquet
For someone who has everything, or who travels, dried flowers are the gift with no expiration date. They are soft, textural and a natural fit for a winter home. Read our guide on whether dried and preserved flowers are worth it.
12. Lavender, fresh or dried
A bundle of dried lavender, or a sachet of it, is a thoughtful small gift for a bedroom or a dresser drawer. Our lavender guide covers varieties and fragrance.
✂️ Part Three: Tools and Accessories
For the person who already has plenty of plants, give them a nicer way to take care of them.
13. A set of bud vases
Three small vases in different heights turn a few grocery-store stems into a table arrangement. They are the gift for the person who buys flowers every week.
14. A good pair of floral snips
Sharp snips make a clean cut, and a clean cut helps a stem take up water. This is a gift for anyone who arranges or gardens, and it fits in a stocking.
15. A flower press kit
A small wooden flower press is a gift that doubles as a project. Pressed pansies, ferns and leaves become cards, bookmarks and framed art, so it is a good gift for a child, a teenager or anyone who likes to make things.
16. A watering can and mister
A watering can with a long, narrow spout is made for houseplants, and a fine mister helps orchids and holiday cacti. Pick a style that looks good on a shelf, because it will live there.
17. Garden gloves and a trowel
Not glamorous, but practical. A good pair of gloves makes a gardener happy every spring.
18. Seed packets and a starter tray
A set of seeds is a promise of spring. Choose flowers that are easy for a beginner, such as zinnias, sunflowers or sweet peas, and add a short note about when to sow them. Our guides to zinnias and sunflowers make good companions.
19. A plant-care journal
A simple notebook for dates, watering and bloom notes is a gift for the organized plant lover and an easy one to wrap.
20. A botanical print or field guide
A framed botanical print, a plant field guide or a book of flower illustrations suits the person who loves nature but has no room for another pot.
🐾 A Note About Pets
If the recipient has cats or dogs, check the plant before you buy. The ASPCA lists amaryllis as toxic to dogs and cats, and it lists narcissus, which includes paperwhites, as toxic to dogs and cats too, with the bulbs the most poisonous part. If you are giving bulbs to a pet owner, a note on the card to keep them out of reach is a thoughtful addition, and in some homes a different gift will be a better fit. A bouquet of pet-safe flowers is another good alternative, and we are glad to help you choose.
🎯 Matching the Gift to the Person
- The gardener: a potted amaryllis kit, snips, gloves, or seeds.
- The person who forgets to water: a waxed amaryllis, a succulent dish or a dried-flower bouquet.
- The host or hostess: a bouquet in a vase, a paperwhite bowl or a rosemary pot.
- The coworker: a small succulent, a bud vase with a few stems, or a seed packet set.
- The grandparent: a holiday cactus or a moth orchid, plants that last for years.
- The child: a flower press, a paperwhite bowl to watch grow, or a packet of easy seeds.
- The person with cats or dogs: dried flowers, a bud vase, tools, or a journal instead of bulbs.
🎀 Wrapping Tips
Tuck a few sprigs of evergreen under the ribbon, tie on a cinnamon stick or an orange slice, and write a short note about care. For potted plants, a plain brown paper wrap and twine looks lovely and costs almost nothing. For anything that will travel, protect it from cold between the car and the front door, since tender plants do not like a freezing trunk.
❓ Quick Questions
What is the easiest plant gift for a beginner?
A waxed amaryllis, which needs no soil or water, or a paperwhite bowl, which needs only stones and water.
When should I pot an amaryllis for Christmas?
Early to mid-November, which is now. Dutch-grown bulbs usually take six to eight weeks to bloom.
Which plant lasts the longest?
A holiday cactus can live for decades, and some have lived more than a century.
Are amaryllis and paperwhites safe for pets?
No. The ASPCA lists both as toxic to dogs and cats, so keep them out of reach or choose a different gift.
Can I send a gift to someone who lives far away?
Yes. We deliver bouquets and plants across our service areas, seven days a week.