Key takeaways
- One good tool beats a boxed set of cheap ones
- Bypass secateurs are the most-used tool in most gardens
- Seeds, twine and plant labels make stocking fillers that always get used
- Garden memberships and visits suit gardeners who have everything
- Amaryllis and paperwhites are easy living gifts, but keep them away from pets
- Never give lilies to a household with cats; every part is deadly to them
The best Christmas gifts for gardeners are the things they’ll actually use. A sharp pair of secateurs, a sturdy trowel, a packet of seeds for spring or a day out at a great garden will be remembered long after the wrapping paper’s gone.
Here are gift ideas that keen gardeners genuinely welcome, from stocking fillers to bigger presents. There’s also a short list of gifts best left on the shelf. If your gardener is just starting out, our gardening for beginners guide shows which tools they’ll need first.
A plant, a ball of twine and a bit of brown paper make a lovely gift for anyone who loves their garden.
Garden tools that make great gifts
Tools are the safest gardening gift. Most gardeners use them every week but rarely treat themselves to a good one. Buy one well-made tool rather than a set of cheap ones.
A kneeler with handles is a gift that gets used every week, and it makes getting back up much easier.
Bypass secateurs cut like scissors and are the most-used tool in most gardens. Look for replaceable blades and a comfortable grip in the right size for their hand. Left-handed versions are available too, which is a lovely thoughtful touch. Our guide to the best secateurs explains what to look for.
A sturdy trowel with a strong neck won’t bend in clay. Stainless steel is easy to clean and doesn’t rust.
A hori-hori knife is a Japanese garden knife with one serrated edge and one smooth. It digs, weeds, cuts twine and splits plants. Many gardeners wonder how they managed without one.
A kneeler or knee pads make weeding and planting much kinder on the joints. A kneeler with handles helps people get up and down, too.
A sharpening stone keeps secateurs and knives cutting cleanly. Pair it with our guide on how to sharpen garden tools.
Seeds, bulbs and living gifts
Seeds are a gift full of promise. A few packets wrapped up with a pencil and some labels give months of growing to look forward to.
Seed packets work best if you pick for their garden: sweet peas for a flower lover, unusual tomatoes for a greenhouse owner, or chillies for a windowsill grower. Herb seeds suit almost anyone; our guide to growing herbs makes a nice pairing.
Seed subscriptions send seasonal packets through the year, so the gift keeps arriving after Christmas.
Indoor bulbs are the perfect living Christmas present. An amaryllis bulb in a pot flowers indoors in winter, and paperwhite narcissi fill a room with scent. Our guides to growing amaryllis and growing paperwhites indoors explain how to look after them.
Warning: Amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Lilies are far worse: every part, even the pollen, can kill a cat. Never give lilies, including in a bouquet, to a home with a cat.
Garden plants are trickier. A shade-lover won’t thrive on a sunny patio. If you’d like to give one, choose something tough, such as a potted rosemary or a winter-flowering shrub. A plant voucher lets the gardener choose what suits their soil and spot.
An easy houseplant is a good gift for someone without a garden. Pick one that copes with the light in their home.
Gardening books worth giving
Gardeners read good books again and again, through the seasons. A few classics are always welcome.
A good gardening book with a few seed packets tucked in the twine makes a simple, thoughtful present.
- The Well-Tempered Garden by Christopher Lloyd, who gardened at Great Dixter in East Sussex. Witty, opinionated and full of ideas.
- Grow Your Own Vegetables by Joy Larkcom, a trusted guide for anyone with a veg patch or allotment.
- The Jewel Garden by Monty and Sarah Don, the story of making their garden. A good choice for fans of Gardeners’ World.
If you’re not sure what they already own, a book token is a safe bet.
Memberships and days out
A membership or a garden visit is perfect for the gardener who already has every tool. It lasts all year and doesn’t need a space in the shed.
A garden membership means days out all year, even in January when the winter stems and witch hazel shine.
RHS membership gives free entry to the RHS gardens: Wisley, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Rosemoor and Bridgewater. Members also get The Garden magazine. Check the RHS website for current prices and benefits.
National Trust membership suits gardeners who enjoy historic houses too. Sissinghurst, Hidcote and Stourhead are among its most famous gardens.
The National Garden Scheme opens thousands of private gardens to visitors each year to raise money for nursing and health charities. A promise to visit a few together makes a lovely gift.
A gardening course or workshop at a botanic garden or local college suits someone keen to learn pruning, propagation or veg growing.
Stocking fillers for gardeners
Small presents that get used up are perfect for stockings.
- Seed packets, chosen for their garden
- Garden twine, which every gardener runs out of
- Plant labels, in wood, slate or metal, with a pencil or marker
- Hand cream, as gardening is hard on hands in winter
- A folding pocket knife for cutting twine and opening bags, for an adult
- Plant ties and soft string for tying in climbers
Gifts by budget
| Budget | Gift ideas |
|---|---|
| Small | Seed packets, twine, plant labels, hand cream |
| Medium | A good trowel, a kneeler, an amaryllis bulb, a gardening book |
| Larger | Quality secateurs, a hori-hori knife, a seed subscription |
| Big treat | A garden membership, a workshop or a cold frame |
A cold frame makes a great bigger present for a keen veg grower. Our cold frame gardening guide shows what they can do with one.
Gifts to avoid buying a gardener
Novelty gadgets. Animal-shaped tools and gimmicky gizmos usually end up in a drawer. If the box says “fun gift for gardeners”, leave it.
Cheap boxed tool sets. They look generous, but thin steel bends and handles work loose. One good tool is better.
Gloves, unless you know their taste. Most gardeners are fussy about fit and thickness. Skip them unless you know exactly what they like.
Plants that don’t suit their garden. A plant that hates their soil or light is a sad gift. A voucher is safer.
Lilies for a home with cats. They’re deadly to cats. Choose another flower.
You’ll find plenty more ideas in our how-to section. Once the presents are opened, read our guide to what to plant in December to put any new seeds and tools straight to work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best gift for a keen gardener?
A good pair of bypass secateurs is hard to beat. Almost every gardener uses them weekly, and a well-made pair lasts for years with sharpening. If they already have a favourite pair, try a kneeler, a hori-hori knife or a garden membership.
What are good stocking fillers for gardeners?
Seed packets, garden twine, plant labels and hand cream all work well. They’re small, useful and get used up, so the gardener always needs more. A pocket knife suits an adult who’s always cutting twine.
Is an RHS membership a good Christmas gift?
Yes, especially for someone who loves visiting gardens. Members get free entry to the RHS gardens and The Garden magazine. Check the RHS website for current prices and what’s included.
What tools do gardeners actually want?
Better versions of the tools they use most. That’s usually secateurs, a trowel, a hand fork or a hori-hori knife. Ask what they reach for every week, then buy a sturdier one.
Are plants a good Christmas present for a gardener?
They can be, if you choose carefully. Indoor bulbs like amaryllis are easy and cheerful. For garden plants, a voucher lets them pick something that suits their soil and spot.
Are lilies safe to give as a Christmas gift?
Not to anyone with a cat. All parts of lilies, even the pollen and vase water, can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. Choose a different flower if there’s a cat in the house.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
