The Best Fruit Trees to Give as Christmas Gifts: From Fig Jam to Homemade Limoncello
Some Christmas presents are enjoyed for a day. Others become part of someone’s garden, their kitchen and their favourite recipes for years to come. For the food lover in your life, imagine giving a tree that provides more than beautiful foliage: fragrant lemons for a Christmas gin and tonic, kumquats bursting with colour, ripe figs turned into homemade fig jam, or olives to cure and prepare at home. From a charming fig tree to a lemon or kumquat, fruit trees as Christmas gifts are a thoughtful way to give something meaningful that continues to grow long after the festive season has passed.
At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, we believe a living tree can be one of the most thoughtful Christmas gifts of all. We are a family-run specialist nursery, hand-selecting trees for their character, quality and appeal. And when you choose an individually photographed tree from our online shop, the tree pictured is the very tree your loved one will receive. No choosing from a generic stock photograph and wondering what will arrive.
Whether you are shopping for an enthusiastic home cook, a keen gardener or someone who appreciates something genuinely different, here are our favourite fruiting trees to give this Christmas.
1. Fig trees: the gift for anyone who loves to cook
If there is a tree that belongs on the Christmas wish list of a passionate home cook, it has to be the fig. We have fig trees in a wonderful range of shapes and sizes, from characterful specimens to trees that can become a rewarding feature in a garden or suitable container. Their sculptural branches and distinctive leaves make them attractive in their own right, but the real pleasure comes when the fruit ripens.
Imagine receiving a fig tree and, in time, harvesting your own figs to serve fresh, pair with cheese or turn into something delicious in the kitchen.
And homemade fig jam? It is hard to imagine a more satisfying way to enjoy the harvest. Sweet, rich and full of flavour, it is wonderful on toast, alongside a cheeseboard or given as a little homemade gift in its own right.
A fig tree is a present that keeps on giving: first as a beautiful addition to the garden, then as a source of ingredients and inspiration for years to come.
Our collection includes fig trees in different sizes and forms, so you can choose a tree to suit the recipient and the space they have available.
2. Lemon trees: a little sunshine for the Christmas drinks cabinet
For someone who loves entertaining, a lemon tree is a particularly thoughtful gift. Picture home-grown lemons being used to add a fresh twist to a Christmas gin and tonic, bringing a little sunshine to winter celebrations. For the keen cook or drinks enthusiast, there is also the temptation of making homemade limoncello: that beautifully aromatic Italian lemon liqueur traditionally enjoyed chilled after a meal.
Beyond the kitchen, lemon trees offer glossy evergreen foliage, fragrant blossom and the pleasure of watching fruit develop. They bring a touch of Mediterranean character to a bright conservatory, greenhouse or other suitable growing space.
There is one important consideration when gifting citrus in the UK: lemon trees need protection from frost and a bright, suitable place to spend the winter. They are not trees to leave exposed to freezing temperatures.
For someone who enjoys growing their own ingredients and has the right winter space, a lemon tree can be a truly memorable present.
Give a little Mediterranean sunshine:
3. Kumquat trees: a burst of colour for the plant lover
If you want a gift that looks beautiful even before the fruit reaches the kitchen, consider a kumquat tree. Kumquats are wonderfully distinctive citrus plants. Their small, bright orange fruits stand out against glossy green leaves, creating a striking display that feels cheerful in the darker months.
They are particularly appealing to someone who enjoys growing unusual edible plants. Unlike most citrus fruits, kumquats are commonly eaten whole, including their sweet, aromatic skin, with a refreshing tartness from the flesh.
They can also be used in preserves, marmalades and other kitchen creations, making them a gift for both the gardener and the cook.
As with lemon trees, kumquats need appropriate winter protection in the UK. A bright, frost-free position is essential during cold weather.
Choose a colourful, unusual Christmas gift: [Insert link to kumquat trees]
4. Fruiting olive trees: a gift with a Mediterranean story
An olive tree is a present with character, symbolism and the potential to become a lasting feature in a garden.
Olive trees have long-standing associations with peace, hope and longevity. Their silvery-green foliage, sculptural trunks and evergreen presence make them beautiful gifts, but there is another reason for the food lover to take an interest: the possibility of growing olives.
For those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, varieties such as Frantoio and Leccio del Corno are worth exploring for their fruiting potential. With the right conditions and suitable pollination, an olive tree may produce fruit that can inspire a home-curing project.
Freshly picked olives are not generally ready to eat straight from the tree. They need proper curing or processing to make them palatable, so the reward is as much about the process as the harvest itself.
If you would like to try preparing your own, we will link to our guide to curing table olives here
An olive tree is an especially meaningful gift for someone who loves Italian food, Mediterranean gardens or the idea of growing something they can enjoy for many years.
Discover our Italian olive trees from our grow your own collection.
The most important detail: the tree pictured is the tree they will receive
Buying a living tree online should feel exciting, not uncertain.
At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, our individually photographed trees allow you to choose the actual specimen you want to give. The tree shown in the product photographs is the tree your recipient will receive.
That means you can consider its shape, branching, proportions and individual character before making your choice. If you have fallen in love with a particular fig tree, an olive with a beautiful trunk or a specimen with an especially pleasing shape, you can select it with confidence. For a Christmas gift, this matters. You are not simply buying a plant of a particular variety or size; you are choosing a living specimen for someone special. We know that a tree is a more personal purchase than many presents. As a family-run specialist business, we are here to help you choose the right tree and understand what it needs.
Can you give a fruit tree at Christmas in the UK?
Absolutely. A living tree can make a wonderful Christmas present, and winter delivery means the recipient can enjoy their gift without having to plant it immediately. Trees can remain in their nursery pots until the recipient is ready to plant them out or pot them on, provided they are cared for appropriately. Hardy trees can be planted when conditions are suitable and the ground is workable, rather than frozen or waterlogged.
Tender citrus trees, including lemons and kumquats, need suitable winter protection. It is worth considering the recipient’s growing space before choosing one. If you are unsure which tree would suit their garden, patio or home, we can help you make a considered choice.
A Christmas gift that grows into something more
A fig tree that inspires a batch of homemade jam. A lemon tree that brings a fresh twist to festive drinks. A kumquat tree that brightens a conservatory. An olive tree that becomes part of a garden for years to come.
These are gifts with a life beyond Christmas Day.
At The Norfolk Olive Tree Company, our trees are hand-selected with care, and we offer personal service from a family business that understands the plants we sell. You can choose a tree with confidence, knowing that the individually photographed specimen you select is the one that will be delivered.
If you are looking for a Christmas present that feels personal, enduring and genuinely different, explore our collection of fruiting trees and find one that is just right for someone you love.
Give a tree. Give the promise of future harvests. Give the gift that keeps on giving.
[Explore our fruiting trees and choose your Christmas gift.]
Frequently Asked Questions About Fruit Trees as Christmas Gifts
What is a good Christmas gift for someone who loves cooking?
A fruit tree makes a thoughtful gift for a keen cook. Fig trees are ideal for anyone who enjoys homemade fig jam, while lemon trees provide fruit for drinks and recipes. Kumquats offer something unusual, and fruiting olive trees appeal to those interested in Mediterranean cooking and curing olives.
Can I buy a fig tree as a Christmas present in the UK?
Yes. Fig trees make distinctive Christmas gifts, particularly for gardeners and home cooks. They are available in different shapes and sizes, and the right choice depends on the recipient’s garden or growing space. Figs can be enjoyed fresh or used to make homemade fig jam when the tree produces fruit.
Are lemon trees suitable Christmas gifts in the UK?
Yes, provided the recipient has a suitable place to grow one. Lemon trees need a bright position and protection from frost during winter. Home-grown lemons can be used in cooking, festive gin and tonics and homemade limoncello.
Can you eat kumquats straight from the tree?
Kumquats are commonly eaten whole, including their sweet, aromatic skin and tart flesh. Their colourful fruit also makes them attractive ornamental citrus trees. In the UK, kumquats need appropriate winter protection from frost.
Can you eat olives straight from an olive tree?
No. Fresh olives are generally too bitter to enjoy straight from the tree and need suitable curing or processing before eating. Fruiting olive varieties, including Frantoio and Leccio del Corno, can interest gardeners who want to explore growing and preparing their own olives.
Will I receive the exact tree shown on your website?
Yes. When you choose an individually photographed tree from The Norfolk Olive Tree Company’s online shop, the tree shown in the product photographs is the actual tree your recipient will receive. You can choose its individual shape and character before ordering.
Can a tree be delivered as a Christmas gift and planted later?
Yes. Trees can be delivered in their nursery pots and planted out or potted on when the recipient is ready and conditions are suitable. Tender plants such as lemon trees and kumquats need appropriate winter protection.
Can I send a tree directly to someone as a gift?
The Norfolk Olive Tree Company delivers trees directly to the recipient’s property. Please check delivery arrangements and available dates when ordering, and contact us if you would like to discuss including a personal message.
