Best Plant Gifts for Beginners: 12 Easy Plants That Are Hard to Kill

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

If you want one plant that will forgive a beginner, pick a snake plant, a ZZ plant or a pothos. Iowa State University Extension lists all three as easy houseplants: the ZZ plant does well in low light and tolerates dry soil, the snake plant can go from low light to direct light, and the pothos is happy in low to moderate light.

Below are 12 easy plants that make good gifts, what each one needs, and a few things to check before you wrap one up. Most of the care notes come from Iowa State’s list of easy, low-maintenance houseplants.

What makes a plant a good gift for a beginner?

Most gift plants die the same way: someone waters them too often. So the best picks are plants that shrug off a skipped week, put up with a dim corner and don’t mind dry indoor air. Iowa State’s page makes the point about snake plants bluntly, saying the only way to kill one is to overwater it. Peperomias get a similar warning, since they tolerate neglect but rot when overwatered.

If the person you’re buying for is new to plants, choose from the first half of the list below. If they’ve kept a few plants alive already, the later picks add a bit more variety.

12 easy plants to give as gifts

1. Pothos

Iowa State describes pothos as a low to moderate light plant that likes the soil to dry out partway between waterings. Stems root easily in water, so your friend can turn one plant into several. If you’d rather order one, here’s a pothos on Amazon.

2. Snake plant

Tall, upright leaves and almost no fuss. It handles low light up to direct light, wants well-drained soil and should dry out between waterings. It also likes warm rooms with low humidity, which describes most homes in winter. If you’d rather order one, here’s a snake plant on Amazon.

3. ZZ plant

The glossy leaves look polished, and the plant tolerates both low light and dry soil. If the person you’re gifting travels or forgets, this is a safe bet. You can find a ZZ plant on Amazon.

4. Spider plant

Spider plants like indirect light but adapt, and they want average moisture. They also grow baby plantlets that can be potted up and passed along. Here’s a spider plant on Amazon.

5. Heartleaf philodendron

A trailing plant that does fine in low to indirect light. It prefers soil that stays evenly moist, so it suits someone who likes a regular watering routine. Cutting back long stems encourages it to branch out.

6. Peperomia

Compact and good for a desk or shelf. Let the soil dry moderately between waterings, and don’t overdo it, because peperomias rot if they’re watered too much.

7. Ponytail palm

The swollen base stores water, so this one handles dry spells and low humidity. It grows best in direct light. Pot it in a container only slightly larger than the base, since Iowa State notes it’s hard to repot.

8. Cast iron plant

The name says it all. It tolerates low light and lack of water better than most houseplants. Repot and divide it rarely, because frequent repotting harms it.

9. Peace lily

A good pick for people who like feedback from their plants. The leaves wilt when the soil is dry and perk back up after watering. It grows in low light but flowers best in indirect sunlight. Check the pet note below before you give one to a pet owner.

10. Dragon tree

Dracaena marginata gives you a spiky, tree-like shape. It likes moderate to indirect light and warm to average temperatures. It tolerates low light, but the stems bend and stretch.

11. Chinese evergreen

Iowa State lists Chinese evergreen among its beginner-friendly plants.

12. Jade plant

Also on Iowa State’s beginner list. Like other succulents, it’s a better match for someone who tends to underwater than overwater.

Which of these plants are safe around cats and dogs?

Not all of them are, and we can only vouch for what we’ve verified. The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, and the signs can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to both dogs and cats.

For anything else on this list, look the plant up on the ASPCA’s toxic and non-toxic plant database before you give it to someone with a pet. If you’re not sure the recipient has pets, a spider plant is the safer default.

What should you know about giving a plant in winter?

If you’re buying locally, keep the plant out of a cold car for long, and suggest a spot away from drafty doors and windows. If you order online, check the seller’s return or replacement policy before you buy, and try to be home when the box arrives.

What should you tell the person who gets the plant?

Write the basics on a card: where it likes to sit, and to let the soil dry before watering. Most of the plants above fail from too much water, not too little. If they’re brand new to plants, point them to our guide to choosing indoor plants for beginners, and to indoor plant care through the seasons for how care changes in winter.

It’s also worth mentioning common plant problems and how to solve them for when a leaf yellows, and plant propagation basics for pothos and spider plant cuttings, which makes the gift keep giving.

FAQ

What is the easiest plant to give as a gift?

Based on Iowa State’s notes, the ZZ plant and snake plant are the most forgiving. The ZZ plant tolerates low light and dry soil, and the snake plant tolerates low light through direct light and is hard to kill unless it’s overwatered.

Do easy plants need a lot of light?

No. Pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, cast iron plant and heartleaf philodendron all tolerate low light, according to Iowa State. A plant that tolerates low light still does better in a brighter spot, so a window with indirect light is a good place to start.

Is it okay to gift a plant that needs to be repotted?

Usually it’s better to give a plant in the pot it came in, with a note about when to repot. A few plants on this list, like the ponytail palm and cast iron plant, don’t like being repotted often, so there’s no rush.

If a plant ever starts looking sad, we put together a free Houseplant Rescue Cheat Sheet that you can get here. It’s handy to keep around once you own a few plants, and a good one to pass along with a gift.

Ginger Durett has more than 10 years of experience as a professional grower, including general growing and medicinal cannabis growing. Blair Sutherland is a co-founder of Happy Healthy Living.