From housewarmings to anniversaries, holidays to dinner parties, houseplants are the perfect gift to celebrate life's milestones. Many houseplants have symbolic meanings that represent friendship, love, and prosperity. Others simply bring joy and beauty to your home. Houseplants have staying power, lasting much longer than a bouquet of roses or a bottle of wine.
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When giving a gift, look for houseplants that are easy to care for and consider how much space the plant will need as it grows. Also, for pet owners, make sure to choose pet-safe ones (specified below) as some houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs. For a special touch, plant the plant in a decorative container that matches the decor of the recipient's home.
Below are 12 houseplants that are perfect as gifts.
Monstera
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This houseplant is popular for its easy care and unique foliage. Nicknamed the Swiss Cheese Plant, Monstera is known for the naturally irregular holes in its gigantic leaves. This plant grows large, up to 3 feet in height and width, so make sure the recipient has enough space to accommodate the growth. Monstera symbolizes honor, respect, and longevity, making it a great gift for elders and important people in your life. Given its popularity, you can't go wrong choosing Monstera as a housewarming gift.
Sansevieria
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Virtually never dying, Sansevieria is a great choice for new houseplant enthusiasts or those who don't have enough light in their home or office. Sansevieria is an architectural gem, with thick, sword-like leaves that create strong vertical lines. There are several varieties with different leaf shapes and patterns, each one growing to a different size. This plant is also said to bring good luck and represent determination. What better gift for someone starting a new job?
Sedum
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Sedum (Crassula ovata), a member of the low-growing succulent family, is also known as the money plant, lucky plant, or friendship tree, and you'll understand the symbolism of this plant. Representing growth, prosperity, and renewal, sedums are the perfect gift for housewarmings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Sedums are easy to care for, as they love the warm, dry environments found in most homes. And because they don't mind neglect, sedums make the perfect gift for busy plant parents. Sedums are very long-lived plants that develop woody trunks over time and can survive for decades with proper care.
ZZ Plant
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The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is another easy-care plant that's perfect for beginners and frequent travelers. It also tolerates low-light conditions, making it a great plant for the office. The ZZ plant thrives on neglect; it only needs watering once every two to three weeks and isn't picky about humidity. Plus, its thick, dark green leaves that stand at an acute angle to the stem make it a great look. Sometimes called the everlasting plant or lucky tree, the ZZ plant is said to bring good luck and fortune.
Rubber tree
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Rubber trees are classic houseplants, with vibrant foliage and strong, upright stems. The dark foliage of the burgundy rubber tree (Ficus decora 'Burgundy') contrasts with the typical green foliage of most houseplants. For a tri-color version, consider Ficus robusta 'Tieneke', which has pink, green and yellow leaves. Rubber trees represent abundance, happiness and wealth.
Peace Lily
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One of the few plants that will bloom in low light, the Spathiphyllum plant is beloved for its showy ivory-white flowers and glossy leaves. Peace lilies are symbols of peace, hope, comfort and sympathy and are often given to those who have lost a loved one. Because peace lilies are enduring, they will continue to provide comfort throughout the recovery process. They also make a thoughtful gift for someone going through a hard time in life, as a reminder of peace and comfort.
Pet-safe houseplant gifts
While all of the plants above make beautiful gifts, they're not the best choices for people with pets. On the other hand, the plants below are all considered pet-friendly. If you're not sure about the safety of a particular plant, check out this handy database from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®.
Prayer Plants
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This is the plant that says “thank you.” The grateful Maranta leuconeura features beautiful leaves with yellow-green variegation and pink veins against a dark green background. This hardy houseplant is slow growing and easy to care for. Its common name comes from the tendency of the leaves to fold up like praying hands at night. This symbolism makes this plant a thoughtful gift for anyone in need of comfort.
“Triostar” Stromanthe
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With its stunning multi-colored tropical foliage, Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar' makes a big statement. The large oval leaves are irregularly variegated on the upper surface with shades of cream, pink, and green. The undersides are even more dramatic, with pink variegation all over the plant and a pink to burgundy or maroon base. While this variety is officially named 'Triostar', the plant is sometimes labeled 'Tricolor' Stromanthe. This particular plant is not associated with any symbolism, but it is in the prayer plant family and definitely makes a great first impression.
chinese money tree
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Its coin-shaped leaves give it the name Chinese Money Plant. This plant is traditionally believed to bring good luck and wealth to its owner, making it a great plant for anyone starting a new chapter in life. The Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) is sometimes called the friendship plant because it produces “babies” (offshoots) at the base of the mother plant that can be potted up and given to friends.
Calathea
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Calathea comes in many beautiful varieties and species with visually striking leaf patterns. Calatheas require a little more care than Sansevieria or Sedum, but are not too difficult to care for. The easiest species to care for in this group is the rattlesnake plant (Calathea lancifolia), with its long, thin leaves and wavy edges. The light green upper surface of the leaves is dotted with dark patterns that run alternating along the length of the leaf, and the underside is a deep purple. Calatheas symbolize new beginnings and make a great gift for someone starting a new job, moving to a new home, or making many new starts in life.
Orchid
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Orchids are known to be symbols of beauty and purity, but the specific meaning depends on the color of the flower. White orchids symbolize innocence, red orchids represent fiery love. Yellow orchids are symbols of friendship and new beginnings, and purple orchids represent admiration and respect. Whatever the occasion, you can't go wrong with an orchid. Orchids have a reputation for being high-maintenance, but many orchids, especially the common Phalaenopsis, are easy to care for. Orchids flower for weeks to months. Some people treat them like a long-lasting bouquet and throw them away when the last flower fades, but for those who are up for a challenge, it's not that difficult to get them to bloom again. When choosing an orchid, choose one that hasn't yet bloomed so that it will last longer.
Zebra Plant
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This last selection may seem a little unusual, but it's compact, easy to care for, pet-friendly, and adorable. The Zebra Plant (Haworthia attenuata) is also one of the easiest succulents to grow for beginners. It can last for weeks without watering and tolerates relatively low light for a succulent, making it a great addition to the office or home. The Zebra Plant has fleshy, thick leaves with bands of white projections that give this plant its common name. Its dramatic leaves and upright structure blend perfectly with stylish containers.