The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Living Trees for Christmas
Some Christmas presents are enjoyed for a moment. Others become part of someone’s life. Imagine giving a lemon tree that produces fragrant blossom and, in time, its own fruit. A kumquat with bright little fruits that bring a splash of colour to the colder months. A beautifully formed olive tree, carrying a story that stretches back through centuries of Mediterranean history. These are gifts that can be enjoyed long after the Christmas decorations have been packed away.
At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, we believe a present can be more than something to unwrap. It can be something to nurture, admire and watch grow. As a family-run specialist business, we hand-select our trees with care, bringing together our love of Mediterranean plants and the knowledge to help our customers choose something special.
This Christmas, we’re inviting you to think beyond the usual gifts and discover the pleasure of giving a living tree: something with character, a story and a future.
Why give a living tree for Christmas?
There is something rather lovely about giving a gift that changes with the seasons. A living tree might produce blossom in spring, fresh growth through summer, fruit at the right time of year and a beautiful framework of branches to enjoy throughout the seasons. An evergreen tree can bring structure and colour to a garden even when much of the surrounding landscape has become quiet. And unlike a present that is quickly used up, a tree can become part of someone’s home, patio or garden for years to come.
A tree can also mark a moment in someone’s life. It might celebrate a new home, a marriage, a special birthday or simply tell someone that you have been thinking about them. As it grows, the tree becomes a reminder of the person who gave it. For gardeners, plant lovers and people who appreciate something a little different, it is a thoughtful alternative to another predictable Christmas present.
Five living Christmas gifts with a story to tell
1. A lemon tree: a little sunshine in winter
For someone who loves cooking, enjoys Mediterranean living or simply appreciates beautiful plants, a lemon tree makes a wonderfully distinctive gift. Glossy evergreen leaves, delicately scented blossom and the prospect of home-grown lemons give a citrus tree interest beyond its appearance. There is real pleasure in watching a small tree develop and, when conditions are right, picking a lemon from your own plant.
A lemon tree can bring a Mediterranean feel to a bright conservatory, glazed porch or suitable sheltered growing space. During the warmer months, it can enjoy a sunny outdoor position, provided it is acclimatised appropriately.
Citrus trees do need more winter care than hardy garden trees. They are not reliably hardy outdoors in the UK and need protection from frost, together with a bright position and careful watering during the colder months. A cool, suitable conservatory or greenhouse may be ideal, depending on the variety and conditions. We think a lemon tree is a particularly lovely gift for someone who enjoys growing their own food but also appreciates a plant that looks beautiful in its own right.
A thoughtful gift for: home cooks, food lovers, parents, grandparents and anyone who could use a little extra sunshine.
2. A kumquat: something a little unexpected
If you are looking for an unusual Christmas gift for someone who already seems to have everything, a kumquat is well worth considering.
Kumquats are citrus trees with small, oval fruits and glossy foliage. Their compact fruit and attractive appearance give them a distinctive character, making them an appealing choice for people who enjoy growing edible plants as well as ornamental ones.
The fruits are particularly interesting: unlike many other citrus fruits, kumquats are commonly eaten whole, including their thin, sweet skin. They can also be used in preserves and other recipes.
A kumquat brings colour, curiosity and a little Mediterranean character to a suitable growing space. Like lemon trees, it needs protection from frost and an appropriate bright position over winter, so it is important to consider where the recipient will keep it.
We love the idea of giving a kumquat to someone who enjoys discovering plants they may not have grown before. It is an invitation to try something new, not simply another pot for the patio.
A thoughtful gift for: adventurous gardeners, food enthusiasts and people who appreciate unusual plants.
3. A grapevine bonsai: a miniature work of living art
Not every tree gift needs to be about fruit for the kitchen or a specimen for the garden.
A grapevine bonsai offers something different: a miniature tree with its own character, structure and seasonal changes. Its woody framework and carefully developed form can make it a fascinating object to study and enjoy.
For someone who appreciates craftsmanship, unusual plants or the quiet pleasure of caring for a living thing, a bonsai can be an especially personal present. It encourages observation and patience, with the reward of watching a plant change over time.
A grapevine bonsai is also a lovely conversation piece. It has the character of a much larger vine expressed in a small, considered form.
Bonsai do require attention to their particular growing conditions. Before choosing one, consider the recipient’s available space and follow the care guidance for the actual specimen, including its seasonal requirements.
A thoughtful gift for: plant collectors, design lovers and anyone who enjoys something distinctive.
[Discover our grapevine bonsai.]
4. An Italian olive tree: a gift filled with meaning
Of all the trees we sell, the olive has one of the richest stories to tell. Across Mediterranean history and a number of cultural and religious traditions, the olive branch has been associated with peace, while the olive tree itself has come to represent hope, abundance, endurance and longevity. That makes an olive tree a particularly meaningful gift. It can celebrate a marriage, mark the purchase of a new home, welcome a new chapter or simply express a wish for a peaceful and happy future.
There is also something special about the tree itself. Its silvery-green leaves, distinctive trunk and evergreen character bring a sense of the Mediterranean to a British garden or suitable outdoor space. You do not need a vast garden to enjoy an olive tree. Our smaller Italian grow-your-own olives offer an accessible way to start with a young tree and watch it develop over time. They are a particularly appealing choice for someone who wants the character of an olive without beginning with a large specimen.
Our connection with growers in Italy and our visits to select trees in person are an important part of what we offer. We want to understand the plants we bring to our customers, rather than treating every tree as an interchangeable product. Olives are well suited to a sunny position and free-draining conditions. Container-grown trees need particular care to prevent their compost from becoming waterlogged during winter. Although established olives are grown successfully in many UK gardens, the exposure, drainage and local conditions still matter.
A thoughtful gift for: couples, new homeowners, garden lovers and anyone celebrating a meaningful milestone.
[Explore our Italian olive trees for growing at home.]
5. A strawberry tree: a gift for the plant lover who has everything
The strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, is a wonderful choice for someone who enjoys discovering plants beyond the familiar. An evergreen tree with glossy leaves, attractive bark and unusual strawberry-like red fruits, it offers interest at different times of the year. Its small, bell-shaped flowers can appear alongside ripening fruit, giving the tree a distinctive ornamental appeal.
Despite its name, the strawberry tree is not a strawberry plant. It is a tree in its own right, with a character that makes it particularly interesting to gardeners who appreciate unusual specimens. The fruits are edible when ripe, although in the UK the tree is generally grown for its ornamental qualities rather than as a fruit crop.
Given a suitable sunny, sheltered position and well-drained soil, a strawberry tree can become a handsome addition to a garden. It is a gift with plenty to discover, particularly for someone who likes plants that prompt questions and conversations.
A thoughtful gift for: keen gardeners, collectors and anyone who enjoys something a little less ordinary.
[Discover our strawberry trees.]
Can you give a living tree for Christmas?
Absolutely. A tree does not have to be planted in the garden on Christmas Day. It can arrive as a growing plant in its nursery pot, ready to be enjoyed while the recipient decides on its longer-term home.
The weather outside should not put you off giving a living gift. It simply makes choosing the right plant, and providing sensible care advice, all the more important.
The tree can arrive as a growing plant in its nursery pot, ready to be enjoyed while the recipient decides on its longer-term home.
If you are buying for someone whose growing space you do not know well, think about where the tree will live, whether they have a conservatory or space, and how much care they would enjoy giving it. A little thought now can make the gift more successful for years to come.
Why buy a living gift from The Norfolk Olive Tree Company?
We are a family-run specialist business, and the trees we offer reflect our interest in distinctive plants and the pleasure they bring to gardens and homes. We believe that buying a tree online should feel reassuring. You should have a clear idea of what you are buying, how large it is, what conditions it needs and how it will reach you.
Our approach is personal. We hand-select trees, draw on specialist horticultural knowledge and take care to help customers choose plants suited to their circumstances. We also understand that a Christmas gift is about the recipient, not just the plant. Having a tree delivered directly to their property can make giving a larger, more unusual present considerably easier. And a personal message can add the detail that turns a delivery into a gift chosen especially for them.
As a specialist business with RHS recognition, we want our customers to feel confident that they are buying from people who understand the plants they sell. We would always rather help someone choose the right tree than encourage them to buy one that will not suit their space or conditions.
Whether you choose a lemon tree, a kumquat, a grapevine bonsai, a young Italian olive or a strawberry tree, we want the experience to feel personal from the first enquiry to the arrival of the plant.
A Christmas gift that lasts beyond Christmas
There is something hopeful about planting or receiving a tree. It reminds us that good things take time, that the seasons will turn and that a small beginning can develop into something much more substantial.
A lemon tree might one day provide fruit for a favourite recipe. An olive might grow alongside a new home. A strawberry tree might become a much-loved feature of a garden. A bonsai might provide years of enjoyment through its changing form.
And each time the recipient looks at the tree, they may remember the person who gave it to them.
That is the beauty of a living gift. It is not just for Christmas; it is for the seasons and years that follow.
This Christmas, give something with a future.
Explore living Christmas gifts from The Norfolk Olive Tree Company.
Choose a tree that suits the person you are buying for, and let us help you give a present that keeps on giving.
[Browse our trees and discover your Christmas gift.]
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Christmas Gifts
What are the best trees to give as Christmas gifts?
The best tree depends on the recipient’s space, interests and growing conditions. Lemon trees and kumquats suit people who enjoy citrus and edible plants, while Italian olive trees make meaningful gifts for new homeowners and couples. Grapevine bonsai and strawberry trees are distinctive choices for plant lovers who appreciate something unusual.
Can you buy a lemon tree as a Christmas present in the UK?
Yes. A lemon tree can make a thoughtful Christmas present, provided the recipient has a suitable place to keep it. Citrus trees need protection from frost and a bright growing position during winter. A suitable conservatory or greenhouse may be ideal, depending on the variety and local conditions.
Are olive trees good Christmas gifts?
Yes. Olive trees are evergreen, have distinctive silvery-green foliage and carry associations with peace, hope and longevity. A smaller Italian olive tree is a lovely choice for someone who wants to grow their own tree over time, while a larger specimen can make a striking gift for a garden.
Can living trees be delivered during winter?
Living trees can be delivered during winter, kept in their nursery pot and planted out or potted on when the recipient wants to at their convenience.
What is an unusual Christmas gift for a plant lover?
A grapevine bonsai, a kumquat tree or a strawberry tree can make a distinctive gift for someone who enjoys unusual plants. Each offers something different, from miniature woody structure to colourful citrus fruit or evergreen foliage and strawberry-like fruits.
Can I send a tree directly to someone as a Christmas gift?
A living tree can be sent directly to the recipient, The Norfolk Olive Tree Company delivers trees to the recipient’s property and offers the option of a personal message, making it easier to give a larger, more individual present.
Do I need a garden to give someone a tree?
Not necessarily. Some trees can be grown in containers, making them suitable for patios, terraces and other appropriate outdoor spaces. However, citrus trees need a suitable frost-free winter position, and the space and care requirements of each plant should be considered before choosing a gift.
Why buy a living tree from a specialist nursery?
A specialist nursery can help customers understand a tree’s characteristics, growing requirements and suitability for its intended position. At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, trees are hand-selected by our family business, with specialist knowledge and personal service to help customers choose a gift with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Christmas Gifts
What are the best trees to give as Christmas gifts?
The best tree depends on the recipient’s space, interests and growing conditions. Lemon trees and kumquats suit people who enjoy citrus and edible plants, while Italian olive trees make meaningful gifts for new homeowners and couples. Grapevine bonsai and strawberry trees are distinctive choices for plant lovers who appreciate something unusual.
Can you buy a lemon tree as a Christmas present in the UK?
Yes. A lemon tree can make a thoughtful Christmas present, provided the recipient has a suitable place to keep it. Citrus trees need protection from frost and a bright growing position during winter. A suitable conservatory or greenhouse may be ideal, depending on the variety and local conditions.
Are olive trees good Christmas gifts?
Yes. Olive trees are evergreen, have distinctive silvery-green foliage and carry associations with peace, hope and longevity. A smaller Italian olive tree is a lovely choice for someone who wants to grow their own tree over time, while a larger specimen can make a striking gift for a garden.
Can living trees be delivered during winter?
Living trees can be delivered during winter in their nursery pots, ready for the recipient to enjoy. They can be planted out or potted on at a convenient time, when conditions are suitable for the particular tree. Tender plants, including lemon trees and kumquats, will need appropriate winter protection.
What is an unusual Christmas gift for a plant lover?
A grapevine bonsai, a kumquat tree or a strawberry tree can make a distinctive gift for someone who enjoys unusual plants. Each offers something different, from miniature woody structure to colourful citrus fruit or evergreen foliage and strawberry-like fruits.
Can I send a tree directly to someone as a Christmas gift?
Yes. The Norfolk Olive Tree Company delivers trees directly to the recipient’s property and offers the option of a personal message, making it easier to give a larger, more individual present. Please check delivery arrangements and available dates when ordering.
Do I need a garden to give someone a tree?
Not necessarily. Some trees can be grown in containers, making them suitable for patios, terraces and other appropriate outdoor spaces. However, citrus trees need a suitable frost-free winter position, and the space and care requirements of each plant should be considered before choosing a gift.
Why buy a living tree from a specialist nursery?
A specialist nursery can help customers understand a tree’s characteristics, growing requirements and suitability for its intended position. At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, trees are hand-selected by our family business, with specialist knowledge and personal service to help customers choose a gift with confidence.
