As a plant lover myself (I have more than 40 plants in my flat in London, UK), I’m used to telling family and friends that a green gift is always welcome: a houseplant, of course, will always bring me joy. A book about houseplants and indoor gardening will also surely be appreciated. Ideally, the book should be quite recent and tell a story, or at least showcase stylish photography of plants because I don’t want to dive into a boring plant dictionary between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, even though I love plants a lot! So, here is my Christmas list of books for the indoor gardener that I am. These books about houseplants have different styles (choose the one that fits best with the personality you’re offering it to), but have the following in common: beautiful photos, simple language for any skill level, and they all have been published recently. They’re all loaded with enough plant-y stuff and useful tips that any plant lover will enjoy. A big thank-you to the authors of the books who put a lot of love and dedication into them.
The Books are Urban Jungle, Plant Society and Living with Plants.
Urban Jungle: Living and Styling With Plants (by Judith De Graaff and Igor Josifovic, 2016)
By the founders of Urban Jungle Bloggers, Urban Jungle has been a reference among houseplant people since its publication. Broadly acclaimed for crystallizing the urban jungle trend, the book tells the story of people from around the world through the prism of plants. Each chapter is organized around a combination of human portraits and plant portraits. The “At Home With” section tells the stories of plant-loving couples as they describe their interior and plant choices for their home. “Plant Portraits” focuses more on the plants themselves, how to care for them, and how to magnify their beauty. With a combination of styling tips and DIY ideas, the reader will step inside the best urban oases in the Netherlands, France, and Turkey, and discover how these families display and care for their favorite plants. Slightly bohemian, beautiful in all cases, the style of the book is warm and cozy. An ideal companion through the rough months of winter!
Plant Society: Create an Indoor Oasis for Your Urban Space (by Jason Chongue, 2018)
The newest one on this list, Plant Society is written by a talented interior designer and plant cultivator, Jason Chongue. His experience with plants started as a kid in Australia when his grandma taught him all the tricks and transmitted to him the plant obsession that many of us share. The book is driven by a simple idea: Help anyone care for their plants and keep them happy like his grandmother would do, regardless of their skill level. Packed with helpful advice, solutions against pests and the most common plant issues, the book takes the reader on a step-by-step journey from the basics of houseplants to more advanced propagation techniques, styling, and DIY projects with plants. Gifted with an entire section dedicated to finding a plant for each room, the book has become my plant bible for care advice. The style is modern and refreshing, and Armelle Habib’s unique photographs stand out throughout.
Living With Plants: A Guide To Indoor Gardening (by Sophie Lee, 2017)
Houseplants offer the perfect solution to the urban dweller, lacking in space — indoor and outdoor — and in Living With Plants, botanical-stylist, Sophie Lee, shows you simple but innovative ways to make your home gorgeously green. Starting with the basics, learn how to pick the right plant for your home (and specifically what room), what levels of sunlight your plant needs, and the best space for your plants to thrive.
Bonus: How to Raise A Plant and Make It Love You Back (by Erin Harding and Morgan Doane, 2018)
As I’m writing this article, I just heard that a new book about houseplants is out. I’m so excited and just couldn’t leave it out! I have a tendency to already know all the plant books out there and the latest one from popular bloggers and Instagrammers Erin Harding and Morgan Doane from House Plant Club comes right on time for Christmas. That’s why I add it here as a bonus for you to check out, as I haven’t had a chance to get a copy yet. Let me know what you think if you’ve got hold of it.
Aimed at a new generation of indoor gardening enthusiasts, this book is a perfect guide for anyone keen to see their plant offspring thrive. Gaining ground on food and pet photos on social media, plants have found popularity in the small home, and are being proclaimed the new stars of Instagram. This beautiful little book is ideal for the novice ‘plant parent’, providing tips on how to choose plants, where to place them, and above all how to care for them and keep them thriving.
For more book recommendations about house plants, here is a bigger list: Best Books For House Plants Lovers on InvincibleHousePlants.com, the House Plant and Urban Jungle Blog.
Indoor Gardening Accessories
To complement your gift, nothing is better than a plant itself, freshly sourced from your local nursery. A nice pot would also be perfect if you know a bit about the size and style. But if the above is not an option for you, here are some classic indoor gardening accessories that will always be helpful.
- The Plant Mister (Brass and Glass)
- The Watering Can (Copper)
- The Propagation Station: For plant propagation lovers, a propagation station (set of propagation vases and stand) is a perfect small gift. Check out availability on Amazon or on this new online shop that I just discovered: Warmly.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Boris Dadvisard, urban naturalist based in London, UK, is the author of indoor plant focused blog InvincibleHousePlants.com, The House Plant and Urban Jungle Blog. This article contains affiliate links. By buying through the links the author may receive a tiny commission for the sale, but this has no effect on the price for you.