Easy plants to give as gifts, even to someone who kills plants
Give a snake plant or a ZZ plant: both get the lowest possible score on our care rating, both forgive missed waterings and both put up with a dim corner. Pothos, spider plant and kalanchoe come close behind. Pick by the rating instead of by hope, then send the plant's care card along so the new owner knows what to do from day one.
What plant can I give someone who kills plants?
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Here's a secret about plant killers: forgetting is the easy problem. My thick leaves store water, so a snake plant shrugs off a few skipped weeks. The bigger danger is too much water, as the snake plant care card explains. The ZZ plant works the same way: its water-storing rhizomes ride out dry spells, and they rot if they're kept wet.
So the best gift for someone who "kills everything" is a plant that would rather be ignored than fussed over. Water a snake plant once the soil dries completely, which in winter means about once a month or less. A ZZ plant wants water about twice a month in summer and once a month in winter.
Looking for the full beginner list by light? Our beginner plants guide covers twelve easy houseplants. This page is about choosing one to give.
What makes a plant forgiving?
We built the care rating because no authority publishes a single difficulty score. Each factor comes from university extension services and botanical gardens, and the card links every source. Here's what a 0 means on each factor, and why it matters when you give a plant away:
| Factor | What a 0 means | Why it matters for a gift |
|---|---|---|
| Missed waterings | Drought tolerant | Survives a busy week, a trip or a forgetful owner |
| Light flexibility | Low to bright light | Fine in whatever spot the new owner has |
| Humidity | An average home is fine | No misting, no humidifier |
| Pests and disease | Rarely | Fewer surprises and fewer sprays |
| Sensitivity to change | Low | Handles the move from shop to car to a new home |
Two more checks keep the rating honest. A card says "Forgives missed waterings" only when its missed-waterings score is 0 and two agreeing extension sources say the plant tolerates drying out. And the total has to land within one step of the maintenance level that NC State Extension or the Missouri Botanical Garden publishes for that plant.
Which easy plants make the best gifts?
| Plant | Care rating | Forgives missed waterings | Light | Pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) | Easy | Yes | Low light is fine | Toxic to cats and dogs, moderate |
| ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) | Easy | Yes | Low light is fine | Toxic to cats and dogs, moderate |
| Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) | Easy | Yes | Medium indirect | Mildly toxic to cats (MSD Veterinary Manual); the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic |
| Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) | Easy | Yes | Medium to bright indirect | Toxic to cats, dogs and horses, moderate |
| Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) | Easy | Yes | Bright indirect | Toxic to cats and dogs, moderate |
| Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) | Easy to moderate | No | Medium indirect | Toxic to cats, dogs and horses, moderate |
| Bromeliad (Guzmania lingulata) | Easy to moderate | No | Bright indirect | Non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses |
What each one brings to the gift:
- Snake plant. Upright, sculptural and happy in a snug pot for years. Keep it off cold windows.
- ZZ plant. Takes deep shade and office lights. A good pick for someone who travels often.
- Spider plant. Thick roots ride out dry spells, and it makes baby plants your friend can share. Its leaf tips can brown from fluoride and salts in tap water.
- Pothos. A trailing vine for a shelf or a hanging basket. It handles dry soil far better than soggy soil, and variegated kinds fade in low light.
- Kalanchoe. Winter color in a small pot. It's a succulent that's fine drying out between waterings, and it needs a bright window.
- Peace lily. It droops when it's thirsty and perks up after a drink, so it tells its new owner when to water. It's not a true lily.
- Bromeliad. Bright color for months, and the only pet-safe plant on this list. Keep a little water in its central cup. Each plant blooms once, then grows pups.
Expected a money tree here? It shows up on a lot of easy-plant lists, but its card rates Moderate, mostly because it drops leaves when it's moved, chilled or repotted. That's a tough start for a plant that's about to change homes.
Which easy gift plants are safe for cats and dogs?
We follow one rule everywhere: when reputable sources disagree, the most cautious one wins. That's why the spider plant counts as toxic here. The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic, and the MSD Veterinary Manual describes vomiting, drooling, gagging and a short loss of appetite in cats, with no deaths described. Its card shows both.
The ASPCA lists the bromeliad sold as a gift, Guzmania lingulata, as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. For more pet-safe gifts, the Christmas cactus and the moth orchid are non-toxic too, though both rate Moderate. Our holiday plants and pets guide covers every December plant.
If a pet chews a plant and seems unwell, call your veterinarian. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a consultation fee may apply).
Which easy plants survive low light?
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University of Vermont Extension suggests choosing a gift plant that handles a range of light, from a sunny window to a dim room, because you rarely know the recipient's light. Here's how the seven compare, from their cards:
- Low light is fine: snake plant and ZZ plant. Both grow faster in bright, indirect light, and direct sun can scorch a ZZ plant.
- Survives low light: pothos (variegated kinds fade there), peace lily (flowers best in bright, indirect light) and spider plant (takes low light to bright indirect light).
- Needs a bright spot: bromeliad (an east or west window, never hot sun) and kalanchoe (a bright window; a few hours of morning sun is fine, and it gets leggy in low light).
Not sure what light your friend has? A snake plant or a ZZ plant is the safe bet. Our indoor light guide explains how to read a window.
How do I send the care instructions with a plant?
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The plastic tag in the pot says very little. A care card goes further: it says when to water and why, what to watch for, and whether the plant is safe for pets and kids.
- Send the link. Use the share button on the card, or copy the link from the table above, and text it with a "Merry Christmas".
- Print a tag. Each card has a share image. Print it small and tie it to the pot.
- Skip the foil. Pick a pot with a drainage hole and leave decorative foil off; our gift plant guide explains why.
- Bundle it up. Most houseplants come from the tropics. University of Vermont Extension warns that long spells below 40°F (about 4°C) can damage them, so keep the trip short and the plant wrapped.
Got a plant yourself this year? The first-week guide for gifted plants walks through what to do when it comes home.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the easiest plant to keep alive?
On our cards, the snake plant and the ZZ plant tie for easiest, with a care total of 0. Both forgive missed waterings, take low light, do fine in average home humidity, rarely get pests and handle change well.
Is a peace lily a good gift for someone who kills plants?
It's a good teacher. A peace lily rates Easy to moderate: it likes its soil lightly moist, so it doesn't forgive a long dry spell, but it droops when thirsty and recovers after water. It's toxic to cats, dogs and horses.
Are succulents good gifts for beginners?
Some are. The kalanchoe rates Easy and forgives missed waterings, and it blooms in winter. Like most succulents, it needs a bright window and should never sit in water.
Is there an easy plant that's safe for cats?
From this list, the bromeliad: the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, and it rates Easy to moderate. The spider plant is listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA, but a veterinary manual describes mild stomach upset in cats, so we mark it toxic.
Sources
- How we rate plants : the care rating method, with every factor and band
- Care cards, each with its own sources: snake plant, ZZ plant, spider plant, pothos, kalanchoe, peace lily, bromeliad, money tree
- Five tips for gifting live indoor plants : Debra Heleba, University of Vermont Extension (2024)
- Mother-in-law's tongue, Golden pothos, Kalanchoe, Peace lily, Orange star (Guzmania lingulata) and Spider plant : ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Zamioculcas zamiifolia : NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Houseplants and ornamentals toxic to animals : MSD Veterinary Manual