Don’t Give These Plants as Gifts This Year: What to Avoid and Why

We may be biased, but plants make a stellar, nearly universal gift. They’re versatile, befitting hosts, coworkers, neighbors, in-laws, and fellow enthusiasts. The “nearly” part comes in tailoring the selection. A little thought into your recipient’s interests makes a compatible growing partnership. 

Our list of plants not to gift includes some favorites that are toxic and best avoided for those with young children and pets. Others are more likely to cause allergies, while some are just hard to care for successfully. It helps to know when to fold ‘em, too; some people have enough on their plate and don’t need one more thing to care for. 

Ultimately, don’t overthink it, and don’t fret in an already busy season. Gift the plant. It’s a thoughtful gesture and lasting present with the intention of brightening the beholder’s days. Consider shopping your own garden; some of the most meaningful specimens are pass-alongs. Share rooted cuttings of your special favorites.

Not Kid or Pet-Friendly

In the “not child or animal-friendly” category are toxic selections. Many of our houseplant favorites are poisonous if ingested. If your recipient has toddlers, a new puppy or kitten, or other curious beings, you may be inadvertently gifting one more thing they need to baby-proof.

Toxicity levels vary, and some necessitate ingesting large quantities for any effects, while others are more potent. While non-toxic options eliminate some popular choices, especially at holiday time, there is a multitude of others to take their place. Safe choices are fun to tailor to kids, with easy selections to inspire the budding naturalist.

Allergy-Inducing

In the world of houseplants, some promote allergic responses more than others. Major household allergens include mold, dust, and pollen. Plants may contribute to mold through consistently damp soils or dust by reproducing through spores. 

Bloomers produce pollen, and leaves, especially fuzzy ones, collect dust. Fortunately, plenty of selections align with the intention of improving air quality, and these make good plants to gift for allergy sufferers.

There’s also the potential for contact dermatitis with the protective sap of some species. For these, wearing gloves when trimming is best.

Disease and Pest-Prone

Diseases and pests are unpredictable, though there are several popular selections more likely to develop problems. Going with a pest and disease-resistant selection sets the stage for low-maintenance, vigorous growth.

That said, over or underwatering often leads to stress, disease, and pest issues, and that’s just part of the learning process and care for a specific plant. The list below has certain qualities, like large leaves, that may limit air circulation or provide broad feeding surfaces and hiding spots for insects. Otherwise, they’re fairly easy-care selections. All are susceptible to the occasional woe.

Challenging Care Needs

Selections that are difficult to care for are finicky about their growing requirements, from location to humidity to temperature. Some may be better suited for the garden than the interior, like gardenia, roses, and azaleas. They may include certain tropicals accustomed to warm, humid conditions or specialized orchids tailored to rainforest environs. 

As fascinating as Venus flytraps are, for example, and as much fun for kids to observe, they usually don’t last long at home. Knowing the level of expertise of your recipient helps when choosing demanding growers or rare, exotic specimens. To set the receiver up for success while keeping things unique, opt for exciting foliage or an interesting variety of a reliable, forgiving specimen.

Highly Specific Lighting Requirements

When you’re unsure of the giftee’s at-home or office lighting, it helps to be a generalist. While some specimens require a certain kind of sun exposure, others are more adaptable. Citrus trees, for example, need loads of light to thrive. Plants that grow in both bright and low light are a great choice.

Not Tailored to the Recipient

If you know a little bit about the person you’re gifting, you can hone in on the best fit. If you know they like to cook, consider indoor herbs. Or, they might enjoy kitchen counter salad greens, microgreens, or sprouts. If they travel a lot, think about a succulent for more time between waterings.

A pretty, carefree selection is a good choice when you don’t know much about their houseplant expertise. Other attributes to look for include fun names, colors, and quirky foliage or flowers (heart-shaped leaves are sweet).

Other creative and related gifts include seed bundles like container vegetables, herbal teas, or cat lover’s blend. Or, custom-create your own for a thoughtful spin. Seeds are useful across multiple seasons for beginner and expert gardeners alike. Pair them with a pot or seed starting supplies.

Invasive Qualities

We’ve already covered mistletoe and English ivy on the toxicity list, and they’ll overlap here in the invasive category as cold-hardy growers with a wide range. To avoid plants that escape the garden, skip gifting species that are aggressive in your area.

These vary by climate, as many tropical houseplants make their way into the landscape in frost-free, subtropical growing zones but won’t survive in colder regions.

Asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus) is an invasive weed in parts of the U.S., including Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Its trailing stems and red berries spread and disperse, respectively. Inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) often creeps over the edge and roots in the soil below. Mint is a cold-hardy perennial herb and ready spreader if left to run beyond its container.

Oversized Attributes and Defenses

Consider size before gifting a large specimen like a tree or monstrous houseplant. While many of us would love this, others need to make sure they can accommodate it in the garden or inside. Start small, say with a young olive tree that can live in a pot for years and grow accordingly. If you do go large, a container with a catchment tray or self-watering pot helps for indoor situations.

Some who follow symbolism feel that cacti and other spiky and thorny growers send a message opposite warm and fuzzy. That may be true for plants with unwieldy defenses, especially in the kid and pet-friendly category. So, be mindful of needing to move around barbed growers like agave and bromeliads.

Cacti, though, symbolize strength and endurance. In feng shui, they ward off negative energy – with the right placement. A Christmas cactus is a festive seasonal gift. And a little cactus in a Santa hat is pretty cute, too.

Packaging and Shipping Concerns

It’s difficult to ship live plants, especially in winter, when potential delays can lead to freezing. It happens. Plants go from a tailored greenhouse environment to a dim box, subject to heat, cold, and shuffling. What occurs in shipping may be beyond the growers’ control, but they’ll usually do right by sending out another specimen or refunding the loss.

If your plant arrives with black or wilted portions, it’s a sign of stress beyond simple watering. Best not to gift and to start fresh. Take pictures of any damaged packaging and plant material on arrival to assist the grower.