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If your uncle, bestie, or boss is a true green thumb, they probably kept the ZZ plant you gifted them last year alive. In fact, they’ve probably already propagated it into multiple containers. So, what can you gift them now—other than more plants?
It’s time to think outside of the pot. Below, our favorite local maintenance tools, veggie-lover meal kits, and plant-forward goodies to help their gardens continue to grow.
So Very Lovely Plant-Themed Decor
Peruse the So Very Lovely website, and you’ll find a multitude of lovely gift options for the plant parent on your list. Toggle over to the “iconic Colorado” collection for columbine-adorned magnets ($9.50) and cork coasters ($6) or browse the artisan shop’s selection of earrings ($24) to help your flora-loving friend incorporate some green into their getup (the monstera pair is popular). But our favorite holiday picks from this Littleton-based creator are found in the air plant shop. The cubeoctahedron ($9.50) holds a teeny-tiny tillandsia and is the perfect desk decor. For something larger, spring for the minimalist leather bolo ($46 with air plant, $22 without), which puts the plant center stage. Available online and at select markets and bazaars
Leaf People Body and Bath Products
There’s no denying that certified herbalist Julie Williams loves plants as much as the garden gods and goddesses on your list. After all, she’s studied them on six different continents to better understand their medicinal benefits. Those experiences inform every product she handcrafts–many of which are made from ingredients she thoughtfully plucks from the hills near Aspen—for her acclaimed skincare line, Leaf People. The Beauty Shortlist Award–winning Calendula & Helichrysum Rejuvenating Balm ($19–$55) and fresh-scented Geranium & Sweet Fennel Daily Moisture ($40) both soothe winter-chapped skin at a stocking-stuffer-friendly price point. Available online
Pagefiftyfive Cards
Looking to tell someone you love them this holiday season? You could say it with blossoms. Or you could write it in a letter. Or you could go wild(flowers) and do both with one of the pretty, petaled cards (starting at $2.25) from Pagefiftyfive, a one-woman printed goods-maker in Fort Collins. The collection of nature illustrations includes a bouquet of flowery options like poppies, pinecones, and sunflowers that offer a fitting canvas for your heartfelt words. Need to tell your dad he’s a fun guy? You can’t go wrong with the red mushroom card. Available online and at Makerfolk (326 Walnut Street, Fort Collins)
Flower Subscription from Rowdy Poppy
When Colorado transplant Kim Zimmerman expanded her Rowdy Poppy floral studio and microfarm in RiNo last spring, the floriculturist committed to doing so in a manner as environmentally friendly as possible. So, if you gift your favorite flower fan a recurring delivery of fresh blooms, expect that they’ll receive seasonal bouquets sourced largely from local growers (to save on carbon emissions) that come with either a designer vase or tied with a reusable and compostable eco-wrap. Subscriptions start at $165 for three monthly deliveries; you can also set up biweekly, weekly, and other custom drop-off schedules. Available online and at Rowdy Poppy (3463 Walnut St., Denver)
Aera Rings
Digging in the dirt is great for the soul; it’s not, however, the best way to keep your wedding band sparkly. So, gift a silicone, gardening-ready ring to your landscaping loved one. Colorado Springs–based Aera makes a handful of options (starting at $8) available in his and hers sizes. Customize your present with words of endearment—may we suggest, “I love you from my head to-ma-toes”? Available online
City Floral Gardening Supplies
Help your grower get a jump-start on spring planting with a functional present from Denver’s City Floral Garden Center. Pop in to pick up bulbs, seeds, or clay pots. Or really get into the holiday spirit by putting a bow on some gardening tools. May we suggest a “hoe, hoe, hoe?” (Prices vary.) City Floral Garden Center, 1440 Kearney St.
Merigold Woodland Zen Hand Wash
As a registered nurse and founder of skincare product brand Merigold, Hillary Tijerina knows well that washing hands for the 20-second minimum is key for reducing the spread of sickness. With her Woodland Zen Hand Wash ($36)—which features notes of crisp bergamot, soothing cedarwood, and skin-regenerating boswellia (commonly known as frankincense)—she turns that chore into an experience that’s transcendent for both your skin and your soul. “I designed the hand wash to be as hydrating as it is refreshing,” Tijerina says, “especially for Colorado, where we can use all the help we can get with moisture.” Pair the hand soap with the soothing Woodland Zen Hand Cream ($56) for smooth skin that can withstand the Centennial State. Available online
Spade & Spoon Vegetarian Box
If you’ve got a practical plant lover on your list (aka, someone who grows them for sustenance), sign them up for the Vegetarian Box ($106) from Spade & Spoon. The Denver-based meal-kit company will send recipe cards plus fixins’ for a trio of veggie-forward, chef-curated meals that feed four people, such as creamy polenta with winter vegetables and sage and sweet potato cheddar chowder. The boxes often feature ingredients from local artisans such as Altius Farms, Five Freedoms Dairy, and Aspen Baking Company. Vegan ($101) and Produce ($45) boxes are great options, too. Available online
Dram Lavender & Lemon Balm
Need something NA to offer your holiday party host? We suggest bringing a 12-pack of Lavender & Lemon Balm sparkling water ($25) from Salida-based Dram. Made by botanist Shae Whitney with Colorado-grown lavender and a citrusy hint of lemon balm, this versatile bevvy works as a before-dinner fizzer, a tummy-soothing digestif, or a mocktail (or cocktail, for that matter) mixer. “When we first launched this flavor in 2016, we were told by other people in our industry that customers don’t want to drink lavender-flavored things,” Whitney says, noting they continue to prove those naysayers wrong. “This is a top-selling product for us year after year.” Available online and select retailers
Fenway Clayworks Studio Wesley Heights Stem Vase
Looking for the perfect gift for your most beloved pothead? (No, not that kind of pothead.) The simple-yet-stylish Wesley Heights Stem Vase ($168) undergoes a seven-step process involving hand-throwing the clay, glazing, and two firings in the kiln before Golden-based functional pottery studio Fenway Clayworks dubs it done. “This has quietly become one of our favorite pieces to make,” says Sean VanderVliet, studio owner and artist. “It has a gentle arc from top to bottom, which we always love, and the way it holds a favorite bunch of flowers makes it so versatile.” Available online and at Fenway Clayworks (2450 East St., Golden)
