4 plants to buy now as holiday gifts that will last the whole season -- and maybe beyond

The end of November is time to gear up with holiday gift plants.

Plants are the perfect holiday décor because living plants add oxygen and take in carbon dioxide with the added benefit of not needing storage once the holidays are over. The potting soil and plant itself can go into the compost.

This week you can purchase, upgrade and give away plants before the holiday rush and then settle in and enjoy the festivities without the last-minute scramble to shop and wrap.

Here are some holiday garden gifts to buy now:

Poinsettias for traditionalists: Go beyond red and enjoy the hunt for gold, yellow or candy-striped poinsettia plants. Give away tiny potted poinsettia to an office worker now to enjoy all season.

Hellebores for garden lovers: My favorite holiday gift plant is the perennial hellebore and local nurseries now carry a great selection of December-blooming hellebore plants. Give potted hellebores to a gardener and after the holiday season the shade-tolerant plants can be added to the garden for years of winter blooms.

Rosemary topiary trees for cooks: All potted herbs make great gifts during the season of entertaining, but potted rosemary plants can be found trained as trees or pruned into balls. These can be grown indoors on the kitchen counter and anyone that loves to cook will appreciate an early gift of potted herbs.

Aloe plant for first responders: This succulent houseplant is the first aid kit in a leaf. The thick sap of aloe has been used to heal burns, wounds and insect bites for centuries. A great plant to present to a first responder as our firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and police officers need our appreciation all year long.

Marianne Binetti has a degree in horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of several books. Reach her at binettigarden.com.

This story was originally published November 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "4 plants to buy now as holiday gifts that will last the whole season -- and maybe beyond."