Featured Plants
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera
The Aloe Vera plant (succulent type) is well known for offering possible health and beauty benefits that I will discuss further on. This succulent is a tough species that is very easy to care for and rarely presents problems for most growers. Medicinal and health benefits: Aloe is available in juice for drinking (tastes good), skin care, coolant for sunburn and is also used for other purposes. There seems to be no satisfactory evidence of the benefits or safety of consuming or using A.vera products. I would say it seems possible aloe offers health benefits from drinking because it is a natural plant which is where we usually get most of the goodness from in our foods and other products for health (that's only my thought’s though and not evidence). I love the drink but the coolant I used for sun burn did not work and felt very uncomfortable and sticky. Other products have worked much better when I have had sun burn.Bright without direct sun
The A.Vera thrives on bright light conditions, but not direct sunlight. Heat is fine because they react similar to a cacti in hot conditions. Bright rather than light (direct), is the key.
Painted-leaf Begonia
Begonia rex
Painted-leaf begonia (Begonia rex) is a semi-tropical perennial plant normally grown as an outdoor container plant or houseplant. The forms sold commercially are carefully cultivated varieties of the B. rex species native to parts of eastern Asia. If planted in the garden (a relatively rare occurrence), rex begonia is grown as an annual in all but the warmest climates.Bright without direct sun
This plant is not in favor of direct sun. This is because the leaves are sensitive to getting scorched. In their natural habitat most Begonias grow under cover. Bright light is best and during the winter some morning or late afternoon sun is fine.
Eternal Flame
Calathea Crocata
Calathea Crocata, also commonly known as the Eternal Flame due to its yellow flowers, will make a colorful and exotic addition to your home. This plant is native to Brazil and tropical America. Due to environmental damage it is hard to find in the wild nowadays. This species loves heat and humidity, but dislikes direct sunlight. Keeping it in your garden in temperate regions is not a good idea and it will require less work if kept indoors. The plant is also known for letting their owners know when to go to bed - its leaves close up in the evening. Even without its flowers Calathea Crocata looks spectacular.Bright without direct sun
A bright room, but no direct sunlight as that can make the color of the leaves fade away.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
The spider plant is very popular and can be found in many homes or offices. Most people have owned or lived with one (or many) at some point. These are easy-to-care for types that grow quickly, making them a great beginner's plant. This plant can survive with minimal care/attention and can manage low temperatures. However, they will start to look very unattractive and create mess (leaves falling and browning) without enough water and light or too much of either. When they're taken care of properly they look great. As mentioned above if they are neglected they will look shabby and unattractive. When cared for the leaves grow upwards and arch out. The C.C. vittatum type (most popular) has green leaves with a white stripe in the center, and the C.C. variegatum has darker green leaves with white stripes on the edges of the leaf, mainly.Bright without direct sun
Nicely lit room without direct sunlight.
Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
Codiaeum variegatum is the scientific name for the plant also named variegated croton, garden croton and Joseph's coat. This species is grown for it's foliage, although it does flower. This plant and other plants from the Codiaeum genus do demand quite a lot of care and attention, which makes them not the easiest to grow. Grown in it's natural habitat and outdoors this evergreen shrub can grow up to 3 metres tall, so in gardens they look great planted around borders like bushes or hedges. Indoors if your able to provide the correct temperatures and humidity levels they're an interesting container plant that adds a touch of color to a room. The room will need to be bright and have sunlight, though.Partial Sunlight
As mentioned the croton must have plenty of light to remain healthy in appearance.
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
Ok maybe the jade plant is not going to show you the money, although people in the past and in some cultures today believe they do. I will leave that up to the individuals beliefs. Despite the possibility of not providing a person with extra cash, the Crassula ovata (or Crassula argentea) is a great house plant that I still have fond memories of while growing up in my family home. They were propagated left right and center....on every shelf... The Jade is grown indoors and borrows itself from the bonsai in the way it grows like a miniature tree, with a trunk and branches. It is also a succulent that will retain water well within the leaves, just like the cactus plant. This succulent is a hardy fellow and has two main requirements for a healthy long life, which is water and plenty of light. They are both an indoor and outdoor species, although conditions outside need to be right (enough heat and sun).Partial Sunlight
The jade plant flourishes in good health with plenty of light. If you can provide a few hours of sunshine a day your going to have a happy plant.
Corn Plant
Dracaena fragrans
The dracaena corn plant (botanical name: dracaena fragrans massangeana) is a well known indoor plant which is grown in many homes and offices within the US, UK and Europe. There are a few dracaena fragrans varieties that display different types of leaves such as the massangeana, lindenii and victoria. The one with the common name corn plant or cornstalk is the massangeana. If your a grower needing a plant for a center piece in a room or a focal point, this is one of those types of species which looks the part. Once it begins to mature and grows over 4 feet in height it makes an ideal office or hotel plant and looks the business in large living rooms and hallways. What's great about growing a corn plant as well as how attractive they look is they're fairly easy to care for and maintain - like many other dracaena plants.Partial Shade
A good mix of sun shine and shade is ideal for this dracaena, but hardly any direct sunlight. Although it grows quicker and better in bright light you'll also find it survives and grows well enough in low light conditions.
Areca Palm
Dypsis lutescens
The areca palm, also known as the butterfly and golden cane palm is the most popular grown indoors from the dypsis genus, and easy to grow. Multiple cane like stems grow from the root system and produce attractive arching fronds, with quite narrow leaflets. The areca is known as a cane type palm because of the bamboo cane looking stems once it's matured. They're also very similar to the feather types (especially the kentia palm) that display similar leaflets (leaves) and grows up to about the same height indoors.Bright without direct sun
A fairly bright room without direct sunlight is advised. Not enough light will slow growth and too much sun can scorch leaves.
Poinsettia
Euphorbia pulcherrima
The red bracts on the poinsettia plant attracts many growers. There are many euphorbia pulcherrima varieties, although the red bract type is the most popular. Poinsettias have gained a lot of attention around the globe for being a Christmas decoration plant and for religious purposes. The poinsettia which is native to Mexico has become a popular Christmas and holiday plant grown indoors, mainly for the attractive red flower heads and green foliage. The beginnings of this shrub becoming a Christmas plant is said to date back to the 16th century from a tale about a young girl that collected weeds and placed them in front of a church alter, which bloomed in to poinsettias. This plant is so popular in the US that December 12th is national poinsettia day and they can be bought from many types of stores.Partial Sunlight
A brightly lit spot near a window is needed. Avoid direct sunlight during summer if your hoping the plant will produce flowers again.
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina
The weeping fig is part of the Ficus plant genus (scientific name: F. benjamina) and tree like, in looks. With large arching branches and long pointed leaves, it looks attractive indoors (apart from leaves dropping). The Benjamina is one of the most popular small indoor trees from this genus that grows quite slowly and needs a grower to take particular care of a few needs (lighting, watering, etc.), which is fairly easy, when you know how. The weeping figs natural habitat is within rain forests. There's the green leaf type and variegated, also miniature sized trees (indoor bonsai), which may only grow up to 3ft tall. A fair few other cultivars exist that have various leaf colors and patterns.Partial Shade
Bright light is what keeps the weeping fig happy, that is partially shaded. A spot that receives some sun and shade during the day is great. As mentioned previously do not move the tree, not even turning it around to prevent leaves being shed.
Cape Jasmine
Gardenia jasminoides
Gardenia jasminoides, commonly known as gardenia, is an evergreen flowering plant of the coffee family Rubiaceae. It originated in Asia and is most commonly found growing wild in Vietnam, Southern China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh. Wild plants range from 30 cm to 3 m high and have a rounded habit with very dense branches with opposite leaves, lanceolate-oblong, leathery or gathered in groups on the same node and by a dark green, shiny and slightly waxy surface and prominent veins. With its shiny green leaves and heavily fragrant white summer flowers, it is widely used in gardens in warm temperate and subtropical climates, and as a houseplant in temperate regions. It has been in cultivation in China for at least a thousand years, and was introduced to English gardens in the mid-18th century. Many varieties have been bred for horticulture, with low-growing, and large, and long-flowering forms.Bright without direct sun
Indoors, give gardenias bright light, but avoid direct sunlight, especially during summer. Outdoors, they prefer a part shade location.
Sentry Palm
Howea belmoreana
The sentry palm plant is a similar tree when comparing it with the kentia. The scientific name is Howea Belmoreana and it's also known as the curly palm. There are some difference’s and similarities between this plant and the kentia. The fronds arch over more on the H.belmoreana (similar wide leaflets though) and grows slower (see description below). This is a feather type palm that displays wide fronds, not as wide as the coconut palm but wider than the parlor (parlor is the most popular). Because the fronds grow wide and the tree can grow well over 8ft tall - a suitable displaying space is required, such as a hallway or hotel entrance. Like most palms in the right setting this looks fantastic.Bright without direct sun
Indirect light is advisable, but not direct sunlight.
Flaming Katy
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
The flaming katy is a succulent plant that blooms small tubular flowers (up to 50) within a flower head, originally grown as a gift plant. Flowers bloom in various colors including red, yellow, lilac and orange while the leaves have a fleshy look and feel, much like other succulents. The Blossfeldiana is the most popular succulent plant from the Kalanchoe genus, mainly grown for its flowering ability rather than its foliage - unlike many other succulents. Growers can motivate the plant to bloom at any time of the year, although they're naturally spring bloomers. The green leaves will become a reddish color around the edges, if given enough sunlight.Partial Sunlight
The F. katy is a tough plant which can tolerate various lighting conditions, although it enjoys resting on a windowsill that is bright, but not too much direct sunlight during the summer. Some growers around October time will try and provide the plant with plenty of dark hours at night (up to 14 hours) to allow it to rest to encourage future blooms.
Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera deliciosa
The Swiss cheese plant displays the most interesting looking leaves and needs a grower to be prepared to provide some extra space within a home (it grows fairly tall when it matures). This climbing shrub is an ideal plant for a conservatory or large rooms, including a hotel or restaurant foyer. While this epiphyte plant - which is native to the rainforests in south America is a flowering plant, it's primarily grown indoors for its attractive foliage and the height it grows up to. It's a plant that becomes a focal point of a room once it matures. The holes and cuts within the leaves are said to form so the plant survives well within it's natural rain forest habitat when strong winds and heavy downpours (I mean very heavy) appear. Leaves without these cuts and holes would get broken easily because of their size and the force of the weather conditions. The Swiss cheese plant is fairly easy to care for and maintain, however, if the right conditions and care instructions are not followed the plant leaves can look very unattractive (see plant problems below).Partial Shade
A fairly bright room or bright with plenty of shade is best. Direct sunlight will damage the leaves and not enough light can slow growth down.
Alpine Rose
Rhododendron ferrugineum
Rhododendron ferrugineum (sometimes called alpenrose, snow-rose, or rusty-leaved alpenrose) is an evergreen shrub that grows just above the tree line in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and northern Apennines, on acid soils. It is the type species for the genus Rhododendron. It may grow up to 1 m tall and produces clusters of pinkish-red, bell-shaped flowers throughout the summer. The undersides of the leaves are covered in rust-brown spots, which give the species the second part of its binomial name (ferrugineum, Latin for 'rust-coloured, ferruginous'). This is in contrast to Rhododendron hirsutum, which has no such brown colouring, has hairy edges to the leaves and grows over limestone. Where the two species co-occur (usually on soils of intermediate pH), the hybrid Rhododendron × intermedium may occur; as its name suggests, it is intermediate in form between the two parental species.Bright without direct sun
Bright light, straight sun rays are allowed only in the morning or in the evening. These rules concern only the Spring-summer season - from around January to August. From autumn until mid-winter, even the midday sun is not scary. Thus, the autumn-winter sun is not threatened.
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ plant is an easy to grow and care for indoor plant that displays small glossy leaves on stems which can grow up to 3 ft long indoors. The zamioculcas zamiifolia (botanical name) grows well in low or bright lighting conditions and with frequent or much less frequent amounts of water. The ZZ is a rhizome plant that's a real joy to grow and to have displayed within a home. Many people mention it's a slow grower, however, one I grew one a few years go that only took about 3 years to grow stems as long as 2ft, which is not that slow. I think how quick it grows will depend on how much sun light the plant gets (do not allow the plant to sit in direct sunlight - though). As mentioned above the plant tolerates low light, bright light and different levels of watering. However, watering depends on how much light it receives (i.e., less light = less water and more light = more water).Bright without direct sun
Bright light is good but not essential. The zamioculcas zamiifolia grows fine with low levels of light, but it's best to avoid direct sunlight.