Elevate Your Gift Giving Game with Plants

Unexpected living gifts bring joy beyond the holidays

By Sara Grasmon for Monrovia

Photo courtesy Monrovia.com by Doreen Wyjna

The holiday season is full of so many things: time with family and friends, festive gatherings, longstanding traditions, and, of course, searching for those perfect gifts for everyone on the list. Let’s face it, holiday shopping can be a bit stressful. That’s why plants might be the perfect option. Fun to shop for and meaningful to give, plants can be the antidote to the holiday hustle and bustle.

Plants can help share so many sentiments throughout the holiday season, plus, they can be enjoyed well after the ring of the new year. What exactly can you say with a plant? Express gratitude for a host, teacher or caregiver. Welcome a new neighbor to the community. Brighten a friend’s day. Connect with someone who loves to cook. Whatever the reason, a plant can deliver a thoughtful message throughout the season and beyond.

Monrovia has made it even easier to share your holiday sentiments with those you care about this year, offering pre-wrapped gifts shoppers can grab-and-go at Lowe’s and local independent garden centers across the U.S. This year, Monrovia’s classic holiday berry wraps have returned alongside a new plaid tartan design, both bringing a festive flair to the plants’ pots.

“Plants and living holiday décor are meaningful gifts that anyone will love,” said Katie Tamony, plant expert and trend spotter for Monrovia. “We have unique selections for everyone on your list. Each one is sure to brighten their day well beyond the holidays.”

To choose the right plant for the right person, consider their personal style and interests, along with what you’re looking to say with this gift. Look for high-quality varieties to ensure you’re gifting living décor that will thrive throughout the season and beyond.

Statement Gifts

Plants with personality are sure to make a splash.

Who doesn’t love elegant and beautiful blooms? Monrovia Camellias are on every gardener’s wish list. These evergreen shrubs provide year-round beauty with long-lasting blooms. With so many colors and forms to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect gift to elevate the garden.

Adding color and fragrance to the home and garden is a job for lavender, and it’s up to the task. There are many types, including English, French, hybrid, and Spanish lavenders. Vintro™ Blue English Lavender is compact and transitions well from inside to outside since it is an excellent choice for containers. The inviting scent is fabulous and works wonderfully in bouquets or sachets – even more ways for your recipient to enjoy the gift that just keeps on giving.

For the wow factor, look no further than Camouflage^® Variegated Japanese Aralia. Dramatic, showy leaves in a medley of yellow, lime and green textured foliage provide an illuminating effect. White flower clusters emerge in the fall and winter. This choice adds a touch of the tropics year-round and is hardy in Zones 7-10. Those in cooler climates can enjoy this as an indoor/outdoor plant.

Foodie Gifts

Growing edible plants is a trend Monrovia’s consumer research shows is on the rise heading into 2026. Tap into this movement with one of these plants that are both flavorful and decorative.

For a festive and tasty combo, look no further than Mountain Pepper. The deep green leaves are held along beautiful red young stems, providing stunning contrast, and the leaves can be used to add a spicy, peppery flavor to foods.

Tuscan Blue Rosemary brings scent and texture to the garden and provides a wonderful addition to culinary activities. Beautiful, clear blue flowers add to its charm. Topiary shapes make lovely holiday décor.

The shiny, aromatic leaves of Little Ragu^® Sweet Bay can be dried to add the zip of Mediterranean flavor to soups and sauces. This plant makes an excellent host gift, and it can be used as a houseplant in the winter, then brought outside next spring.

Living Holiday Trees

A classic choice to bring the outdoors in or add pazazz to an outdoor container display.

If you’re looking for a classic holiday gift, Tiny Tower^® Dwarf Alberta Spruce works well as a living holiday tree, indoor seasonal décor accent or outdoor container plant. These are pruned frequently through the growing seasons to create a full, well-formed plant.

LittleOne^® Blue Holly is an exciting and exclusive holly – the only truly compact female blue holly variety with an excellent berry set. It stays compact, reaching only three to four feet tall and wide, with dense glossy green foliage and bright red berries. This evergreen shrub is also very cold hardy, thriving in Zones 5-9.

For more holiday gifting inspiration and outdoor container ideas check out this video. Visit  Monrovia.com for more plant information.

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