The Christmas plant you don't need to water: why wax amaryllis bulbs are set to be this year's easiest festive gift

grow urban says Christmas sales of its wax amaryllis bulbs increased by more than 500% between 2024 and 2025, as shoppers embraced the flowering bulbs that need no water, soil or pot to bloom.

This Christmas, one of the simplest gifts could also be one of the most surprising.

After seeing sales of its wax amaryllis bulbs increase by more than 500% between Christmas 2024 and 2025, Edinburgh-based houseplant specialist retailer grow urban believes the bulbs are set to become one of this year’s standout festive gifting trends.

The appeal is refreshingly simple: a beautiful flowering plant that needs no soil, no pot and not a single drop of water.

Wax amaryllis bulbs arrive ready to display, with the bulb already containing all the moisture and energy it needs to produce spectacular trumpet-shaped flowers over the festive season. They're decorative from the moment they're unwrapped, making them an easy and unusual gift for plant lovers and non-gardeners alike.

The Christmas gift that doesn't come with a care guide

Graham Savage, founder of grow urban, believes the appeal is about much more than convenience: "I think wax amaryllis bulbs are having a real moment because they solve one of the biggest barriers people have with plants: the fear of getting it wrong.

"They make such a lovely Christmas gift because they feel thoughtful, but they're incredibly easy to look after. You don't need compost, you don't need a pot and you genuinely don't need to water them.

"Simply unwrap, put somewhere bright and watch it grow! It gives someone all the joy of receiving flowers or a houseplant, without adding another thing to think about over Christmas."

Unlike cut flowers, which are often at their best for just a few days, a wax amaryllis becomes part of the Christmas season itself. Thick green stems emerge from the decorative wax-coated bulb before opening into large, dramatic blooms, with the plant changing noticeably as the weeks go by.

A gift that unfolds over Christmas

Graham thinks that's another part of the appeal: "We're seeing people become much more interested in gifts that create a little experience, rather than something that's instantly over.

"A wax amaryllis gives you that sense of anticipation. You don't know exactly when the flowers are going to open, and watching the stems develop is part of the enjoyment.

"It becomes something you live with over Christmas, rather than something that's simply there on the day."

The bulbs are hand-finished in coloured wax, so they look decorative from the moment they're unwrapped, before the flowers even appear.

While they're proving popular as gifts, they're also an easy festive treat for yourself — particularly if you want to add some colour to your home without taking on another plant that needs regular care.

Graham says there are only two real jobs: "Put it somewhere bright, and give it a quarter turn every few days so it grows nice and straight. "That's about as demanding as it gets."

The Christmas gift that keeps on growing

With sales already showing such a significant rise, grow urban expects wax amaryllis bulbs to continue growing in popularity as Christmas shoppers look for gifts that feel thoughtful without being complicated.

For anyone looking for something a little different to put under the tree this year, the wax amaryllis offers a simple combination: beautiful to give, exciting to watch grow and almost impossible to get wrong.

Wax amaryllis bulbs are available from grow urban now for just £19.95.

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Editors notes

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Notes to editor 

For media enquiries, including high-res images, expert comment and product samples contact Fay Clarkson at Honest Communications on fay@honestcommunications.co.uk.  

About grow urban

grow urban is an independent plant and garden retailer founded in Edinburgh in 2019.

From its shop in Edinburgh's New Town, grow urban offers a carefully chosen collection of houseplants, outdoor plants, plant pots, gardening tools and botanical gifts, available both in-store and online for delivery across the UK. Every product is thoughtfully selected by grow urban's knowledgeable team of Plant Gurus for its quality, design and usefulness, with a focus on helping people enjoy plants and gardens with confidence.

Every online order is hand-picked and packed from the Edinburgh shop with the same care and attention the team would expect when placing an order themselves.

Graham Savage is the founder of grow urban. He has more than 15 years’ experience running independent businesses, as well as a background in advertising and digital marketing. At grow urban, he brings those strands together with a strong interest in houseplants, plant and consumer trends, and the changing ways people choose, grow and live with plants at home.