Flowers are done by Sunday. The pie is gone by Friday. If you are walking into a Thanksgiving table this year, a living plant is the hostess gift that is still there in January, quietly doing its job on a windowsill long after the last of the leftovers has been eaten. The trick is picking one that works for the host, not just for the photo you take of it in the car.
What makes a plant a good hostess gift
We run every hostess pick through what we call the host-proof test. It is short, and it saves you from handing a stressed host a project. First, it has to be low enough to sit on a crowded table or sideboard without blocking anyone's view of the gravy. Second, it needs nothing from a busy person: no fussy misting, no weekly rotation. Third, it has to be safe if the host has a cat or a dog, or at least be clearly labeled when it is not. Fourth, it should keep going long after the guests have gone home.
Flowers fail the test on almost every count. They need a vase, they shed on the tablecloth, and they ask the host to do something with them at the exact moment she is carving a turkey. A potted plant arrives ready, asks for nothing that evening, and gives the host a small reminder of your visit every time she walks past it. That is a better return on a gift than anything that ends up in the compost by the weekend.
That third check is the one most gift guides skip. A quick text to the host ("do you have pets?") tells you whether to shop our pet-friendly plants or the wider easy care collection. Below, we say plainly which of our six picks are pet-safe and which are not, so you never have to guess.
Not sure which one fits your host?
Our 1 minute quiz matches plants to light, space and pets, which is handy when you do not know the host's windowsills. Take the plant quiz and gift with confidence.
Six plants that pass the host-proof test
Maranta Red Prayer
This is our gratitude plant. Its leaves fold upward at night like hands in prayer, which makes it a lovely story to tell at the door. It stays compact, it is pet-safe, and it has been one of our best sellers. Starts at $12.99. Shop this plant →Peperomia 'Rosso'
Small, glossy and table-height, with deep red undersides that glow in lamplight. It is pet-safe and happy to be left alone between waterings. Starts at $18.99. Shop this plant →Parlor Palm
Soft, feathery and forgiving, and it tolerates the lower light found in many host homes. It is pet-safe, so it works for the household with a curious cat. Starts at $12.99. Shop this plant →
Money Tree 'Guiana Chestnut' Pachira Braid
A braided trunk and a wish-for-prosperity tradition make this a gift with a built-in toast. It is pet-safe, and it is one of the easier plants to keep going. Starts at $17.99. Shop this plant →Philodendron 'Prince of Orange'
Every new leaf opens in autumn shades before settling to green, so it looks like the season without a single pumpkin. It is toxic to cats and dogs, so save it for a pet-free host. Here is the full story of its changing colors. Starts at $22.99. Shop this plant →ZZ 'Black Raven'
For the host who forgets everything, including the watering can. Its leaves turn nearly black as they mature. It is toxic to cats and dogs, so again, ask about pets first. Starts at $22.99. Shop this plant →
Wondering how a whole shelf of pet-safe plants looks together? See how to style a shelf where every plant is safe for cats for ideas you can steal for your own gift.
Make it feel like a gift, not a chore
Presentation matters more than you would think. Tuck the pot into a basket or wrap it in a cloth napkin you already own, and it reads as a thoughtful gift rather than a plant that wandered in from the porch. Add a small handwritten card with two lines of care, such as water when the top inch of soil feels dry and keep it in bright, indirect light. A host who is nervous about plants will relax the moment she sees how little is being asked of her.
It also helps to hand it over early rather than at the door in the middle of the rush. If you can drop it off a day or two ahead, or set it somewhere visible as soon as you arrive, the plant gets the moment it deserves. And if you are bringing more than one gift, let the plant be the one that stays on the table: a small one beside the place cards or on the sideboard turns your gift into part of the decor.
Finally, choose the size with the table in mind. A small pot (the 3 or 4 inch sizes) is ideal for a crowded spread, while a larger pot suits a host who has a bare corner or a console table by the entry. When in doubt, go smaller. A compact plant that fits anywhere beats an impressive one that has nowhere to sit.
Earn Leaves on your hostess gift
You collect Leaves points toward rewards when you shop, so the plant you bring to the table can also work toward your next one. Join the rewards program to start earning.
How to order so it arrives before the turkey
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. Your plant travels greenhouse-direct to the doorstep, which takes a little planning: we need roughly 2 to 4 days to pack and ship from our end, and delivery then takes about 3 to 5 days. Ordering in the window of about November 13 to 16 should land the plant the weekend before the holiday, with time to spare for wrapping.
If you are buying for a host who lives out of town, order to their address a little earlier than the window above, and send them a quick message so someone is home to bring the box inside. A plant that sits on a porch for a day is a plant that is easier to keep happy if you warned them first. If you are bringing the plant yourself, order to your own door so you can check it over, pick the best-looking side, and wrap it the way you like.
One small note for November orders: check the winter shipping option at checkout, since it affects how your order is covered. Each plant also comes with our 30-Day Guarantee, so if something is off when the box arrives, you are covered and can order without second-guessing.
Bringing something for more than one host, or thanking a whole team? Our corporate gifting page covers orders for several recipients. If you would rather browse the full range before you choose, start with our plant gifts collection.
Giving back, too
We partner with One Tree Planted to give back through tree planting, so a gift that grows indoors is part of something that grows outdoors as well.
Ready to pick? Browse the full plant collection or head straight to the perfect plant gifts, and if you are still undecided, the plant quiz will narrow it down in about a minute.
Thanksgiving hostess plant questions
What is the best plant to bring a Thanksgiving host?
A small, low-maintenance plant that sits comfortably on a table is the safest choice. Maranta Red Prayer, Peperomia Rosso and Parlor Palm are all compact, easygoing and pet-safe, which makes them our top picks when you do not know the host's home.
Are these hostess plants safe if the host has a cat or dog?
Four of the six are pet-safe: Maranta Red Prayer, Peperomia Rosso, Parlor Palm and the Money Tree. Philodendron Prince of Orange and ZZ Black Raven are toxic to cats and dogs, so choose another plant if the host has pets.
How early should I order a plant for Thanksgiving?
Aim to order between roughly November 13 and 16. That allows 2 to 4 days to pack and about 3 to 5 days of shipping, so the plant arrives the weekend before Thanksgiving on November 26.
