Top 5 Living Christmas Gifts That Last Beyond the Holidays
Looking for live plant gifts that spread cheer long after the wrapping paper's gone? These sustainable gifts from Nature Hills Nursery are the kind of Christmas plants that grow, bloom, and beautify year after year. Unlike cut flowers or cut Christmas trees that fade too fast, these living treasures keep the holiday spirit alive - a perfect balance of nature, color, and charm that Mother Nature would be proud of!
Go beyond the usual Amaryllis and Poinsettias - If you want to give gifts that breathe life into the home, garden, or patio, these cold-hardy, heat-tolerant, and low-maintenance options make unforgettable choices!
From the glossy leaves of Blue Princess Holly to the berry-bearing charm of Perpetua® Blueberry Bush, these five plants are gifts that truly grow on you.
Blue Princess Holly
With glossy, deep-green leaves and brilliant red berries, Blue Princess Holly (Ilex × meserveae) is the picture of winter beauty. Its evergreen foliage and symmetrical form make it an elegant choice for entryways or garden borders. This female holly pairs beautifully with a male pollinator like Blue Prince for abundant berries that feed songbirds throughout the winter.
Its dense branching habit and spiny leaves make it an excellent deer-resistant shrub, offering privacy and structure all year. Use it as a natural screen or pair it with Hydrangea bushes, Boxwood, or Arborvitae Green Giant for layered color and texture.
Petite™ Knock Out® Miniature Rose
Few Rose bushes match the enduring charm of the Petite™ Knock Out® Miniature Rose (Rosa 'Meibenbino'). Compact and covered in vivid red blooms, it's a stunning indoor gift that transitions beautifully outdoors when spring returns. The fragrant blossoms attract pollinators, while the dark green, glossy foliage resists disease like a champ.
Perfectly-sized for containers, patios, or as flowering bushes in borders, this mini Rose blends seamlessly with Geraniums, Zinnias, or Salvia for non-stop color. Its tidy habit and continuous blooms make it one of the best houseplants for bright windows or full sun annual companions in garden beds.
Perpetua® Blueberry Bush
The Perpetua® Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium corymbosum 'Perpetua') is the gift that keeps on giving - literally! This self-pollinating Blueberry bush produces two harvests a year, in mid-summer and again in fall. Glossy green leaves shift to crimson-red in autumn, making it ornamental and edible.
Its fibrous root system thrives in acidic, well-drained soil, perfect for containers or garden beds. Pair it with other berry bushes like Raspberry bushes, Blackberry bushes, or a dwarf fruit tree such as a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree for a homegrown fruit medley. Birds adore the berries, but you might just beat them to the harvest!
FrostKiss™ Penny's Pink® Lenten Rose
Winter garden color comes alive with the FrostKiss™ Penny's Pink® Lenten Rose (Helleborus x hybridus). Its marbled evergreen foliage and rosy-pink blooms appear when little else dares to bloom - late winter through early spring. Each flower boasts a delicate fragrance and velvety petals that delight the senses.
A must-have perennial for shaded spots, this Lenten Rose thrives under trees or alongside Hostas, Ferns, and Astilbe. Its drought-tolerant nature and clumping growth habit make it a staple in woodland or cottage gardens.
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Few evergreens say "Christmas" like the Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica'). Perfectly shaped like a miniature Christmas tree, it's ideal for decorating indoors through the holidays before replanting outdoors. The fine, aromatic needles release a gentle scent reminiscent of a fresh forest.
Cold-hardy and slow-growing, this evergreen fits beautifully in foundation plantings or container gardens. Combine it with ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster grass or colorful annuals such as Lantana or Dahlia for texture and seasonal flair.
Care & Maintenance
These plants are as simple to grow as they are to love.
- Holly bushes prefer full sun to partial shade and slightly acidic soil - prune lightly in late winter for shape.
- The Miniature Rose thrives in full sun and well-drained soil with regular watering and deadheading.
- The Blueberry Bush benefits from fertilizer for fruit trees and yearly mulching to maintain soil acidity.
- Lenten Roses appreciate part to full shade and humus-rich soil. Trim spent blooms in early spring for fresh growth.
- The Dwarf Alberta Spruce enjoys full sun and consistent moisture - just avoid drying winds. With minimal effort, these plants will thrive for years, growing more beautiful each season.
A Gift That Keeps Growing
This holiday season, give gifts that live, breathe, and bloom! Living Holiday gifts connect us to Nature's rhythm - offering joy, fragrance, and growth beyond December. From Holly's red berries to the evergreen beauty of Spruce, these plants are love that keeps growing!
Happy Planting!
