▷ 5 perfect plants as a Christmas gift!

Christmas, plants and gifts, three words that fit well together! Why pick a plant as a Christmas present? We have a pretty clear thought!

Ah, how lovely Christmas is, now that winter is here we can truly enjoy its spirit!
All those colors, the air that always seems to smell wonderful, the laughter of the kids, in short, we cannot deny that it is indeed a truly enchanting time.
Not just the streets are adorned, but also the homes.
The tree is decorated, the red tablecloth is laid out, the nice dishes are taken out, and the presents are arranged.

Sooner or later, we all find ourselves without clear ideas on what to give to someone special. Maybe what can we take to the aunt who welcomed us for Christmas dinner?

A decoration? She already has far too many, and honestly, they need to be cleaned off.
A dress? Oh dear, if we get the size wrong we could go from Christmas right to trouble.
A kitchen gadget? Handy, but just think if it happened to you, the surprise of opening a present and finding a pot inside. Now you understand why maybe your aunt – and likely everyone else – won’t be so thrilled about it.

A book? Good idea, but what will she like? What will its gender be?

So many issues, after all we simply wish to give something lovely that can show our thankfulness and help her see that we have been thinking of her.

That’s what presents are for, right? Let’s set aside for a moment the discussion about the commercial side of holidays, it is unnecessary to find negativity in everything, especially if that something allows us to bring joy to another person.

Giving gifts is about thinking of those around us, identifying the people who mean a lot to us and focusing our thoughts on them. We ponder what they might enjoy, we look around wondering what might make them happy, we consider what our present will express to them.

That is why they say that “the thought counts”, it is not the amount spent on a present that makes it special but how much that gift is able to show our feelings for a person.
Similarly, receiving a gift makes you feel valued, exactly because someone has invested some of their time and given it to us, and this is what lies beneath Christmas.

Without even discussing religion, first and foremost, Christmas is about sharing and cherishing the moments we have with the people we adore, to whom we are thankful or whom we just simply like.

Yet sometimes it is normal not to know how to express what we feel in the right way.
And here comes our suggestion, which is fine, it might be a little one-sided, but still entirely with good intentions.
Since old times, flowers and plants have been used to share thoughts, to communicate ideas and feelings. So what better choice than to find the plant that best fits our message and give it as a gift, maybe along with a lovely note explaining the meaning of our gesture?

1. Butcher’s broom

It is one of the most distinctive plants of Christmas, with its green leaves and red berries, but aside from being so unique, it is also rich in meaning!
Since ancient days, red fruits have been a sign of wealth while the everlasting green of the leaves symbolizes survival and long life.

During Roman times, everyone carried a piece of this plant with them during Saturnalia (the days just before the winter solstice) since it was believed to be a charm to keep evil spirits and harm away from their homes.

Additionally, the red berries symbolized the sun’s return at the next solstice, thus marking the rebirth of nature (would you like to learn more about this? An article completely about Ilex will be out soon).
Caring for this plant is quite easy, just place it in a shady spot (both indoors and outdoors) and plant it in moist, well-drained soil.

2. Hellebore

Legend tells of a poor shepherd girl who, on Christmas night, visited the cave where baby Jesus had just been born. The young girl, disappointed that she didn’t have money to buy a present for the newborn, picked some hellebores along her way to give to Jesus. Because of this tale, the hellebore is also known as “Christmas Rose” and represents new beginnings, freedom from bad situations, making it a perfect gift for someone ready to start something new or wanting change!

Hellebore is a beautiful plant that, depending on the kind, shows a wide range of flower colors, allowing us to choose it based on our loved one’s favorite hue. Hellebore grows well in any soil type, as long as it stays fresh and drains well.

For the best growth, it is best to plant it in shady or partially shady places, avoiding direct heat sources. Lastly, it suffices to water it regularly while keeping the soil moist.

When you give it as a gift, you will be happy to see it already blooming, making a great impression!

However, be cautious! We do not suggest gifting it to anyone who has pets, especially cats, since hellebore is toxic and could cause serious harm if swallowed.

3. Anthurium

Is the individual you plan to give the plant to your loved one or a close friend? We have the perfect choice for you! This plant with heart-shaped leaves has always represented strong feelings of love or friendship.

Just imagine that in ancient Greece, it was commonly believed that these plants were the arrows of the love God Cupid, left behind on Earth.

This small indoor plant does not grow more than 50/60 centimeters tall and is quite easy to care for: it enjoys always moist soil (therefore it should be watered often but with small amounts), it likes to be in fairly bright spots but far from direct sunlight that could harm it, and if you want it to thrive, the best approach is to fertilize it two times a month with liquid food for green plants.

4. Winter blooming camellia

The Camellia is not a typical flower gifted during Christmas, but its winter blooms make it ideal. The message it carries changes depending on the color. You can choose the White camellia to express respect, thankfulness, and admiration. The pink one represents a wish to grow closer to the person receiving this lovely flower. Ultimately, for your beloved, the red Camellia stands out. This eastern flower is also great for those who appreciate style and elegance, with its upright structure and gently curved, neat petals that seem to sway gracefully.

The Camellia can also tolerate temperatures below 0° and likes shaded or partially shaded spots.

5. Erica

Many meanings and qualities have always been linked to heather. One of the main ones is related to the magic it holds, making it perfect for creating brooms used to clean the temples of the gods or for crafting wood for baking bread used during some sacred ceremonies. Even now this plant keeps its original meanings, as it is considered to bring purity and can ward off bad spirits from a home.

If you are charmed by its delicate beauty, we recommend giving it as a gift in its bright pink hues. In fact, Erica’s meaning changes based on the color of its blooms, and surely the lovely pink has the best wishes and hopes for dreams coming true! For example, a great variety for this moment could be Erica gracilis “Rood”, a medium-sized bush with thin, needle-like leaves. From autumn to spring, tiny, bell-shaped pink-red flowers appear.

Here are the best plants to gift for your Christmas!

Of course, we haven’t overlooked the stunning Christmas Star, but like every main character, it deserves its own dedicated space in an article you can find here: Christmas Star, caring for a Star.