Choosing the perfect Christmas gift for a passionate gardener can be a minefield. According to renowned Australian author and gardening columnist Jackie French, the first and most critical rule is simple: unless you know the gardener and their plot intimately, never give them a tree or shrub.
The Pitfalls of Plant Gifting and Creative Alternatives
Writing in early December 2025, French explains that an ill-considered plant may not suit the garden's design, might already be growing there, or could become a quick snack for local possums and wallabies. Furthermore, the scorching summer heat makes digging and watering a major chore during the festive chaos. If you insist on a living gift, ensure it's already settled in its final pot or hanging basket.
French warns against high-maintenance plants like bonsai, which often perish from inexperienced care. Instead, she suggests a small herb collection or a pot of curly mint for summer drinks. A potted dwarf lemon tree, complete with fruit, is another winning idea.
Practical Presents That Solve Real Garden Problems
French advocates for shifting focus to gifts 'in the garden' rather than just 'for the garden'. Her own 2025 gift list includes practical items like comfortable folding chairs, bicycle repair kits, and protective gloves of varying thicknesses for different tasks.
Among the most appreciated, if unglamorous, gifts are 'possum proofers'—wide metal bands that wrap around tree trunks or posts to stop pests. A head torch is another essential, allowing for nocturnal pest patrols or wildlife observation.
For those feeling more generous, French recommends a motion-detecting scarecrow that sprays water, a miniature glasshouse, or a drip irrigation kit with a timer. Her personal request to Santa is for a glass cloche to protect herbs from 'Possum X' and a large roll of mosquito netting to safeguard tomato crops.
Heartfelt and Homemade: The Most Treasured Gifts
Some of the best gifts need not cost a fortune. French highlights the enduring joy of a round swing hung from a sturdy branch, or artwork created by a grandchild on a ceramic pot. Repurposed and painted tin cans or a refreshed wheelbarrow planted with annuals show thoughtful effort.
For those short on time and funds, a homemade voucher for services like lawn mowing, car washing, or holiday plant watering is a priceless offering. Ultimately, French notes that the gifts she will treasure most are those made or chosen by her grandchildren.
In her own garden this week, French is planting extra parsley to outpace Possum X, replacing non-germinating lettuce seed, and eagerly awaiting the season's first tiny, crisp zucchinis—a far cry from the supermarket's 'green rubber truncheons'.
