Rooted In Play: Gardening & Botanicals Toys

“Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold,” Robert Frost writes in Nothing Gold Can Stay. “Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour,” he continues. Thanks to a burgeoning trend in toys and games, however, anyone can grow a sunflower, and it always thrives. Call it natural. The houseplant industry boomed during the pandemic. Confined to their homes, people looked to beautify their space and adopted new hobbies. Of course, toys would follow.

The easiest plant to care for is the one that doesn’t die. Constructors have their pick of the garden plot: ZURU offers two collections of miniature displays, Mini Brands Create Garden and MAX Garden, the latter of which has more than 200 pieces in each capsule and six house plants to build in the line. Cra-Z-Art’s RoseArt Crystal Gem line offers kits for a Blooming Lotus Flower, a Bonsai tree, or six jeweled and potted succulents.

The Bonsai Tree, which has more than 240 pieces for builders ages 8 and up retails for $19.97; a class at the local brewery with Bonsai Bar, for gardeners ages 21 and up, starts at $85 and may not end with a Portulacaria afra in the same amount of time (it definitely doesn’t include a crystal cat in a swing).

The desire to beautify one’s space led to The LEGO Group’s Botanicals line, which debuted in 2021 with the LEGO Flower Bouquet and LEGO Bonsai Tree and was an instant hit. The LEGO Flower Bouquet figured prominently in a 2023 episode of Abbott Elementary; the romantic leads begin to realize they are better suited for each other when the set is more appreciated by the series lead, Janine, than the recipient. “This is the coolest friggin’ gift I’ve ever seen,” Janine correctly says.

The same is true for plush. If a Tradescantia spathacea can’t thrive at home, its counterpart, the Greenhouse by Russ 12-Inch Oyster Plant, can. So too will Fairy Garden BumBumz Gerbera Daisy Grayce. Both lines are from Jazwares, and the company hopes they help families stay grounded and creative. 

“We’ve always loved giving everyday things a little personality, like a cactus with cozy vibes. With Fairy Garden BumBumz, we took that playful spirit outside,” remarks Kaitlyn Quinn, Brand Manager at Jazwares, calling the collection “soft, lovable characters that feel full of life.”

Greenhouse offers an “elevated spin,” Quinn says, noting that the hangtags include educational facts. The oyster plant, for example, is actually a root vegetable. “At the end of the day, we wanted to create plush that isn’t just cute, but feels like they have their own unique story.”

But for the horticulturalist looking for something beyond cute and cuddly, Innov8 Creative Academy plans to release Plantz next year; attendees can preview Series 1 at the LA Fall Toy Previews in El Segundo this September.

“Everything that’s out there in the botanical trends right now is cute. There’s nothing that represents the darker side,” says Gavin Lawler, CEO at Innov8 Creative Academy. Creepy-cute is the hallmark for the company, which won Collectible of the Year for its Deddy Bears brand at this year’s Toy of the Year Awards.

Plantz features soft textures despite its fearsome vibe, and will expand beyond plush, just as the Deddy Bears span across collectibles, accessories, games, and candy. Each Plantz character has its own terrifyingly charming personality, and the brand dips its toe into carnivorous plants, which other companies have yet to explore. Chomp Chomp, Stingalot, Lil’ Spike, Wild Thing, and Night Scare are among the characters blossoming next year.

“I had such a good time growing up on Little Shop of Horrors,” Lawler explains, noting that the comedy-musical was a funky foray into a new world, inspiring Plantz to find a balance between past and future. Perhaps Series 2 will include a Venus flytrap-like character named Audrey II.

While constructors of all ages build plants meant for growing zones around the world, kids are learning to nurture more than just their imaginations as toys become tools for real-world growth.

Simplay3’s Seed to Sprout Raised Garden Planter encourages families to garden outside. The Ohio-based company was similarly inspired during the pandemic, while people were planting victory gardens. “Since we’re toy producers, we looked at what was available for children to participate in this trend,” says Brian McDonald, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“We saw that there was a lot of pretend play, but not really anything that the child can participate with that’s real,” he notes. “And so we said, let’s take a garden planner and let’s downsize it to the size of a child.” At 16 inches high, the planter manages to hold 20 quarts of dry soil in three sections and includes space to hold the included tools and a watering can. 

At the end of summer, the planter can be moved (and used) inside for plants or sensory play. Made of plastic, McDonald says the planter can be safely outside, too. And while it was designed for families, the planters have been ordered by schools and educational organizations. “We’ve definitely had orders with the educational trade,” McDonald reflects. “When I went to school, we each got a Dixie cup with a bean seed.” While times have changed, the planter has adapted, with recesses to hold paper cups to stabilize or simply house seed starters before soil is added.

Miracle-Gro has joined hands-on learning, too. The company partnered with Red Toolbox for a set of tools, garden gloves meant for small hands, and a wheelbarrow. “They are a great weight and quality that can be used for real gardening, built to last, and look like mom and dad’s tools,” reflects Red Toolbox’s Senior VP of Marketing & Licensing, Donna Arbietman. “We try to encourage outdoor exploration and education with quality tools designed for tiny hands.”

Through the collaborative line, kids can participate in hands-on learning and join their parents in the garden. Likewise, caregivers can observe kids as they flourish and develop new skills. “We’re hoping that kids will develop a long-lasting love for gardening.”

Thanks to designers, constructors, builders, and growers, everything gold can stay, and retailers can grow something green at the cash register.

A version of this feature was originally published in the 2025 Action & Adventure Issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!