The festive season is a vital trading period for the UK’s garden centres, with over 11% of total annual garden centre turnover made in December (2023, HTA), and just over a quarter of garden centre sales (26%) in that month came from their Christmas departments.

According to the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Garden Retail Monitor system, which collects sales data from UK garden centres, 13% of all houseplant sales in garden centres (2023) took place in December and the industry is expecting a similar level of trade this year.

A popular festive purchase, Laura Loveridge, Market Research Manager at the HTA, explained: “A houseplant really is the gift that keeps on giving, usually for many years. Some greenery and colour bring cheer to us all in these darker months as well as continued pleasure, long after the wrapping paper from other presents has been recycled. This all makes a houseplant a sustainable present in more ways than one, with benefits to mental and physical wellbeing too.”

The benefits to mental and physical wellbeing that plants provide was explored in the HTA’s ‘Value of Plants’ report which showed houseplants have been found to boost happiness, productivity, creativity, concentration, attention and promote lower stress levels.

Although Poinsettias are often a top choice at Christmas, the HTA advises that some other flowers and plants are easier to care for in winter. It suggests that different types flourish at this time of year, including more tropical species. Dracaenas, Epipremnums (commonly known as Devil’s Ivy or Pothos) and Philodendrons are resilient all year round, but they especially thrive in the winter. This is because they are adept at surviving in lower light levels, with about 95% of sunlight being filtered out.