Like plants but don’t have green fingers? Worry not! Or maybe you do have the magic touch but are just looking for inspiration for some new additions. Either way, you’ve come to the right place! Here is a selection of attractive and easy-care houseplants that won’t take up much room but are guaranteed to brighten up your home or office from day one.
Oxalis triangularis – Photo by KENPEI
5. Oxalis triangularis – purple-leaved wood sorrel (also known as the ‘Love Plant’ and ‘Purple Shamrock’)
Order bulbs for this plant online otherwise you may have to do some digging to find a local stockist, but once you’ve got hold of a wood sorrel it will keep going for years – no matter how much you neglect it! This variety of oxalis, a popular garden plant, is suitable for growing indoors and has shamrock-like purple leaves and dainty pink flowers. It doesn’t need rich soil or fertilizer, so all you need to do is water it. When it is well watered it will produce an abundance of leaves, so if these die back, give it a good dousing and it should sprout new leaves within a few days. The plant will flower intermittently, at least once a year, producing its delicate pink blooms on the ends of thin green stems.
Oxalis triangularis flower close-up – Photo by Richard Bartz
The leaves and the tubers (roots) are edible, with the leaves possessing a sour flavour, and the potato-like tubers of other varieties being commonly cultivated for food in New Zealand and parts of South America. Even the juice of the plant can be used in the coagulation of milk for the purpose of cheese making. You could use the leaves and stems in salads or as an ingredient in stuffing, but use in moderation and be aware that some people may be allergic to it. Although the taste of the leaves is not so great that you would necessarily want to eat them regularly, the plant could certainly be a conversation piece during dinner with friends or family.
Oxalis triangularis flower – Photo by KENPEI
Propagation is easy via separation of new bulbs from the main tuber, and remember these plants can also been grown outside in sheltered spots if desired.
- Attractive purple foliage
- Delicate pink flowers
- Edible
4. Ferns
Ferns are a botanical group consisting of thousands of species of fronded, leafy plants that are perfect for adding structure to a display or making a statement on their own. With a multitude of indoor varieties to choose from that can look quite different to one another, it is best to browse the local stockists to find out what varieties appeal to you, but here I will describe two of my favourites to familiarise you with the group.
Maidenhair fern – Photo by André Karwath aka Aka
A popular species for the home and office is Adiantum capillus-veneris R., commonly known as maidenhair, which bears delicate light green fan-shaped leaflets on thin dark brown to black stems (actually called rachides and petioles because the leaflets are borne on pinnate fronds). In the wild, maidenhair is often found in rocky environments, such as on damp limestone cliffs, and it has a creeping rhizome root structure. The ‘capillus-veneris’ part of the Latin name actually translates to ‘hair of Venus’, Venus being the Greek god of love, and the pretty maidenhair fern is most unusual as its frilly-edged leaflets are unique amongst the ferns group.
Plumosa fern – Photo by Derek Ramsey
Another popular houseplant variety is Asparagus setaceus, or the Plumosa fern, which is, as the name suggests, a close relative of the vegetable asparagus. Plumosa is in fact not a ‘true’ fern and belongs to the same botanical family as lilies and garlic. Commonly known as the lace fern, Plumosa bears incredibly delicate cladodes which are tiny flattened stems that look like thin leaves. These resemble the pinnate fronds of real ferns, and they are borne on surprisingly tough green stems. Native to South Africa, Plumosa thrives in moist forest habitats, but its hardiness has meant it has become invasive in countries where it has been introduced.
All ‘houseplant ferns’ are easy to care for: they require regular watering and they like occasional misting but can live without it. The Plumosa may require less watering as it is not a ‘true’ fern, so it can be left to go dry between each dousing. Some ferns can be trimmed but check individual varieties in case yours is not a fan!
- Attractive foliage
- Add structure
- Can be used in cut flower arrangements
Tradescantia zebrina – Photo by T. Voekler
3. Tradescantia zebrina (Zebrina pendular) (also known as ‘Inch Plant’ and ‘Wandering Jew’)
This trailing plant’s main attraction is its beautiful striped foliage, which on the upper surface consists of green and purple dramatically striped with silvery pale green. The underside is purple and the stems green and purple, and the leaves are shiny, with the silver stripes being iridescent. Although its striking foliage is its main appeal, Tradescantia does intermittently produce small dark pink flowers with three petals. Tradescantia is incredibly easy to propagate, and any part of the plant, however small, can be kept alive in water alone indefinitely and will root easily in moist compost.
Tradescantia zebrina, underside of leaves – Photo by Gardenology
Tradescantia has the unusual common names of ‘Inch Plant’, which I believe relates to its rapid speed of growth, and ‘Wandering Jew’. There are a variety of explanations for the latter, but they all revolve around the tale of an immortal person, which in the Middle Ages was apparently expatiated on to specify that this person was a Jew who had lived during the time of Jesus and who had goaded Jesus while he was carrying the cross for his crucifixtion. Jesus was said to have retorted by condemning the man to remain alive until his return to earth. Both the early and later versions of the story stipulate that the person was immortal, with some variants stating that they were doomed to wander the earth as well.
Tradescantia zebrina in purple foliage – Photo by Gardenology
The story’s connection with Tradescantia is assumed to be because this incredibly hardy plant gets everywhere. Indeed, they are immune to common weed-killers and bearing brittle stems with all parts of the plant able to root, every trace of it must be carefully removed from an area to completely eradicate it. As such, Tradescantia is considered invasive and has travelled the globe since its distant origins in Mexico. Boasting beautiful foliage along with its fascinating mythical tale, Tradescantia is a great choice of houseplant and it’s ideal for a shelf or tall furniture so its stems can trail freely.
- Attractive striped foliage
- Trailing
- Very easy to propagate
2. Saintpaulia ionantha – African violet
Saintpaulias, commonly known as African violets, are a houseplant staple, providing unusual velvety foliage together with an abundance of flowers several times a year. Native to the tropical cloud forests of Tanzania and Kenya, many species are now endangered, but fortunately houseplant varieties are readily available at minimal cost. The leaves are round, oval or heart-shaped, sometimes with scalloped edges, and they are green to dark green covered with tiny hairs, giving them their furry appearance. The ionantha cultivars also include variegated varieties, although personally I feel these distract from the flowers too much.
Pink and white frilly African violet
The beauty of African violets is that they have been bred to produce an incredibly wide variety of flowers. Although they all have a distinctive bright yellow stamen and pearly, iridescent petals, they can vary from single to double and even frilly varieties. Colours range from the traditional violets and pinks through to whites and blues – and I mean in every shade imaginable within these general colours. You can get two-colour varieties where one colour edges the petals, or with speckles, spots or stripes. There are always new cultivars being developed which is why I am addicted to African violets – I am drawn to a plant, whether a typical or a more unusual variety, and I simply have to add it to my collection!
White and purple double African violet
African violets are easy to propagate and this is a fantastic way of getting children interested in plants, or just keeping them entertained. Cultivation is not as instant as Tradescantia, for example, from which stems basically become new plants straight away, so it can build curiosity and encourage nurturing and responsibility in youngsters. The fleshy stems of African violets sometimes break off accidentally as they are quite brittle, so this can be the perfect opportunity not to waste its little life, or you can just cut a stem off a plant you want to clone. Keep the stem in water for a few days and then plant it in moist soil. You can use some vermiculite if you have any to help the soil retain its moisture and then just pop the pot on a windowsill and keep it moist, but not over-watered. Then it is a waiting game, but kids should be thrilled when the tiny new leaves start emerging at the base of the original stem. It will take several months to become an established plant so encourage children to take photos or draw pictures so they can monitor its progress.
Speckled pink frilly double African violet
As you can probably tell, African violets are my all-time favourite houseplants, and I have had them around me since childhood when my mum used to grow them in cute ceramic animal pots. They were the first houseplants I bought when I moved into my own home and some plants lasted me years and years, surviving subsequent house-moves with ease. African violets are sure to cheer you up and reward you with a splash of colour every few months, so give them a try if you haven’t already!
- Attractive velvety foliage
- Wide variety of colours and flowers
- Easy to propagate
1. Orchidaceae – Orchid
You may be wondering why African violets didn’t get the number one spot in this list, and that is because it’s not all about my personal taste, but about you! Although the other plants in this article are all great contenders, the orchid is by far the most varied and beautiful of houseplants. Its voluptuous blooms are the winning ingredient of this huge family of plants, which has around twenty-five thousand known species and over a hundred thousand hybrids and cultivars!
Yellow and burgundy Phalaenopsis orchid
Orchid leaves tend to be simple, often being large and quite tough, but they are glossy and not unattractive. However, the flowers are spectacular and vary significantly in appearance, but they all have five main petals and a central trumpet-like formation. Most will comprise more than one colour and as well as plain colours there are various patterns like speckles, spots and contrasting edging. The blooms emerge once a year on long stems and last for months, making them hugely popular for cut flower displays.
White and pink Phalaenopsis orchid
Some people have difficulty getting their plants to flower again once they have bought them, and the trick is to never over-water, keep them as cool as possible during the winter (ten degrees Celsius if possible) and in spring move them to the warmest, brightest place you can find out of direct sunlight. It is the coolness during winter followed by adequate heat and light in spring and summer that enables the flowering. The exception to these rules is Phalaenopsis, which prefers year-round temperatures of eighteen degrees Celsius or above. Feeding is often recommended but personally I have never fed any of my orchids and they thrive on water alone.
Red and yellow Lady’s Slipper orchid
With such an abundance of choice, it is best to browse the local selection to choose a plant, or plants, that you like, but popular houseplant varieties include Dendrobium, Brassia (spider orchid), Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis and Cambria. All of these have a vast range of flower sizes and colours and are easy to grow, although you should always check the instructions for your specific variety. If your plants become too big for their original pots, replant after flowering has finished and use proper orchid compost. If your orchid has been growing in a transparent pot, try to find a new, larger one, as some types like their roots to have exposure to light.
Yellow and deep burgundy Brassia (spider orchid)
Orchids can be a little more expensive than other houseplants, but with modern propagation techniques the price for common varieties is constantly reducing and you can often pick up a bargain on a plant that is coming to the end of its flowering spell. Either way, an orchid will be well worth the investment because it will bring you years of joy as it rewards you with its annual show of stunning blooms.
- Attractive and varied flowers
- Long flowering period
- Ideal for cut flower arrangements
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© 2014 Ruth Hayward – This material may not be copied in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the author. Please contact the author here to request permission to duplicate.
Photo of Oxalis triangularis: By KENPEI on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.1 Japan License
Photo of Oxalis triangularis flower close-up: By Richard Bartz on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic
Photo of Oxalis triangularis flower: By KENPEI on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.1 Japan License
Photo of Maidenhair fern: By André Karwath aka Aka on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic
Photo of Plumosa fern: By Derek Ramsey © 2006, Location credit to Chanticleer Garden, Wikimedia Commons, GNU Free Documentation License
Photo of Tradescantia zebrina: By T. Voekler on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Photo of Tradescantia zebrina, underside of leaves: By Gardenology.org on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Photo of Tradescantia zebrina in purple foliage: By Gardenology.org on Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Ruth Hayward 