Just because most of our gardens are asleep in winter doesn’t mean we don’t love a good garden-centric gift in our Christmas stockings, right?
In fact, these are the types of pint-sized presents that get us excited for longer days, warmer nights, and dirt under our nails again.
I also think they make a sweet thank-you gift when you just want to send a small token of appreciation, long after the holidays have passed—perhaps for the neighbor who always shares her extra lemons and lets you take cuttings from her garden, or the friend who always drops off homemade pickles and canned tomatoes at your door because she’s awesome.
These thoughtful items are all curated by a fellow green thumb (that’s me!) and not a list of editorial ads, sponsored stuff, or things I got for free. I actually own and love (or have gifted) some of these items, so trust that I won’t steer you wrong.
And if you’re looking for just the right gift to put under a tree (or for any occasion), be sure to check out my updated gift guides for 37 Genius Gifts for Gardeners They’ll Really Dig, 18 Awesome Adventure Gifts for the Outdoor Lover, and 20 Unique Non-Cheesy Gifts for National Park Lovers.
Disclosure: If you shop from my article or make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive commissions on some of the products I recommend.
The best stocking stuffers and budget gifts for gardeners, plant lovers, and urban farmers
1. Pollinator Push Gardens – Stuff a few of these pollinator “push ups” in your favorite people’s stockings for a fun surprise.
These cute and convenient tubes include three different wildflower seed blends (for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds), each of them enough to plant a square-foot garden patch.
2. Seed-Bearing Lollipops – If your giftee has a sweet tooth (and a green thumb), I can’t think of a better treat than these gourmet lollipops.
Each one comes in a dazzling flavor (strawberry basil, lavender lemongrass, or peach marigold, anyone?) but the fun part is what happens after: the lollipop stick can be planted in the soil to grow an herb or flower!
3. Plant Life Support Self-Watering System – How fun is this? I think it makes a great gift for someone who’s in the health field—maybe for a white elephant party or just a cute stocking stuffer for a houseplant lover.
The cheeky set includes a drip hydration bag on a hook that automatically waters plants on a steady drip when you’re away on vacation (or just plain forgetful). Your plants will thank you for keeping them hydrated!
4. Bottle Stopper Garden Kit – Know someone who likes drinking wine and gardening? (Maybe even both at the same time?!)
This fun little kit helps you grow an indoor hydroponic garden while upcycling an empty wine bottle. (Wine not included, but who’s to say you can’t slip a bottle in the stocking too?) Once the wine is emptied, fill the bottle with water, plug the neck with the included “smart soil” capsule, and drop in some herb or flower seeds. Within a few days, you’ll have your very own hydroponic garden.
5. Save the Bees Wildflower Seed Shaker – When it comes to gifts for gardeners, you can’t go wrong with seeds. The more the merrier!
And this beautifully designed seed shaker definitely delivers on its name: It’s filled with an exclusive blend of 19 annual and perennial wildflower seeds known to support bees and other pollinators. If you need other varieties, there’s also a wildflower seed shaker mix for hummingbirds and butterflies.
6. Lightweight Pruner – Don’t be fooled by its compact size. This small, lightweight pruner has a sharp blade that can cut, trim, and tidy up everything from flower stems to small limbs.
Small but mighty, it’s easy to tuck into a shirt pocket too—and the price is reasonable enough to pick up a few pairs for friends.
7. Banana-Saver Hats – Okay, this might look a little silly, but that’s precisely what makes it such a fun stocking stuffer!
These banana savers are actually two parts: the first is a silicone cap that you place over the crown of your banana bunch to slow the absorption of ethylene gas, which hastens ripening. The second part is the cute little knit hat that dresses it up! I’m definitely picking up a set for my husband!
8. Set of 2 Kenzan – These round kenzan (what you might know as floral frogs) are a really beautiful way to display small stems or dainty cuttings from your garden.
You can use them as is and display on a shelf in their minimalist form, or place them inside a vase or flower pot as a sustainable alternative to floral foam. The brass pins are strong enough to hold woody stems and can be reused over and over.
9. Nitrile-Coated Garden Gloves – I recommended leather gloves in my other gift guide, but they’re not exactly the kind of gloves you can buy multiples of just to toss around and ultimately misplace in the yard.
So, I always like to stock up on less expensive (but no less reliable) gloves when I find ones that are both practical and pretty. Wells Lamont gloves are exactly that, and I especially like how light and breathable they are for hot days outside.
10. Permanent Garden Marker – Okay, I have tried absolutely every so-called “permanent” marker on the market, from Sharpie Industrial to garden-specific pens that are meant to weather outdoor extremes, but all of them have faded or failed by the end of the season.
THIS is the only marker I’ve purchased that has withstood the harsh Central Oregon climate (through snow, rain, hail, and intense high-desert sun) for an entire year! Seriously, EVERY gardener needs one (or two) of these!
11. Weatherproof Steel Plant Markers – I go through a lot of white plastic plant markers in the garden, especially when I’m starting seeds.
But for staple crops and perennials (like bulbs and herbs), I prefer markers that are longer-lasting and more attractive, like these rust-proof, zinc-coated galvanized steel nameplates. Every gardener needs a set, if not two or more! Couple it with this super-strength permanent garden marker for true weatherproofness.
12. Mini Trowel – It looks like a child’s tool, but I assure you it’s not! This adorable mini trowel is actually more useful than it seems.
I typically use a spoon to scoop out seedlings, but this trowel (with its pointed tip and narrow blade) gets the job done faster and easier. The thick wooden handle fits nicely in the hand, too.
13. Cocktail Steeping Sachets – Here’s a clever way to enjoy a craft cocktail without breaking out the mixology set. These steeping sachets are filled with all-natural ingredients that have been dried at peak flavor, so you get a perfectly mixed drink just by adding spirits.
The honey rosemary moscow mule sachets include a balanced blend of sugar, honey, ginger, crystallized lime, rosemary, molasses, and smoked salt. Be sure to try the cardamom paloma and hot toddy too!
14. Ergonomic Oversized Scooper – This was an impulse buy for me last year, and I have to say, it was a good one! I often feel that trowels are just too small for some of my larger transplants, but I don’t necessarily want to break out the shovel.
That’s where this scooper comes in handy: Its wide, deep scoop can move a lot of soil with little effort, and the ergonomic handle prevents wrist strain after a day in the garden. Best of all, it’s very lightweight.
15. Botanical Gardener’s Soap – This is my new favorite hand soap! I love the gentle scrubbing action that gets dirt and sap off my hands, and it can even be used to exfoliate your body in the bath too.
There are no questionable microbeads or plastic in this soap either; the natural grit comes from chia seeds, strawberry seeds, and poppy seeds.
16. Ridiculously Rude Plants Mug – This cheeky mug is perfect for anyone who appreciates a bit of naughty horticultural humor.
With innocent illustrations for hilariously named plants like stiffcock, cuckold herb, and nipplewort, it’s sure to bring a smile to your favorite gardener’s face when they reach for that first cup of coffee in the morning.
17. Hibiscus and Blackberry Loofah Bar – I love using natural loofahs to exfoliate and nourish my skin, and this loofah bar is quite unique.
Made with French rose clay, super fruits, seed oils, and dried botanicals, the bar gets its extra scrubbing power from the added piece of loofah gourd. It’s almost too pretty to use in the bath!
18. Multi-Use Mason Jar Lids – You probably use mason jars for many other things besides canning, and if you do, you probably don’t love the two-part canning lid/ring combo that gets lost easily (or is just fussy to use).
What I like about these one-piece lids is they’re precision-engineered to fit standard Ball and Kerr canning jars, and there’s a gasket inside the lids that makes them leakproof and airtight. A must for every kitchen!
19. Wooden Mason Jar Lids – For a classier look, swap out those flimsy metal lids and rings on your mason jars for this custom-looking set of lids made from real acacia wood.
Careful, you might end up swapping all your kitchen cabinets for open shelving as well—all your canning jars will simply look too good to hide behind doors.
20. Airtight Wooden Mason Jar Lids – Yes, I’m probably a little too obsessed with mason jars and lids, but I had to share this option as well if you’re looking to organize and beautify your pantry.
This classy set of wooden lids (made from acacia) differs from the style just above in that the lids simply pop on (instead of screw on). Same function of keeping your foods fresh, just a different look that you might prefer instead!
21. Plant-Based Food Wrap – Maybe you’ve seen those beeswax wraps around, well, these are the vegan alternative.
Made from organic cotton, organic coconut oil, tree resin, and plant-based wax, these reusable and washable wraps can replace some or all of the plastic cling wrap you use in the kitchen. I love the sweet botanical print too.
22. Food Huggers – These reusable silicone food savers are on my list this year! I’m often storing half-cut pieces of fruits or vegetables in a container or wrapped in plastic, or get lazy and just throw them in the crisper drawer.
These genius sleeves work by “hugging” the cut end of your produce so you can easily store them in the fridge while keeping them fresh. They also make Food Huggers for avocados and cheese and butter too.
23. Vegetable Brush Set – Every vegetable gardener needs a fruit and vegetable brush, and this set comes with two handy styles for two different tasks.
Use one for all-purpose cleaning of everything from apples to zucchini, and use the other one to remove potato eyes and give your spuds a good scrub. It seems like a really simple gift, but sometimes simple is best. (And personally, I’ve gone through so many brushes and can always use more.)
24. Moisture Hand Pack – After a day (or week or season) of digging in the dirt, my hands need a lot of love.
This fancy-sounding hand mask is spa-like hydration in a glove and it’s a nice departure from the standard bath soap set people usually give when they think “self care.” I’d love to find this in my stocking along with a pretty hand cream.
25. Fun Patterned Bandages – Cuts, splinters, and abrasions are all a normal part of gardening, but these flexible fabric bandages make them actually look… cool?!
I like the trendy patterns that don’t scream “kid” every time you think of patterned bandages, and you can repurpose the storage tin for other things in the bathroom or garden once it’s empty.
26. Palo Santo Citronella Body Spray – Having a good insect repellent is essential if you find yourself outdoors a lot, but it isn’t always so fun to slather yourself in smelly chemicals.
This one is different: It’s made of essential oils of citronella and lemongrass (along with palo santo) for a naturally aromatic and non-toxic alternative to conventional bug spray.
View the Web Story on best stocking stuffers for gardeners.
Nice post, but where is the links to the products?
Thanks Lori
Hi Lori, you can click on the names of the products, or click on the images. Both are linked to their respective product pages.