The seven best indoor plants for gifting

Plants make for wonderful gifts. For starters, they’re timeless, outliving any trend and blending in with any style or décor. These long-lasting beauties are suitable for just about any occasion. Avid green thumbs will delight in your thoughtfulness, and new plant parents can find joy and confidence in nurturing a plant that’s easy to care for.

Plants also improve the mood and health of any room, removing toxins, increasing fresh oxygen and creating a cosy impression.

We’re sharing the seven best plants for indoor gifting to help you choose the ideal plant for someone special.

Safety tip: Always check the plant’s label to make sure it’s safe to have in a home with children or pets, as some plants can be toxic if ingested. If you have any questions, please speak with one of our Team Members in-store.

1. Sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue)

Ideal for: People with a keen sense of style and/or a busy lifestyle

Sansevieria have vertical, spear-like leaves in dramatic dark greens, some with yellow stripes along the edge. These plants create a striking architectural statement in the home, particularly when paired with a gorgeous pot.

Sansevieria is also virtually indestructible. It requires minimal maintenance, making it the perfect plant for people with on-the-go lifestyles.

Tip: How to grow a Sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue)

2. Zanzibar gem

Ideal for: Beginner gardeners

Zanzibar gems (also known as ZZ plants) are low-maintenance and lovely. They have tall, arching stems tipped with shiny, waxy, oval-shaped leaves and can brighten up any room.

These plants are hardy, preferring indirect light, and they are forgiving of new plant parents. (They can tolerate drought-like conditions.)

Tip: How to grow Zanzibar gem.

3. Peace lily

Ideal for: Someone who needs a little TLC

Peace lilies (spathiphyllum) are often associated with peace, support, and sympathy, primarily due to their white, lily-like blooms. They’re the perfect gift for someone who needs some reliable, easy-to-care-for beauty in their life.

This is one of the most recognisable indoor plants, with emerald-green foliage and those famous oval flowers. Peace lilies are one of the best natural air-purifiers, and they are hardy – just keep up the water and keep them out of direct sunlight.

Tip: How to grow a peace lily.

4. Devil's ivy

Ideal for: Bookworms

Devil’s ivy loves a good shelf. It has an abundance of trailing, leafy growth that loves having space to wander. It’s a plant that brings any space to life.

Lush and hardy, devil’s ivy can survive in minimal light and thrives all year round.

Tip: How to grow devil’s ivy.

5. Monstera

Ideal for: Wild-at-heart wanderers

Monstera is a tropical-looking plant with large, unusually segmented leaves. If you want to create a jungle-feel within your home, this sizeable plant will do the trick.

This popular plant is easily adaptable and is happy in anything except cold environments.

Tip: How to grow monstera.

6. Orchid

Ideal for: Green thumbs and beauty-seekers

Orchids are beloved for their elegant and exotic flowers, which bloom in glowing colours like yellows, pinks, purples and creamy whites. Orchids reward patience, and their flowers can last up to three months with some gentle coaxing.

Despite their hothouse vibe, orchids are easy to grow. Avoid overwatering and choose a bright area that isn’t in direct sunlight.

Tip: How to grow an orchid.

7. Fiddle leaf fig

Ideal for: Big personalities

If you know someone who loves dramatic features in their home, the fiddle leaf fig is the perfect gift. They have wide, lustrous leaves shaped like violins, resplendent in verdant green. Interior designers love these plants because they have presence, reaching heights of two to three metres. (Make sure they have a large pot to live in.)

Fiddle leaf figs love the morning light, preferring windows that face east.

Tip: How to grow a fiddle leaf fig.

Tips for growing healthy indoor plants:

• Choose the ideal location. Plants can take a while to adjust to a location, so check their growing needs on the label or online. Most indoor plants prefer a well-lit spot out of direct sunlight.
• Pick your products. Use a quality potting mix and fertiliser specifically for indoor plants, and make sure they’re the right products for your type of plant.
• Leave some room. Choose a pot big enough for the plant – one to two sizes up from the nursery pot is about right. Check for signs that the plant needs repotting, like roots growing out of drainage holes.
• Water seasonally. Be aware of the plant’s watering needs as the weather changes. Plants will dry out faster in summer, while overwatering is a greater danger in winter, resulting in waterlogged roots and potentially attracting fungus gnats.
• Dust them off. Giving leaves a wipe with a damp cloth makes them look nicer; it also allows more light to hit the leaves for photosynthesis.

Get growing!

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