9 Gifts for Green Thumbs

1. Boxwood Hedges

Perfectly sculpted boxwood hedges offer privacy and give a sense of poshness to a garden. However, maintaining them requires frequent pruning, they're prone to pests like boxwood blight, and trimming services can add up quickly. Instead, look for low-maintenance hedges like viburnum, common box, and cherry laurel.

2. Koi Ponds

A serene koi pond with a water feature requires constant upkeep — regular water testing, filtration maintenance, and fish care (including specialized diets, temp control, and vet care!).

3. Rose Gardens

Traditional rose gardens are lovely when maintained properly but they require constant attention. They need proper pruning, fertilizing, pest control, and are prone to disease. Roses are highly susceptible to black spot, powdery mildew, and aphids, making them a pretty demanding plant. I gave up my roses for drought-tolerant plants and olive trees in my California garden.

4. Cobblestone or Brick Pathways

Over time, moss and weeds grow between the stones and brick, creating slippery surfaces and requiring frequent cleaning. Frost heaving and settling can create uneven surfaces here too, which can be costly to repair. Gravel and mulch are low-budget options that can still look great and don't require a lot of upkeep in the garden.

5. Topiaries

Shaping plants into whimsical topiaries is not for the faint of heart — or wallet. These sculpted plants demand expert trimming, precise watering, and protection from harsh weather. Hiring a professional topiarist can be an ongoing and expensive commitment for more elaborate topiaries, like animal shapes and other artistic sculpting.

6. Traditional Fountains

A grand fountain can be the focal point of a traditional backyard, but keeping it in pristine condition requires frequent cleaning, water treatment, and pump maintenance. Algae buildup, clogged filters, and winter freezing can all lead to costly repairs and upkeep.

7. Ornate Ironwork

Iron is prone to rust, meaning you'll need to endure frequent sanding, priming, and repainting to keep them looking polished and pristine, which can get tiresome over time.

8. Massive Lawns

I replaced an uncomfortable, and frankly ugly, rock lawn with a small grass lawn for my kiddo and dog to enjoy and my water bill quadrupled! A sprawling, perfectly green lawn is a major water guzzler. Keeping it lush requires constant mowing, fertilizing, aeration, and irrigation. Consider more mulch and gravel than grass.

9. Gazebos or Pergolas

Maintaining wooden structures like gazebos means regular staining, sealing, and repairs to prevent weather-related wear and tear. If made from natural wood, they’re especially vulnerable to rot, termites, and warping. Look for more weather-resistant protection or plant more shade trees.

10. Plastic Edging

Plastic and gardens don't make an ideal match. Plastic edging may seem like a quick fix, but it's often frustrating to install, prone to shifting over time, and can lead to weed crossover and untidy borders. While affordable upfront, its short lifespan makes it a poor long-term investment. Opt for sustainable alternatives that not only last but also prevent microplastics from contaminating your soil.

1. Aloe

Aloe Vera Plant

Aloe vera is well-known for its soothing properties when it comes to sunburn. But this spiky succulent with thick, serrated leaves is also a low-maintenance indoor plant. It doesn't require frequent watering. In fact, it's actually best to let the soil dry out completely between drinks to prevent over-watering. And although it grows slowly, aloe can eventually reach up to three feet in height and width.

2. Snake Plant

Live Sansevieria Plant w/ Grow Pot

Snake plants are beloved for their striking, sword-shaped dark green leaves, which are often highlighted with patterns in silver, white, cream, or yellow hues. These tough plants are ideal for forgetful waterers, too, as they can go weeks without needing a drink!

So, this variety can easily reach an impressive four feet tall and even thrives in a range of lighting conditions, from low to bright light.

3. Zebra Plant

Aphelandra Zebra Plant with Yellow Blooms

With its white-striped leaves, the zebra plant can add a stylish touch to any windowsill. But, perhaps its best quality is that this low-maintenance succulent thrives with very little attention, making it ideal for busy plant owners.

This variety typically remains under a foot tall, so it remains compact and easy to fit in smaller living spaces, like apartments. Additionally, the zebra plant prefers bright light and well-draining soil, so you should always allow the soil to dry out in between waterings.

4. Bunny Ear Cactus

Bunny Ear Cactus

As this variety's cute name suggests, the bunny ear cactus features flat pads that resemble the ears of a rabbit. Not only is this charming cactus drought-tolerant, but it also doesn't have the sharp spines typically associated with cacti. Still, you should be cautious of the tiny barbs on its pads, which can irritate your skin if touched.

The bunny ear cactus needs plenty of bright light to thrive, but when given enough sun exposure, you'll be rewarded with beautiful yellow blooms in the spring.

5. Corn Plant

American Plant Exchange Dracaena Mass Cane ‘Corn Plant’

Despite its name, the corn plant isn't really related to the corn you eat. Rather, its long green leaves do resemble corn stalks! Aside from bringing a bunch of greenery into your home, this plant is low-maintenance and surprisingly forgiving if you sometimes forget to water. It will bounce back if it dries out a little, making it a no-fuss variety.

6. Ponytail Palm

Bloomscape Live Ponytail Palm w/ Planter

The ponytail palm is a very tough plant, thanks to its thick stems that store moisture. So, it can easily survive if you forget to water it now and then! This drought-tolerant beauty only needs to be watered every couple of weeks in the warmer months and every three to four weeks during the winter. It also does well in both low and bright light and can reach an impressive 10 feet tall.

7. Ox Tongue

Gasteria Spotted Ox Tongue Rare Succulent Live Plant

Featuring rugged leaves, the ox tongue can add visual intrigue to any indoor plant collection. This succulent doesn't require frequent watering, either, and in the winter, it can go for weeks without needing a drink. Instead, it flourishes in bright light, and with the right amount of sun, it will produce pink-red flowers during the spring.

8. Pothos

Live Mini Pothos Plant w/ Hanging Planter

Pothos is a favorite in both homes and offices thanks to its hardiness and glossy leaves. This variety has earned its reputation as one of the most low-maintenance plants, flourishing even without daily watering. On top of that, it handles everything from low light to bright light and can tolerate drying out in between waterings.

9. Dracaena

Costa Farms Dracaena Golden Heart Live Indoor Plant

Commonly known as "dragon trees," dracaena are favored for their sword-shaped leaves and resilience in the face of neglect. They're highly adaptable, thriving in low light and requiring minimal watering. They can even handle missed feedings from time to time, too. So, dracaena can make bold decor statements with little care needed from their owners.

10. ZZ Plant

ZZ Plant

Last but not least is the ZZ plant, which has thick and leathery leaves that almost resemble plastic. Thankfully, this drought-tolerant variety is just as low-maintenance as the fake plants you can buy at the store. ZZ plants only require occasional watering, and while they do best in bright light, they're also perfectly fine in low-light areas.

Essentially an iced white chocolate mocha made with blonde espresso topped with matcha cold foam and brown butter sprinkles, one Starbucks barista revealeda tasty (and festive!) new way to enjoy the chain’s offerings in lieu of St Paddy’s: the Pot Of Gold!

The spirited drink starts with 4 pumps of white mocha sauce, which is then combined with 2 blonde espresso shots. Starbucks’ blonde espresso has a smoother effect than their traditional shots, so expect this sip to bring on the sweetness!

From there, you can order the drink with your choice of milk – and it’s a total bonus that Starbucks is no longer charging extra for alternative milks like oat, almond, coconut, and soy milk!

The next step is to order the drink with the chain’s vanilla cold foam, adding 2 scoops of matcha powder in the process.

Note: this secret menu item was shared before Starbucks reformulated their matcha powderto be unsweetened, but the cold foam should still have some sweetness, thanks to the vanilla.

Finally, the Pot Of Gold matcha drink is complete, boasting a satisfying layer of green on top of a golden latte. The barista who came up with the drink topped their bev with Starbucks’ brown butter sprinkles, which is in cafes for a limited time alongside their pistachio-flavored coffees.

If your local Starbucks is out of the brown butter sprinkles, a dusting of cinnamon or chocolate curls could also be so tasty!

With this secret menu hack, you’ll be sipping your way through a delightful sweetness and plenty of caffeine from both the matcha powder and espresso shots. If you prefer to have less jitters in your drink, you could easily order it ‘half-caff’ or with decaf espresso shots.

For quick reference, here’s how to order the Pot Of Gold drink. Ask for:

• A grande iced latte
• With 2 blonde espresso shots (or your preference for ‘half-caff’ or decaf)
• With your choice of milk
• Topped with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam with 2 scoops of matcha powder
• Add brown butter topping

And voila! This drink is such a fun way to ring in St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re craving an iced blended beverage, I also tracked down some pretty delicious-looking secret menu drinks for a Lucky Leprechaun Frappuccino and a Pot Of Gold Frappuccino.

Check ‘em out – and happy St. Paddy’s!