A Flower-Inspired Gift Guide

From sculptural arrangements to petal-shaped mugs, a curated selection of unique and unusual floral objects.

There’s something about Substack gift guides that feel more special—like Grace Dougherty’s list, which compiles her picks plus suggestions from interesting people she knows (think Iko Iko cord covers, Gohar World lace envelopes and chocolate-brown Cleo bags). Then there’s Yeehawt’s guide to being the best gift-giver, which includes a mini horse and weird haikus, and is still somehow one of the most thoughtful I’ve read.

Inspired by that, I’ve put together my own. While I’d love to find Damson Madder pajamas or a Loewe honeysuckle candle under my tree, this guide centers on flowers and leans into the unusual—small-batch, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind pieces that echo the fleeting nature of a rare bloom. From a candle holder shaped like petals about to unfold to a necklace where trumpet flowers dangle from freshwater pearls, these gifts capture nature’s magic and mystery, offering it in a form you can hold.

1. A well-chosen flower arrangement feels like the perfect Christmas gift. Gunnar Floral’s dramatic creations—like the smoke bush design above, with feathery plumes in muted mauve, dusty pink and soft green—are a dream if you’re in Toronto. In Los Angeles, I’m obsessed with Isa Isa and Renko. For florists in other cities, check out this piece I wrote for The New York Times or the T Black Book I contributed to, which highlights where to find memorable arrangements in New York, Paris, London, Tokyo and beyond.

2. This floral mobile from All Kinds is made of seven hand-sculpted pink flowers, each curved and flared like a trumpet. It hangs delicately, with the petals cascading downward and casting soft, shifting shadows.

3. Trine Tuxen’s silver flower pendant cradles a piece of petrified coral at its center. I wear mine on a silver chain, but their velour bands add a softer, dreamier touch.

4. Yona Kohen’s bow necklace captures the essence of delicate florals with its hand-beaded design, where loops of burgundy beads adorned with tiny flower-like accents cascade into soft orange or white petals.

5. Drawing from nature, fantasy and myth, Floating World’s Angel’s Trumpet necklace features delicate blooms dancing on freshwater pearls, available as a single charm or five-charm version. For more art and objects inspired by Angel’s Trumpets, check out this post.

6. Shana Cave’s Strawberry Cluster Ring is a nod to nature’s blooms, with its hand-carved silver petals and garnet, pink sapphire and ruby accents. Inspired by the imperfect beauty of flowers, it’s a piece that honors both craftsmanship and nature’s quiet elegance.

7. Niharika Russel’s floral earrings are handcrafted with delicate lucite petals, pearly centers and slender green beaded stems. They look like tiny flowers plucked straight from a storybook meadow.

8. This candelabra from Hadaikum brings flower-like flora to life with its sculptural design, blending nature’s organic beauty with whimsical, fairy tale-inspired elements.

9. Nymph Squad’s stoneware candle holder, with a curling stem and spiked base, feels like it grew from an otherworldly garden. I also love this bowl, with its softly flared rim, like petals in bloom, glazed in muted blue and earthy green.

10. Wheel-thrown in speckled clay, Recreation Center’s flower mug is glazed in glossy lavender. This is what I’ll be using to drink hot chocolate this season, piled high with whipped cream and red sprinkles.

11. This lilac copita is hand-thrown from white clay, with tiny painted lilac flowers. Made by Danny D’s Mud Shop, it reflects the studio’s playful, eclectic style.

12. I first found this vintage ikebana print—of yellow mimosa and lavender iris bursting against a deep red backdrop—for my strange plant-inspired finds on Thanks It's From eBay. I also love these two: an arrangement with quince and iris blossoms on rich magenta, and another with echeveria, monstera and bright orange gerbera daisies posed in front of a sky blue background.

13. I learn about so many unique perfumes through Sable Yong’s Smell Ya Later podcast. Case in point: Universal Flowering’s Venus in Tuberose blends creamy tuberose, hibiscus and lime pulp with raspberry gelato, all grounded by green grass. A review on Fragrantica captures it perfectly: “It smells like laying in the grass with a sprinkler. It smells like putting a flower behind your ear while walking to the park in the heat.”

14. I discovered Bago Studios through Latin Zine by Talía Cu, and their Floro Midi bag immediately caught my eye. Shaped like a flower with soft, petal-like curves, it’s bold, playful and its striking shade of red makes it perfect for the holidays.

15. The Wanda Bag by Julia Heuer is a wearable work of art, with its vibrant pleated fabric that unfurls like petals. The Isa print—my favorite—bursts with shades of fuchsia, red and green, reminiscent of a wild bouquet, but I love them all.

16. My Grandfather Turned Into a Tiger by Pao Houa Her is a vivid exploration of the Hmong diaspora, blending silk flowers, surreal backdrops and personal mythology. Grounded in family lore and tradition, it reimagines identity and home across shifting landscapes. Each copy is wrapped in a unique floral cover, making it as collectible as it is transportive.

17. Pia Riverola’s Flechazo is one of my favorite books—a vivid love letter to life in Mexico. For more about the book, take a look at my post on Myth, Magic and Marigolds.

18. Many moons ago, I wrote about Los Objetos Decorativos for The New York Times and have been obsessed ever since. Their Fume Vase, a soft, smoky swirl of glass, is the perfect vessel for a tall flower like allium—with spiky green stems and soft, spherical blooms. I featured the vase in my piece for kaylee richards’ Strata Bites, where you can find more plant-inspired things I recommend.

19. I’ve been thinking about this Sung Hwa Kim print—of a ghost-like flower blooming beneath a glowing moon—ever since Exhibition A released it. As of now, there’s only one left. Grab it before I do.

20. Blending moss, sea salt, orange blossom and bergamot, Swamp Lily by Calma Floral evokes humid nights and hidden lagoons. A perfect companion to The Enchanted Realm of Water Lilies and Lotuses, this candle feels like a portal to an aquatic dreamscape.