Some of the best are old ones that can be found in antique shops. To go along with a knife, buy a fine-grained sharpening stone and a knife sheath or holder if the blade does not retract. Every household needs a pair of pruning shears. Shears are handy for shrubbery, the perennial garden, and even for the final shaping of a Christmas tree. As with other tools, it pays to buy good quality.
Cheap ones raise blisters and tempers, plus they do a bad job.
Look for grooved or Teflon blades that lessen sap buildup and comfortable handles with shock absorbers. Be sure to find the right size for the gardener's hand. It will be greatly appreciated next spring. Other gifts might include a subscription to a gardening reference book, a gardening magazine, or a gift certificate from a local garden supply dealer. An indoor holiday plant in full bloom is a lovely gift for someone with a green thumb.