Indoor Plant Gifts Ireland: How to Choose and Send the Perfect Houseplant
The best indoor plant gift is one that forgives the conditions of a real home: modest winter light, central heating and the odd missed watering. For Ireland, the most reliable all-rounders are the Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana), the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), the snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) and the peace lily (Spathiphyllum). All four cope with the short days of an Irish winter and suit almost any recipient. If the person you're buying for has a cat or dog, pick the Kentia palm or a parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans), both listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. PlantGift is a family-run plant gift shop based in Dublin. We deliver free across Ireland and to 24 more EU countries, usually within 5–8 working days, with tracking on every parcel.
This guide is the hub for all our plant gift advice. It covers which houseplant suits which person and occasion, compares 16 gift plants side by side, and explains how to help a new plant settle into an Irish home. When you're ready to browse, our plant gifts collection and potted plant gifts ready to send are the best places to start.
A bouquet is at its best on the day it arrives. A well-chosen houseplant looks better six months later than it did on day one. The snake plant commonly lives for decades, the Kentia palm is famously long-lived, and the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) was a Victorian favourite precisely because it is so hard to kill. A plant gift keeps the giver in mind every time it puts out a new leaf.
What is the best indoor plant to give as a gift?
The best indoor plant to give as a gift is the Kentia palm if you want elegance and pet safety, the ZZ plant or snake plant if the recipient is busy or new to plants, and the peace lily if you want flowers that come back year after year. These four are our all-rounders. They tolerate the fairly low light of most Irish rooms, they don't need a precise watering routine, and they look generous and "finished" the day they arrive.
Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana): the elegant all-rounder
The Kentia palm comes from Lord Howe Island, a small island off eastern Australia. It was the classic Victorian parlour palm: elegant, slow-growing and long-lived. It grows best in bright indirect light but tolerates fairly low light, including a north-facing room. It's one of the few palms that copes with cool rooms and short Irish winter days. Water when the top 3–4cm of compost is dry, and less in winter. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Why it works as a gift: it has the presence of a statement plant without being fussy, so it suits housewarmings, milestone birthdays and corporate gifts equally well.
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): the one for busy people
The ZZ plant is native to eastern Africa, from Kenya to South Africa, and stores water in thick underground rhizomes. That makes it the go-to plant for busy people and first-time owners. Water every 2–3 weeks. It grows in anything from low to bright indirect light and copes with dim hallways, offices and missed waterings. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. Why it works as a gift: it's the safest choice when you don't know whether the recipient has ever kept a plant alive.
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata, formerly Sansevieria): architectural and near-indestructible
The snake plant comes from tropical West Africa. Its upright, sword-shaped leaves are architectural, and plants commonly live for decades. It accepts anything from low to bright light. Water every 2–4 weeks, and less often in winter. It's a safe pick when you don't know the recipient's light conditions. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. Why it works as a gift: it looks sharp in a modern apartment, a home office or a bedroom corner, and it asks almost nothing in return.
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum): the flowering gift that lasts
The peace lily grows wild on rainforest floors in tropical Central and South America, so it's adapted to shade. It flowers well even in the modest light of an Irish home. Keep the compost lightly moist. Usefully, it droops visibly when thirsty and recovers within hours of a drink, so it tells the recipient exactly when to water. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. Why it works as a gift: its white spathes return each year, and it is the traditional sympathy plant, a quiet and lasting way to say you're thinking of someone.
What are the best plant gifts for different people?
Give a ZZ plant or snake plant to a beginner, a Kentia palm, parlour palm or Calathea to a pet owner, and an Aspidistra or bird's nest fern to someone in a dark flat. A Strelitzia or ponytail palm suits a bright, sunny home. For the collector, choose an Alocasia. For someone who has everything, a terrarium kit, bonsai or hydroponic set is the answer.
For a beginner or a busy person
Give a ZZ plant or a snake plant. Both need watering only every few weeks (the ZZ stores water in its rhizomes), so a fortnight's holiday or a forgotten watering does no harm. The ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is another near-unkillable choice if the recipient has a sunny windowsill. For more ideas, see our guide to low-maintenance indoor plants that thrive on neglect.
For a pet owner: which plant gifts are safe for cats and dogs?
The safest plant gifts for a home with cats or dogs are the Kentia palm, areca palm, parlour palm, Calathea, prayer plant (Maranta), ponytail palm, money tree (Pachira aquatica), bird's nest fern (Asplenium) and cast iron plant (Aspidistra). All of them are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Many popular gift plants, including the peace lily, ZZ plant, snake plant and Monstera, are best kept away from pets that chew leaves, so skip them for pet households.
The parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) comes from the rainforests of southern Mexico and Guatemala. It's compact and forgiving, and one of the best palms for a dim Irish flat or office. Give it low to medium indirect light and water when the top few centimetres are dry. The peacock plant (Calathea makoyana) comes from eastern Brazil. Its painted leaves fold up at night. It wants medium indirect light, no direct sun, and evenly moist compost, ideally watered with rainwater or filtered water. It loves the humidity of a bathroom or kitchen. The money tree (Pachira aquatica) grows wild in the wetlands of Central and South America. It is traditionally given for good fortune and prosperity, which makes it a natural housewarming or new-business gift. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top few centimetres are dry. The Brazilian prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) raises its leaves at night like hands in prayer. Our full guide to pet-safe houseplants in Ireland and the pet-safe plants collection have more.
For a dark flat or north-facing room
The best plant gifts for a dark flat are the cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), ZZ plant, Kentia palm, bird's nest fern (Asplenium) and Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema). The cast iron plant comes from the islands of southern Japan. It tolerates deep shade and thrives in cold, dark hallways where little else survives. Water it sparingly. The bird's nest fern, from tropical Asia, Australia and the Pacific, has glossy, rippled fronds and is one of the best plants for a humid Irish bathroom. It likes low to medium indirect light. Keep it moist, but water around the rosette, not into it. The Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), from tropical Asia, has patterned foliage that tolerates neglect and is a reliable plant for low-light rooms. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. See our guide to low-light plants for dark rooms and north-facing spaces and our bird's nest fern care guide.
For a bright, sunny home
For a bright, sunny home, give a white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) or a ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata). The Strelitzia comes from the coastal forests of eastern South Africa. It has huge paddle-shaped leaves and is the ultimate statement plant. It wants bright light, including some direct sun, so it needs a south- or west-facing room to thrive in Ireland. Keep it evenly moist in summer and drier in winter. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. The ponytail palm is not a true palm. It comes from eastern Mexico, stores water in its swollen "elephant's foot" base, and needs watering only every 2–4 weeks. It's a quirky, sculptural plant for a sunny windowsill, almost impossible to kill by neglect, and listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. An olive tree (Olea europaea) is the other sun-lover worth considering: it's the ancient symbol of peace, friendship and long life, but it needs full sun, so it only suits the brightest window or a sheltered patio. Read the Strelitzia care guide for Irish homes before gifting one.
For a plant collector
A collector already owns the easy plants, so give an Alocasia (elephant ear), an unusual Calathea, or a Monstera in a size they don't yet have. Alocasias come from tropical Asia and eastern Australia and have dramatic, arrow-shaped leaves. They need bright indirect light, evenly moist compost in summer and drier conditions in winter. In an Irish winter, keep them above 15°C and away from draughts. The Alocasia zebrina, with its zebra-striped stems, is a favourite. The Monstera deliciosa, native to tropical forests from southern Mexico to Panama, is the iconic split-leaf houseplant. Both should be kept away from pets that chew leaves. Browse our rare plants collection, the guide to the best Alocasia plants for Irish homes, and our collector's guide to rare and exotic indoor plants.
For an office or a colleague
For a desk or office, give a ZZ plant, parlour palm or snake plant. All three tolerate artificial light, air-conditioning and a long weekend without water. For a reception area or boardroom, a Kentia palm makes the stronger impression. Ordering for a whole team? Our corporate plant gifts guide covers bulk gifting, and the office plants collection gathers the tough performers.
For someone who has everything: terrariums, bonsai and hydroponics
For someone who has everything, give an experience rather than just another pot: a DIY terrarium kit, an indoor bonsai or a hydroponic plant set.
DIY terrarium kits arrive as a complete package: the glass vessel, live plants, moss, compost, drainage layers and instructions. The recipient builds their own miniature landscape. Our Glass Dome terrarium kit includes a 30cm glass dome, a fern, a white nerve plant (Fittonia), an asparagus plant, fresh moss and a four-piece planting tool set. Fittonia, from Peru and neighbouring South America, has vividly veined leaves and thrives in a terrarium's humidity. Once a closed terrarium is sealed, water evaporates, condenses on the glass and runs back down to the roots, so it needs watering only occasionally. Keep it in bright, indirect light and out of direct sun, which can overheat the glass. Smaller kits, such as the Egg terrarium with a coffee plant, make a thoughtful desk gift. The full range is in our terrariums and glass ecosystems collection.
An indoor bonsai such as the ginseng fig (Ficus microcarpa) is the classic beginner bonsai. Ficus species come from South and Southeast Asia to Australia. They like bright indirect light and water when the top layer of compost is dry. A ficus may drop a few leaves after a move, then settles within a few weeks. Keep it away from pets that chew leaves. Hydroponic plant sets grow in water inside clear glass, so the roots become part of the display and there's no compost to spill. Our hydroponic set with LED light pairs three glass vases with a small light, which suits a desk or bedside table. To care for it, top up the water as it drops.
Ginseng Fig Bonsai (Ficus microcarpa) 70cm
Which plant suits which occasion?
For a housewarming, give a money tree or Kentia palm. For sympathy, a peace lily. For Valentine's Day, an Anthurium. For Christmas, a Kentia palm or ginseng fig bonsai. For a corporate gift, a ZZ plant or parlour palm. Each occasion has its own detailed guide, linked below.
| Occasion | Plants to consider | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| Housewarming | Money tree (prosperity), Kentia palm, olive tree (peace) | Housewarming plant gifts guide |
| Birthday | Strelitzia, Monstera, terrarium kit | Birthday plant gifts guide |
| Sympathy & remembrance | Peace lily, olive tree | Sympathy and memorial plant gifts |
| Valentine's Day (Sun 14 Feb 2027) | Anthurium, Calathea | Valentine's plant gifts |
| Mother's Day (Sun 7 March 2027 in Ireland) | Peace lily, Anthurium, Calathea | Mother's Day plant gifts |
| Easter (Sun 28 March 2027) | Spring-flowering plants, peace lily | Easter plant gifts |
| Christmas (order by 10 December) | Kentia palm, ginseng fig bonsai, terrarium kit | Christmas plants guide |
| Corporate & staff gifts | ZZ plant, parlour palm, snake plant | Corporate plant gifts guide |
| Gift with a personal message | Any plant offering the gift-message option | Personalised plant gifts guide |
| For a plant lover | Alocasia, Calathea, bonsai | Gifts for plant lovers |
| A statement or specialty gift | Strelitzia, large Kentia palm, olive tree | Specialty plant gifts guide |
| Just because / any occasion | ZZ plant, peace lily, money tree | Why potted plants make the perfect gift |
| Sending to family elsewhere in Europe | Kentia palm, snake plant, terrarium kit | Sending plant gifts across Europe |
How do the best indoor gift plants compare?
The table below compares 16 of the most giftable houseplants. It shows each plant's botanical name, native range, light and watering needs, and whether it's listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. Where a plant is marked "No", keep it away from pets that chew leaves.
| Plant | Latin name | Origin | Light | Watering | Pet-safe? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentia palm | Howea forsteriana | Lord Howe Island, Australia | Bright indirect to fairly low | When top 3–4cm is dry | Yes (ASPCA) | Housewarming, Christmas, corporate |
| Areca palm | Dypsis lutescens | Madagascar | Bright indirect | Lightly moist in summer, drier in winter | Yes (ASPCA) | Pet owners, bright living rooms |
| Parlour palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Southern Mexico, Guatemala | Low to medium indirect | When top few cm are dry | Yes (ASPCA) | Pet owners, offices, first palm |
| ZZ plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Eastern Africa | Low to bright indirect | Every 2–3 weeks | No | Beginners, busy people, offices |
| Snake plant | Dracaena trifasciata | Tropical West Africa | Low to bright | Every 2–4 weeks | No | Beginners, bedrooms, unknown light |
| Peace lily | Spathiphyllum | Tropical Central & South America | Low to medium indirect | Keep lightly moist | No | Sympathy, Mother's Day |
| Money tree | Pachira aquatica | Central & South America | Bright indirect | When top few cm are dry | Yes (ASPCA) | Housewarming, new business |
| Calathea (peacock plant) | Calathea makoyana | Eastern Brazil | Medium indirect, no direct sun | Evenly moist, soft water | Yes (ASPCA) | Pet owners, bathrooms, Valentine's |
| Prayer plant | Maranta leuconeura | Brazil | Medium indirect | Evenly moist | Yes (ASPCA) | Pet owners, small spaces |
| Bird's nest fern | Asplenium | Tropical Asia, Australia, Pacific | Low to medium indirect | Keep moist, around the rosette | Yes (ASPCA) | Bathrooms, dark flats, pet owners |
| Cast iron plant | Aspidistra elatior | Southern Japan | Low, tolerates deep shade | Sparingly | Yes (ASPCA) | Dark hallways, cold rooms |
| Chinese evergreen | Aglaonema | Tropical Asia | Low to medium indirect | When top layer is dry | No | North-facing rooms, offices |
| Ponytail palm | Beaucarnea recurvata | Eastern Mexico | Bright, some direct sun | Every 2–4 weeks | Yes (ASPCA) | Sunny windowsills, forgetful waterers |
| White bird of paradise | Strelitzia nicolai | Eastern South Africa | Bright, some direct sun | Moist in summer, drier in winter | No | Statement gifts, bright homes |
| Monstera | Monstera deliciosa | Southern Mexico to Panama | Bright indirect | When top 5cm is dry | No | Birthdays, first flat |
| Alocasia (elephant ear) | Alocasia zebrina | Tropical Asia & eastern Australia | Bright indirect | Moist in summer, drier in winter | No | Plant collectors |
How do you care for a plant gift in an Irish home?
To care for a plant gift in an Irish home, let it settle out of direct sun for its first week or two. Place it as close to a window as its light needs allow, especially from October to March. Keep it away from radiators and cold draughts, and water only when the compost has partly dried out. Overwatering, not neglect, is what kills most houseplants.
The first week after delivery
Unbox the plant on the day it arrives. Remove the packaging carefully from around the leaves and stand it upright somewhere bright but out of direct sun. Check the compost with a finger: if the top few centimetres are dry, water it; if it's still damp, leave it. Don't repot for a few weeks: a plant that has just travelled needs time to adjust, and repotting adds stress. A few yellowing lower leaves or, in a ficus, some leaf drop in the first weeks is normal as the plant adjusts to its new home.
Winter light
Irish winters are short on daylight, and most houseplants slow almost to a standstill from about October to March. Move plants closer to the window for the darker months. A plant that was happy two metres back from a window in June may need to be right beside the glass in December. North-facing rooms suit the low-light specialists (Aspidistra, ZZ, Kentia, parlour palm). Sun-lovers such as the Strelitzia, ponytail palm and olive want the brightest south- or west-facing window you have.
Radiators, stoves and draughts
Central heating dries the air and bakes the compost, and a plant on a windowsill above a radiator gets hot roots and cold leaves at once. Keep plants at least a metre from radiators, stoves and fan heaters. Keep tropical plants (Alocasia, Calathea, Monstera) away from front doors and single-glazed windows, where cold draughts can mark the leaves.
Overwatering: the number one killer
More houseplants die from too much water than too little, especially in winter, when growth slows and compost stays wet for longer. Always check before you water: push a finger into the compost and water only when the depth given in the table above has dried out. Water thoroughly, let the excess drain away, and never leave the plant standing in water in its outer pot or saucer. The ZZ plant and ponytail palm store water, and the snake plant needs watering only every 2–4 weeks, so for these three, underwatering is far safer than overwatering.
Humidity in heated homes
Calatheas, prayer plants, ferns and Alocasias come from humid forests, and a heated Irish living room in January is much drier than they'd like. Grouping plants together helps, because they raise the humidity around each other. So does standing them on a tray of damp pebbles, or moving them into a bright bathroom or kitchen. Brown, crispy leaf tips on a Calathea are the classic sign of dry air. See our guide to the best bathroom plants for Ireland for humidity-lovers.
How does sending a plant gift with PlantGift work?
Sending a plant gift with PlantGift is simple. Choose a plant, enter the recipient's address at checkout, and we deliver it free, tracked, to any address in Ireland or in 24 more EU countries. Delivery usually takes 5–8 working days. Plants are grown by our partner growers and packed in boxes designed to hold them upright and protect the compost in transit.
- Free delivery: free to Ireland and 24 more EU countries (25 in total).
- Timing: usually 5–8 working days, with tracking. Delivery times can vary, so order at least two weeks ahead of a birthday, anniversary or other fixed date.
- Christmas: order by 10 December for Christmas delivery.
- Gift message: a handwritten gift message is available on selected gift plants — you'll see the option on the product page.
- Healthy-arrival guarantee: if a plant arrives damaged, diseased or in poor condition, we'll replace it or refund you.
Full details are on our delivery information page. If you're sending from abroad to someone in Ireland, or from Ireland to family on the continent, the guide to sending plants as gifts across Europe covers the practicalities.
Frequently asked questions about indoor plant gifts
Explore more plant gift guides
Occasion guides
- Best housewarming plant gifts in Ireland: plants that make a new house feel like home
- Birthday plant gifts delivered in Ireland: a practical buyer's guide
- Sympathy and memorial plant gifts: remembrance plants for bereavement
- Valentine's Day plant gifts: thoughtful alternatives to flowers
- Mother's Day plant gifts in Ireland: plants she'll love for years
- Easter plant gifts: spring plants for Easter Sunday
- Christmas plants in Ireland: a delivery-first guide
- Corporate plant gifts in Ireland: gifting for teams and clients
- Personalised plant gifts with messages: adding a personal touch
- Best plant gifts for plant lovers: ideas for the person who has plenty already
- Specialty plant gifts in Ireland: statement and unusual plants
- The gift that keeps growing: why potted plants make the perfect choice
- Sending plants as gifts across Europe: delivery-first advice
Care guides
- Pet-safe plants in Ireland: non-toxic houseplants for cats and dogs
- Best low-light plants for dark rooms and north-facing spaces
- Best low-maintenance indoor plants: 12 plants that thrive on neglect
- Strelitzia (bird of paradise) care guide for Irish homes
- Bird's nest fern care guide
- The best Alocasia plants for Irish homes
Collections
- Potted plant gifts: ready to send, delivered across Ireland and the EU
- Pet-safe plants: houseplants for homes with cats and dogs
- Indoor plants: houseplants for every room
- Rare plants: for collectors
- Terrariums and glass ecosystems: DIY kits and ready-made gardens under glass
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