A curated list of the best gifts for your green-thumbed friends and family members (or perhaps a wee treat for yourself!).
Unless they’re a complete newbie to gardening, the gardener in your life quite possibly has many of the tools and accessories they need already. So we’ve spent a bit of time (actually, a lot of time!) curating a Gifts for Gardeners list with a wide scope of ideas for the best gardening gifts.
The list includes practical, beautiful, thoughtful, educational and delicious presents. Like with everything we do, we’ve tried to showcase and support local businesses, makers and products.
You’ll find a mix of neat things from some of our favourite brands, as well as things we spotted that just tickled our fancy.
Intended to delight both a new gardener and master gardeners alike, these ideas suit anyone who is garden-curious and inspired by the wonders of the wild world around us. We hope this list helps inspire you for whatever occasion you’re celebrating.
Sage Journal Directory
Many of the brands and makers mentioned within this gift guide feature in our Directory. For discount codes and special offers, visit the Directory here.
Gifts for Gardeners | Gift Guide 2025
— Gifts for the Hands-in-the-Dirt Gardener
Very practical gifts for your garden-mad friends and family.
Sage cap — The fact our Sage caps seem to suit everyone is just one reason they keep selling out! A classic six-panel dad cap in a faded midnight blue cotton with off-white Sage embroidery – practical and comfortable.
Sharp snips — Absolute essential. We love the ARS (Always Really Sharp) secateurs. They come in a selection of fun colours and truly live up to their name.
Gardening tool belt – Sick of losing your secateurs? Never know where to put your phone or packets of seeds when you’re in the garden? A good gardening tool belt is the absolute best solution. We love Le Sac’s canvas tool belts from The Waste-Free Home and Crafty Gatherer’s leather garden belts.
A practical gardening book — Our Sage Collection features a handful of carefully chosen gardening books we know you will love, such as Companion Planting in New Zealand and a range of Kath Irvine’s books.
Knee-saving kneeling pad — It’s a super-practical gift, but anyone who has weeded in-ground garden beds or planted out multiple seedlings will know how game-changing a garden kneeler is. We love this striped Canvas Kneeler from Le Sac x Outback Gardens Exclusive Collection.
Durable hand tools – We value tools that are a pleasure to use, and designed with sustainability in mind. We couldn’t live without a Hori Hori gardening knife or hand-held Garden Hoe, both from Gubba Garden Store. [Use code: SAGEJOURNAL2025 for 10% off]
Garden fork – We can’t get past the Crafty Gatherer Forksta range for a real-deal garden fork – for aerating soil with minimal disturbance.
Gumboots — There are plenty of good-looking and practical options for shoes to wear in the garden (or to the local farmers’ market and kids’ sports games). We love anything by Merry People.
A beautiful garden spade — A sharp, lightweight and hardworking spade is a gardener’s dream. This beautiful and practical Niwaki Golden Spade definitely fits the brief. And so does this bright yellow T-bar planting spade from Frances Nation.
A pair of gloves — Any avid gardener will know, you can never have too many pairs of gardening gloves.
— Gifts for the Sower, Grower & Propagator
For those true gardeners who love sowing, growing and propagating.
An Aotearoa New Zealand native — Hardy, great for our ecosystem and they grow in meaning as time goes on. Southern Woods have a lush selection.
Seed growing kits — Both useful and beautifully packaged. All the fuss of seed sowing is taken care of with seeds, growing pellets and pots all ready for sowing, growing and transplanting. Gibson & Green has lots of fun combos, such as Armful of Flowers and Thyme to Grow Herbs. [Use code: SAGE10 for 10% off]
A workshop or garden visit — Something hands-on and social. Check out House of Florelle (Cambridge) and Babylon (Auckland) for events and workshops, get a Secret Gardens gift voucher and book a garden visit to one of the Secret Gardens or somewhere like Barewood Garden (Marlborough).
Watering can — Highly practical, with lots of styles to choose from. The Garden Beetle Watering Cans are Japanese-made designer watering cans that, aside from looking great, function beautifully too.
Paper pot maker — A clever and simple little tool to make paper seedling potters for growing seedlings, then plant directly into the ground.
Unique flower seeds — There are so many gorgeous, unsual seed options for sowing, growing and picking these days. Try Kings Seeds ‘Wonderful Wildflowers’ mix. A simple, fun gift.
A plant — Of course. New plants are always a wonderful gift for garden lovers. Something special like a special potted rose, a fancy hybrid hellebore or a fruit tree. Edible trees make the perfect presents for house warmings or budding edible gardeners – citrus, feijoas or a fig tree are great options. Or a gift card for a local gardening store is the ultimate gift for someone establishing a new garden.
Gardener’s gift box – A mixture of useful products and treats, we fancy this one from Pom Pom Florals (and not just because it includes Sage Vol. 1!). [Use code: SAGE15 for 15% off]
— Gifts for the Gardener & Homemaker
Gift ideas for those who love gardening and home-making. For relaxing at home or entertaining outside.
Sage Vol. 1 — It would be remiss not to recommend Sage, our beautiful print publication, that launched this year. There are limited copies still available and whether the gardener in your life is seeking landscape design inspiration or practical tips on growing, they’ll love every page.
Flower subscription — Because giving a regular delivery of blooms never fails to delight. If you’re near Cambridge, you’ll love House of Florelle.
A vase — A statement or one-off piece, like these vintage stoneware pieces from Gardenalia. Or Meg Roulston’s sweet wee bud vases, flower orbs or ceramic flower frogs. [Use code: SAGE10 for 10% off Meg Roulston Ceramics]
Hand cream & repair balms — Something nourishing for a gardener’s skin. We love the Skin Food range by Weleda, the Maryse treatment balm as a lip and skin salve, and the Largo balm for any skin irritations.
Botanical art — A botanical piece to adorn the wall. Earlier in the year, we held our Sage Vol. 1 launch party with three very talented artists – Gem Adams, Jessica Crowe and Mollie Howard. The artwork they displayed at our launch is now available for purchase at Blackbird Goods.
Garden sculpture — A statement piece to enjoy in the garden year-round. These firepots from HOOGA serve dual purposes.
An “everything” bag or basket — Something handy for packing up swimming and beach gear, holiday road trip things or keeping bits tidy and together when you’re at home. Susie’s totes hit the mark. And this bluebell basket is the perfect allrounder.
A puzzle — How about a botanically inspired 1000-piece puzzle? For some of us, working (uninterrupted) on a jigsaw masterpiece is the ultimate luxury! Father Rabbit and Puriri Lane have gorgeous puzzle ranges.
Pots and planters — For a lovely big range of outdoor pots and planters, check out Babylon Store, Artedomus Al Fresco and Plant Where You Can’t.
Outdoor fireplace — The ultimate courtyard luxury (this one might be worth considering putting under the tree for oneself!). Take a look at these ones from HOOGA.
Fragrance – Anything from the 100% natural Abel Fragrance range (from perfume to room spray).
Outdoor furniture – This may be in the realm of buying for yourself but… we have many clever small businesses making superb outdoor furniture here in Aotearoa. Flutter’s butterfly chairs are iconic [get 10% off with code: SAGE10%] and Nala has gorgeous, out-of-the-ordinary umbrellas. [Get $100 off with code SAGE100]
— Gifts for the Gardening Foodie
Delectable gifts for your clever food-loving friends and whānau (family).
Picnic bag — We’re huge fans of picnic bags by Susie’s. Practical partitioning, effective insulation and a timeless aesthetic.
Outdoor mat – Whether it’s for picnicking at home or to keep in the car for outings, everyone needs a picnic blanket or mat. Check out these colourful woven Sunnup mats.
Drink cooler – Ice-cold drinks over summer are a must and whether it’s insulated camping vessels for your G+T or a cooler for your Champagne or beer bottle, it’s a gift with longevity. Huski have a wide range in great hues.
Tea — The gift of top-quality loose leaf tea is always a welcome. We love the range of organic teas from Tauranga-based Webster’s Tea.
A wine delivery — This year we’ve been loving Čuvar Winery’s Iris Collection.
Produce-shaped candles – Because, why not! These Poppy + Sage candles are super sweet.
Heritage seeds — Heritage or heirloom seeds are the perfect gift for someone keen to grow their own produce. These ‘Rare Beauties’ seed boxes would make a lovely gift.
Kitchen bench planter — Something practical and pretty, like this bench-top planter by Plant Where You Can’t.
Sprouting starter kit – A simple kit with everything you need to get started with growing your own sprouts.
Cookbooks — Of course. We have featured lots of gorgeous new recipe books this year, which you can find here.
— Gifts for Green-thumbed Kids
Don’t forget about the nature-loving children in our lives. We hope these gift ideas will encourage kids to get outside and foster wonder and awe for the wild world around them.
Easy peasy gardening book — Little Green Fingers is the most beautifully illustrated book, full of fun gardening activities for kids. (It’s always a bonus when you find a book that both children and adults enjoy reading.)
Gardening gloves – A pair of their own gloves helps kids feel included, capable and ready to help in the garden. See these ones from The Flower Crate.
Children’s gardening tools — Child-sized gardening tools are the perfect gift for a budding gardener.
A garden swing — Endless hours of fun! The Little Swing Co swings are durably made in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Gumboots — So practical. These kids boots from Merry People are super fun.
Wall art – Young ones will be captivated by these vibrant Studio Roof 3D wall art creatures.
‘Just a Little Something’ Gifts
Whether it’s a small token of appreciation or a ‘just because’ gift, here are some small and simple gift ideas that you can do yourself…
A homegrown bouquet — Raid your own garden and put together a posy of blooms and foliage. Perfection isn’t required, just a little creativity.
A thoughtfully written card — Receiving a handwritten card is such a delight.
Something secondhand — Trawl secondhand shops and marketplace for preloved pots, antique trinkets, vases, bulbs, seeds and more.
Plant cuttings and seedlings — The best gift from one gardener to another is something homegrown to plant in the garden. There’s significance in sharing plants. Pot up a new or secondhand pot with a plant cutting or seedling (don’t forget to label it!).
Seeds from your garden — Save your own seeds and spread the love by gifting them to fellow plant lovers. Pop them in an envelope (and perhaps a seed tin if you have multiple varieties) and label them neatly.
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A note —
In this gift list, Sage Journal recommends brands and products that we think are useful, good-quality and highly dependable. We will only ever recommend brands, makers and products that we like and trust.
For discount codes and special offers from many of the above mentioned brands, visit our Directory here.
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