Ages ago I wrote a post on reinventing the houseplant. I promised part two would list five of my favourite unkillable houseplants... at last, here it is. This is an edited-down version of a feature I wrote for the magazine Your Perfect Garden, available from all good newsagents now!
ZZ plant
(Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
This plant will shrug off deep shade, direct sun, no
water for months on end and desert-dry air without any sign of
distress. If you want to treat it right, water when the compost
surface feels dry and put it in a bright spot. It won't mind the dry
air and warm temperatures common to modern homes. If it's happy, it
will grow fast and will need repotting once the roots start to break
out of the pot: repot one size up in cactus compost.
Also try: Jade
plant (Crassula ovata)
(Photograph by Artesaniaflorae on Flickr)
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa)
Most
easy-care houseplants don't offer flowers as part of their
repertoire. But this is a glorious exception, although you may have to wait a while for
the clusters of fragrant, waxy white flowers to appear. Put it somewhere high so you can enjoy watching the fleshy
oval leaves on red stems snake around: or train it up a trellis or
some wires to make a living screen.
Also try: Rosary
vine (Ceropegia woodii)
Umbrella
papyrus (Cyperus alterniflolius) If
you like to play fast and loose with the watering can, this
is the plant for you. This stately plant likes its feet in the wet. It's an ideal plant
for the bathroom, where it won't mind being splashed with water - in
fact the extra humidity will do it good. It isn't overly fussy about
light, but avoid direct sunlight.
Also try:
Pitcher plant (Sarracenia
flava)
(Photograph by Artep ^_^ on Flickr)
The Victorians
really were onto something when they championed the
appropriately-named cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior). If
you give this plant the modern treatment by putting it into an
imposing pot the result is stunning. Aspidistra can tolerate those
dingy spots other houseplants hate, too. Again, ease off on the watering
can: the only thing that will challenge its cast iron constitution is
too much wet. Pictured here is A. 'Big Bang'.
Also
try: Parlour palm (Chamaedorea
elegans); Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)
(Photograph by MeganEHansen on Flickr)
African spear (Sansevieria
cylindrica)
Mother-in-law's
tongue (Sansevieria
trifasciata) may be a 70s cliche, but its kookier relative the African spear is the ideal plant for the minimalist look. The
leaves are curious round fleshy grey-green spikes and look great
planted en masse in a zinc trough. Sansevierias
cope with a wide range of conditions, just make sure they have
free-draining compost and the occasional drop of water.
Also try: Haworthia; Aloe vera
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