The Best Plants to Give for Christmas and New Year

Key takeaways

1. For homes with cats or dogs, give Christmas cactus, moth orchid, rosemary or Norfolk Island pine; the ASPCA lists all four as non-toxic.
2. Poinsettia, cyclamen, amaryllis, paperwhites and kalanchoe are toxic to pets; poinsettia's risk is mild but real.
3. Match the plant to the room: cyclamen likes it cool at 10–15 °C, poinsettia and orchids a warm 20 °C.
4. Pick a plant with healthy leaves, no roots escaping the pot and flowers not yet fully open.
5. In the southern hemisphere Christmas falls in early summer, so heat, not cold, is the main risk.

What plant makes a good Christmas or New Year gift?

A good gift plant flowers or looks festive in midwinter, lasts well beyond the holidays and suits the home it is going to. That last point is where most gift guides stop short. This one compares the most popular Christmas and New Year plants by the room temperature they need, how long they last and, crucially, whether the ASPCA lists them as safe for cats and dogs. It also covers the season in both hemispheres: in London or Toronto a gift plant has to cope with dark days and dry heating, while in Sydney or Cape Town Christmas falls in early summer.

Gift plants compared: care and pet safety

Toxicity is from the ASPCA's cat and dog plant lists; light and temperature are from the RHS and UF/IFAS Extension. For a fuller list of safe choices, see our guide to pet-safe houseplants for cats and dogs.

The best gift plants for homes with cats and dogs

If you are not sure whether the recipient has pets, choose from this group.

• Christmas cactus. Penn State Extension calls it the safest holiday plant option, noting the ASPCA rates it non-toxic to cats and dogs. It flowers at exactly the right time and, as UF/IFAS notes, can even grow outdoors in warm areas if it is protected from frost.
• Moth orchid. The RHS groups Phalaenopsis with the plants that want a warm room of around 20 °C (68 °F). With good care it keeps growing long after the holidays, as UF/IFAS says of gift plants in general; our guide on how to propagate orchids covers the next step.
• Rosemary. Often sold clipped into a small Christmas-tree shape. UF/IFAS suggests keeping it in a pot on a sunny patio after the holidays or planting it in an herb garden.
• Norfolk Island pine. Listed as non-toxic by the ASPCA (under Australian pine). Indoors it stays modest, although UF/IFAS points out it can reach about 60 m (200 ft) in its native habitat.

Classic Christmas plants that need a little care around pets

Poinsettia. The ASPCA lists poinsettia as toxic; its milky sap irritates the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting. Penn State Extension adds that reports of its toxicity have been greatly exaggerated and that stomach upset usually resolves on its own. Fine for most homes, but keep it out of reach of chewing pets. It wants a warm room of around 20 °C (68 °F) (RHS).

Cyclamen. One of the longest-lasting gifts: the RHS says it blooms for several months and can flower again in later years. It prefers a cool, bright room at 10–15 °C (50–59 °F), away from direct sun and heaters, and occasional drying out is less harmful than overwatering. The ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs.

Amaryllis and paperwhites. Penn State notes that amaryllis contains lycorine in all parts, concentrated in the bulb, and that all parts of paperwhite narcissus are toxic to cats and dogs, especially the bulbs. Both are lovely for pet-free homes.

Decorations that are risky for pets

Holly and mistletoe are decorations rather than houseplants, but they come into the same rooms. Penn State Extension says holly leaves and berries have low toxicity yet can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, while mistletoe's toxins are concentrated in the berries and can cause serious symptoms. It also warns that all parts of true lilies, even the pollen, are extremely dangerous for cats, which matters for winter bouquets, and that Christmas tree water treated with additives can harm pets; use plain fresh water. If a pet eats a plant and seems unwell, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control.

How to choose and give a plant that lasts

1. Check the plant before you buy. UF/IFAS advises choosing healthy foliage and making sure no roots are growing out of the pot.
2. Buy flowering plants in bud. Pick one that has not fully bloomed yet, so the show lasts longer at its new home.
3. Protect it on the way home. In a northern winter, cold air on the walk home can damage tropical plants; wrap it well and see how cold is too cold for houseplants. In a southern summer, never leave it in a hot car.
4. Include care notes. UF/IFAS recommends adding care instructions to the gift. A short note with the plant's name, light and watering needs is enough.

Basic care after the holidays is similar for most of these plants. UF/IFAS suggests bright, indirect light away from drafts and heat sources such as radiators and vents, checking the soil every few days, watering thoroughly when it is dry below the surface and never leaving the pot standing in water. The RHS suggests standing the pot in a bowl of tepid water, then letting it drain. Our guide on how to water houseplants goes into more detail.

Christmas plants in the southern hemisphere

In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or South America, Christmas comes at the start of summer. That changes the choice: cool-loving cyclamen is harder to keep happy in a warm house, while rosemary, Christmas cactus and orchids cope better. Keep gift plants out of hot afternoon sun through glass and check the soil more often. UF/IFAS notes that amaryllis and poinsettias can be planted outdoors in warm, frost-free climates, so in mild regions a gift can become a garden plant.

If the plant is a gift to yourself too, Flori can identify it from a photo and set watering reminders, so it does not end up in the bin by February. For the rest of the season, see our seasonal plant care calendar.

Flori editorial team

Written and fact-checked by the Flori team. Every guide cites horticultural sources such as the RHS, university extension services and the ASPCA, and is updated when the advice changes.

General plant care information. Plants vary; when a plant is valuable or a problem spreads quickly, consult a local nursery or plant specialist.