If you like to have green plants around but don’t have a lot of time to take care of them, then Hypoestes phyllostachya might be a good plant for you. Hypoestes phyllostachya is a perennial plant that is native to Madagascar. It’s a member of the acanthus family and is also known as the painted … Read more
Our dining room windows face southeast; during the winter, they get all the light from the sun as it moves across. We thought it a good spot for a window greenhouse, and since two windows are close together, we bought two window greenhouses and set them side by side. There is a radiator under the … Read more
Hemigraphis alternata, also known as Strobilanthes alternata, is a tropical perennial known for its colorful oval leaves. The leaves are usually green with a red or purple tint, giving the plant its unique appearance. Native to India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, Hemigraphis alternata is usually seen as a groundcover or border plant, reaching medium heights of … Read more
Fittonia verschaffeltii (fi-TOE-ni-a ver-shaf-FEL-tie) is a beautiful plant grown and cultivated for its unique leaves. They are commonly sold as houseplants in the United States, but in their native habitat of Peru, they are wild on the forest floor. Requiring low light makes the Fittonia verschaffeltii a relatively easy-to-maintain houseplant. However, the plant needs warmer … Read more
Radermachera sinica (rad-er-MACH-er-a SIN-i-ca) is a beautiful evergreen perennial that is relatively easy to maintain. Native to China and Taiwan, Radermachera sinica was initially grown as a subtropical plant in mountainous areas. However, it is primarily grown as a houseplant in the United States. Because of its subtropical origins, Radermachera sinica fares well outdoors in … Read more
Tolmiea menziesii (TOL-mee-uh men-ZEE-see-eye) is a flowering hairy-leaved herbaceous perennial that often grows as a groundcover in wetlands and forests and along rivers and streams. The foliage resembles maple leaves and forms a thick groundcover. The plant is relatively fast-growing. The mature plant forms baby plantlets where the leaf meets the stem. These baby plantlets … Read more
Cyanotis kewensis [Sy-an-NOH-tiss][Kew-EN-sis] is a trailing plant most often referred to as Teddy Bear Vine. It is known for its chocolate brown fuzzy leaves (hence its common name, Teddy Bear Vine). The plant is in the Commelinaceae family and is synonymous with the following: Cyanotis beddomei Belosynapsis kewensis Cyanotis kewoides Erythrotis beddome Tonningia kewensis Cyanotis … Read more
Although the Ornithogalum caudatum [or-ni-THOG-al-um] [kaw-DAY-tum] is often called a Pregnant onion plant, it is not an onion. Instead, it’s part of the Liliaceae family. It’s referred to as a Pregnant onion plant because of its onion-like rootstalk from which new growth emerges. Long green leaves grow from the bulbous rootball. Small white flowers bloom … Read more
Pellionia (pell-ee-OH-nee-uh) houseplants, part of the Urticaceae family, are sometimes known as trailing watermelon begonias. The beautiful leaves and trailing habits of Pellonia houseplants are the main reasons for their popularity. Alphonse Odet Pellion (1796-1868) is honored with the genus name. Pellion, an artist and naval draughtsman, served as a midshipman during a three-year scientific … Read more
Like most of us, houseplants enjoy a rest and a change of scene once in a while. That is, most of them do. A few are just plain stay-at-homes and resent even an outdoor picnic. However, there are not too many plant sissies. Your house plants have been through a long winter and are anxious … Read more