The Seven Best Plants for Gifting

Looking for a gift that lasts longer than the card? A living plant keeps saying "thinking of you" long after the occasion has passed.

Flowers fade in a week. A well-chosen plant can brighten someone's home for months, sometimes years. Plants suit almost every occasion, from birthdays and housewarmings to get-well wishes and sympathy, and they fit any style of home or office. Seasoned gardeners appreciate the thought, and first-time plant owners get the quiet satisfaction of keeping something alive and thriving.

At iGift Hampers we hand-pick every plant, present it beautifully, and can pair it with chocolates, wine, candles or a fresh fruit basket to turn it into a complete gift. Here are our seven favourite plants for gifting, and who each one suits best.

Pet safety tip: Some popular gift plants, including peace lilies, kalanchoe, cyclamen and anthuriums, can be harmful to cats and dogs if chewed. If your recipient has pets, an orchid or an olive tree is a safer choice. Not sure? Give our team a call on 1300 691 296.

1. Phalaenopsis orchid

Ideal for: the person who appreciates beautiful things

The moth orchid is the classic luxury plant gift. Its arching stems carry rows of elegant blooms in white, pink, purple and fuchsia, and a healthy plant will often stay in flower for two to three months. That's a lot of joy from one gift.

Don't let the exotic look fool you: phalaenopsis orchids are surprisingly easy. Give them bright light out of direct sun, and water only when the potting bark feels dry. Overwatering is the main thing to avoid.

We offer single-stem and double-stem orchids, plus mini orchids for desks and windowsills.

Shop: Orchid Gifts · Single Stem Orchid · 2 Spike Phalaenopsis in Pot · Mini Orchid Gifts

2. Peace lily

Ideal for: someone who needs comfort and support

With glossy green leaves and pure white blooms, the peace lily has long been associated with peace, hope and remembrance. That makes it one of the most thoughtful sympathy and get-well gifts you can send.

It's also one of the most forgiving indoor plants. Peace lilies are happy in medium light, even under office lighting. When they're thirsty they droop dramatically, then perk right back up after a drink, so it's easy to tell when they need water.

Shop: Peace Lily Gifts · In Loving Memory – Peace Lily Gift · Peace Lily in a Gift Bag · Peace Lily & Candle

3. Olive tree

Ideal for: new homeowners, newlyweds and milestone moments

Few gifts carry as much meaning as an olive tree. A symbol of peace, friendship and prosperity for thousands of years, it's a natural choice for a housewarming, settlement, wedding or anniversary, and with care it can live for decades.

Olive trees love sunshine. They do best outdoors in a sunny courtyard, balcony or garden, and they tolerate dry spells well once established. Their silvery-green foliage suits everything from Mediterranean-style patios to modern apartments.

Shop: Olive Tree Gifts · Olive Lovers Gift · Olive Tree & Luxury Candle · Olive Tree with Pinot Noir

4. Kalanchoe Calandiva

Ideal for: busy people who love a pop of colour

Kalanchoe Calandiva is a flowering succulent covered in clusters of tiny, rose-like double blooms. It's cheerful, compact, and flowers for weeks at a time, making it a lovely birthday or thank-you gift.

Because it's a succulent, it thrives on a little neglect. Place it somewhere bright and let the soil dry out between waterings.

Shop: Kalanchoe Calandiva & Candle Gift · Kalanchoe Calandiva & Moët Gift

5. Anthurium

Ideal for: big personalities and bold style

Anthuriums make a statement. Their glossy, heart-shaped red blooms look almost lacquered, and each one can last for many weeks. It's a plant that says "I love you" or "congratulations" with real flair.

Anthuriums like bright, indirect light and a little humidity, so a bathroom or kitchen with a good window suits them well. Water when the top of the potting mix feels dry.

Shop: Anthurium Gift with Chocolate

6. Cyclamen

Ideal for: brightening someone's day in the cooler months

With swept-back petals that look like butterflies in flight, cyclamen bring vivid colour when gardens are at their quietest. They're a sweet, affordable gift for a friend, colleague or neighbour.

Cyclamen prefer cool, bright spots away from heaters and harsh afternoon sun. Water around the edge of the pot or from below, rather than over the centre of the plant.

Shop: Cyclamen Plant Gift

7. Indoor plant mix

Ideal for: first-time plant parents and office desks

Can't decide? Our indoor plant mix brings together a selection of lush, low-maintenance plants in one gift. It's a great way to help someone start their plant collection, or to bring some green into a new home or workspace.

Shop: Indoor Plant Mix

Make it a hamper

A plant on its own is a lovely gift. A plant with something to enjoy straight away is even better. Many of our plant gifts come paired with:

• Chocolates for a sweet treat
• Wine or Moët for celebrations
• Scented candles for a calming, pampering gift
• A fresh fruit basket, like our Fruit Basket with Plant Gift

Every order includes a free personalised card, and you can add a personalised ribbon or a printed photo to make it truly theirs.

Tips for keeping gift plants healthy

Pop a few of these tips in your card message, or share them with the lucky recipient:

• Find the right spot. Most gift plants prefer bright light out of direct sun. Olive trees are the exception: they want full sun outdoors. Give a new plant a week or two to settle in.
• Water with the seasons. Plants dry out faster in the Australian summer and need much less water in winter. Check the soil with a finger before watering rather than following a strict schedule.
• Don't let roots sit in water. Empty saucers or decorative pots after watering. Soggy roots are the most common reason indoor plants struggle.
• Give them room to grow. When roots start poking out of the drainage holes, repot into a pot one or two sizes larger using a quality potting mix suited to the plant (orchids need orchid bark).
• Keep leaves clean. Wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth. They'll look glossier and absorb more light.

Send a living gift today

Whether it's a birthday, a new home, a thank you or a hard time, there's a plant that says exactly the right thing. Browse our full Plant & Flower Gifts range, with delivery across Australia.