Of course, just about any plant is a nice gift for someone you like. Here I’ve put together some groupings of thoughtful plants that you could give someone. It will make them think of you every time they brush against them or walk by.
Plants that smell good
One of the universal favored scents over the ages is that of the Lemon. The Romans still to this day have a special fondness for the scent and you will find it in some of the finest Italian fragrances. In our climate it’s hard to grow the real thing, but here are a few plants that have the scent and grow well:
- Roman Chamomile,
- Lemon-Balm,
- Dragonhead,
- Lemon-scented Geranium,
- Lemon Basil,
- Lemon Daylily,
- Plum Iris.
When speaking of scented plants, one can’t overlook the obvious favorite – scented Geraniums. The scented Geraniums are actually a collection of several different species of plants, each with a different scent. Some of my favorites are the apple, lime, rose, pineapple and peppermint scents. All are spreading plants that grow 8-10 inches tall and 18-24 inches across. They have fragrant light green leaves, and trailing clusters of flowers that make them great additions to any window box or hanging basket. Although they have flowers that last from spring to summer, the strongest scent is in the leaves and it lingers long after the flowers have gone by. To take care for your scented Geraniums (I almost always put them in hanging baskets) you need to pinch them back a lot, as they will get leggy and all the leaves will concentrate on the lower few inches.
Plant gifts you can eat
There are also some edible flowers which make nice gifts and give you a chance to show your culinary skills by instructing the recipient on how to use them. Great chefs have found some creative ways to use them, I’m sure recipes are available on the web.
The common edible flowers by color are:
- Borage for multicolor,
- Calendula for shades of orange, apricot, and peach,
- Marigold for shades of yellow to rust,
- Nasturtium for brilliant reds,
- Violets, of course, for shades of lavender to violet.
- Other edible favorites, used more for their flavor than for their looks, are
- cinnamon Basil,
- Spearmint,
- German Chamomile,
- Lavender.
For friends with small lots or urban gardens, try giving them Nicotiana or flowering Tobacco. Plant three of these plants together in a big container on your patio near your favorite lounge chair and enjoy their incredibly fragrant violet flowers that last throughout the summer. Use caution if your friend has small children or pets that eat plants as Nicotiana can be poisonous if you eat enough.
Plant gifts for little kids
If your friend is a little kid there are lots of plants you can give them as gifts, just remember that kids don’t think like you or I, and that they tend to like plants that are interesting to touch, smell good, or grow gigantically large compared to their own height.
- Easy and forgiving flowers are pansies, marigolds, petunias, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins.
- Other plants that appeal to children’s senses are fragrant herbs and soft lamb’s ear.
- My standard kid’s plant, easy to grow from seed and very low maintenance is the Sunflower. The kids delight in its quick growth and love to watch the head as it follows the sun throughout the day. As a bonus, the heads can be cut off in the fall and placed on stone walls for the local squirrels and chipmunks.
Plant gifts for those with some land to fill
If you want to give a substantial plant gift to someone with a lot of space, there are many wonderful sweet smelling flowering trees.
- The first that comes to mind is the apple tree, with it’s early blossoms and bright red fruit.
- Ornamental crab apples are delicately scented but tend to be a bit messy.
- Japanese tree lilacs bloom later than most shrub lilacs are known for their large off-white flowers and their pungent fragrance.
- Russian olive, is a small, gnarly tree grown for its silvery foliage and ability to tolerate poor soil conditions i.e. it will grow almost anywhere. It doesn’t have showy flowers, but when it’s blooming you can smell the wonderful sweet scent from quite a distance.
- Linden (also called Basswood) trees have clusters of small yellow flowers hanging from their branches. They would not be considered showy, but you can smell their perfume well before you figure out where it’s coming from.
Yes, you’ll look weird at the plant center sniffing plants but it’s fun
When shopping for fragrant plants at the garden center, don’t be embarrassed because you have to brush the leaves and get right next to them and smell them. If you’re at all self conscious, one of the best ways is to go with another person – a plant buddy who will do the silly stuff with you and make you not feel out of place. With modern cultivating techniques all plants with the same characteristics should be similar but I’ve found that there can be so much variety in terms of scent that I have to brush all the plants until I’ve found the one that is just right.
Don’t worry, you’ll be surprised when you see people watching you curiously. Then after you leave they go over and do the same thing to see what you was so captivating. And who knows maybe you’ve just given them a great idea.
Besides being a really good gardener, Mike Hunter is an excellent RE Broker.
Text or Call Mike 978-580-1069 today.
His clients appreciate his commitment to delivering a streamlined, results-oriented deal every time.
People also ask about Sudbury Stuff
80% of my business comes from referrals and repeat customers.
Please feel free to send my profile to others you feel would gain from my services or learn more about how we can help them Sell with Confidence.
