The 10 Best Colorado Gifts for Plant Lovers

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, botanical books, and plant-forward goodies to help their gardens continue to grow.

Leaf People Hand & Body Lotion

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 for her acclaimed skin care line, Leaf People. Your woodland fairy will be especially fond of their Forest Glow Face Serum ($96 for a two-ounce bottle), which incorporates new growth from evergreens and aspens that the team ethically wild-harvested from the mountains outside of Aspen. Then again, the Beauty Shortlist Award–winning Calendula & Helichrysum Rejuvenating Balm ($18 for a 0.5-ounce jar) and fresh-scented Geranium & Sweet Fennel Daily Moisture ($40 for an 8-ounce bottle) both soothe winter-chapped skin at a stocking-stuffer-friendly price point. Available online

Flower Subscription from Rowdy Poppy

When Colorado transplant Kim Zimmerman expanded her Rowdy Poppy floral studio and microfarm in RiNo this past spring, the green thumb 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 bi-weekly, weekly, and other custom drop-off schedules. Available online and at Rowdy Poppy, 3463 Walnut St.

Stem & Roots Terrarium Bar

Keen to go the experiential gift-giving route and spoil your soil lover? Schedule an appointment for two at the terrarium bar (starting at $16 per person) housed in the lower level of Fort Collins’ plant boutique Stem & Roots. (Walk-ins are also welcome.) You and your special someone will choose a glass container and a plant, then get your hands dirty selecting different soils, rocks, mosses, and more to create the terrarium of your dreams. Stem & Roots, 516 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

City Floral Gardening Supplies

Help your green thumb 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 for a 16-ounce bottle)—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.” 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 lemon ricotta ravioli with snap peas and farrow blueberry bowls with fennel that include ingredients from local artisans such as Altius Farms, Not Bad Cooks, and Hearth Bakery. Vegan ($101) and Produce ($45) boxes are great options, too. Available online

Dram Colorado Pine Syrup

For the sweetest foliage lover on your list, we suggest the Colorado Pine Syrup ($25 for an eight-ounce bottle) from Dram, a Salida-based apothecary. Made by botanist Shae Whitney with evergreen needles foraged in Colorado and featuring a hint of vanilla and citrus, this versatile syrup adds flavor to a stack of flapjacks (of course) but also works as a finishing glaze on proteins or a twist on traditional cookies, cocktails, and even coffee. “It tastes like how a Christmas tree smells, which sounds unusual but is actually delicious,” Whitney says. Just make sure to snag this limited-release product before it sells out. Available online

Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region

Mushroom hunting is booming, and this guide is a great place to start for anyone looking to begin their foraging journey. Not only does the book ($30) include full-color photos to easily reference (poisonous mushrooms are a thing, after all), but it also details the basics about mushroom structures, life cycles, and habitats. Plus, it includes ’shrooms from all over the Rocky Mountain region, so the fun continues beyond the state lines. Available online and at area bookstores

Fenway Clayworks Studio Sacramento Bud Vase

Looking for the perfect gift for your most beloved pothead? (No, not that kind of pothead.) The simple-yet-stylish Sacramento bud vase ($54) 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. “It’s the perfect size for a few special stems or a little bunch of dried grasses,” says Sean VanderVliet, studio owner and artist, adding that this vase is also versatile. “When you don’t have anything to put in it, it adds a little color and style to a shelf.” Available online and at Fenway Clayworks, 2450 East St., Golden

Crocs Classic Clog

We almost hate to admit it, but there’s no better gardening shoe than the style icon herself: good ol’ Crocs ($50). This Broomfield-based business hits the footwear sweet spot for horticultural tinkerers: lightweight, washable, and easy to slip on and off. Plus, your loved one can customize their clogs with any number of floral charms, adding more flair to these already-sweet kicks. Available online and at various retailers