Which Plant to Gift? Ideas by Occasion and Recipient

Contrary to a bouquet, a plant settles in, grows, and keeps the giver in mind for a long time. The trick is choosing the right one. Here's our method in three questions, followed by ideas by occasion and by person, and a few ways to make your gift one of a kind.

Three questions before you choose

Where will it live? A sunny sitting room, a desk, a bedside table: the light and space available will decide the species and size. Our plants range from the Small ones, in an 8cm pot, to the Very Large ones, which measure approx. 70 to 90cm, pot included.
Do they have green fingers? If the answer is no, or you simply don't know, choose a plant that forgives the odd lapse.
Do they live with a pet or a young child? Some houseplants are toxic if chewed on. Best to know before you gift.

Which plant to give, depending on the occasion

For a birthday

Give a plant that marks the occasion, with a name and date on the label. The Bubbly One, a schefflera with dense foliage, comes in two sizes; La Nomade, a strelitzia with large leaves, makes quite an impression in a sitting room. For a lighter touch, La Coquette, a small striped succulent, fits in anywhere. You'll also find our Birthday selection.

For a housewarming

A new home calls for a plant with presence: The Wild One, a monstera, The Stunner, a kentia palm, or L’Élégante, a ficus elastica, in extra-large size. To wish for a peaceful life within these new walls, consider also Le Philosophe, our olive tree: a symbol of peace since ancient Greece, olive branches feature on the emblem of the United Nations. More ideas await in our Housewarming selection.

For a new baby

A plant that grows alongside the child is a lovely symbol, provided you choose it well. The French food and health safety agency (Anses) notes that nearly half of those poisoned by plants are children under six, and recommends non-toxic plants in places frequented by young children. Le Généreux, a peperomia, is listed among the plants deemed safe by the University of California, as is the kentia palm of The Stunner. In any case, keep the plant out of reach of little hands. Our New Baby selection brings together other ideas, best placed up high.

For Christmas

A plant bearing each guest’s name naturally finds its place beneath the tree. For the festive table, our Little Ones make lovely place markers: an 8cm plant per guest, their name on the label, for them to take home. And to extend the festive mood, a scented candle with warm notes, such as Le Voyageur (ginger, cinnamon, amber), rounds off the gift beautifully.

To say thank you

A host who has you round for dinner, a colleague, a neighbour who watered your plants while you were away: a small succulent or cactus, with a note on the label, says thank you with elegance. Our Little Attentions selection was designed just for this.

Which plant to give, depending on the person

For someone without a green thumb

Go for plants that store water. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), cacti and succulents withstand drought, need very little care and almost no watering in winter. The Bon Vivant, a sansevieria, also copes with lower light and a touch of neglect, still according to the RHS. All our low-maintenance plants are gathered on a single page.

For someone who lives with a cat or a dog

Choose among the plants that the ASPCA, the American authority on animal poisoning, classes as non-toxic to cats and dogs: L’Aviateur, Le Généreux, La Coquette or The Stunner. Our guide to non-toxic plants also details, species by species, those to avoid, and our pet-friendly selection brings them all together.

For a lover of interior design

He or she will be just as taken with the pot as with the plant. Ours are handmade and hand-painted in Portugal, in a range of styles and colours, from spiral motifs to leopard print. Paired with the right pot, a plant with striking foliage, such as Le Diplomate, a variegated ficus, or La Nomade, becomes a true decorative piece.

For her, for him

Our For Her and For Him selections bring together ready-made ideas, from L’Élégante, our ficus, to Le Philosophe, our olive tree. But the best guide remains the person themselves: their home, their pace of life, and the space they can offer their plant.

What the plants have to say

Some plants carry a story. The olive tree speaks of peace. The pachira, our L'Aviateur, is often sold as the "money tree" and, in feng shui tradition, is said to bring good fortune, as noted by the Missouri Botanical Garden: a lovely way to mark a new job or a business just getting started. At By Charlot, every plant has its own personality too: Le Généreux "showers you with attention", Le Philosophe is "serene, thoughtful, curious". So there's always a plant to match the person.

Making your gift one of a kind

The personalised label: a title (name, nickname, date) and a subtitle (sweet word, emoji, date) printed on the pot's label. You can also have an image printed on it.
The pot: choose its colour and pattern on each plant's page.
The plant and candle duo: our candles are named after our plants, and once the wax has burned down, their ceramic pot is ready to welcome a plant.
Still not sure? The e-gift card leaves the choice to them, from €35.

And finally, every plant is guaranteed: it will be replaced free of charge if it fades within thirty days of receipt.