Origins of Common Houseplants

Many common houseplants were once considered ‚”exotic” because they came with the look of faraway lands.

Most come from tropical regions of the world. But through time and experimentation, they have been found to adapt easily to indoor living in the Northern Hemisphere.

Knowing the origin of specific houseplants can help in providing them with proper care. Plants from the damp tropics, for example, will like relatively high humidity (misting indoors can help with that). Rain forest plants do well in low light conditions since they generally grow beneath the dense forest canopy where little sun penetrates. Plants from hot, arid regions, on the other hand, will likely thrive in a sunny window and often require less water.

Below are the countries and regions of origin for seven common houseplants, along with their care requirements.

Dracaenas (Dracaena sp.)

Dracaenas hail from tropical and subtropical Africa and the Canary Islands. Those commonly used in interior plantscaping include the large Massangeana Cane (Dracaena Fragrans), the Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis) and the Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata).

Being from the tropics, Dracaenas like humidity, which can come from misting with a spray bottle. Soil should be moist, but never soggy. They do best in temperatures that never drop below 65 degrees.

Fishtail Palm (Caryota mitis)

Native to Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago, this unusual palm has fronds with bright green triangular leaves that resemble fishtails. They like bright light (though not constant sun), warm temperatures and humidity or regular misting. Soil should be well moist, though not soggy.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum, Scindapsus aureus)

The tropical forests of Malaysia are the native habitat of this trailing favorite. It grows in low light, likes its soil to dry out between waterings and tolerates some neglect. Pothos is easy to propagate by simply pinching off a trailing branch and letting it root in a vase of water.

Bromeliads (Various Species)

Central and South America’s tropical forests give us these popular flowering plants. The rich, eye-catching colors actually come from bracts that surround the true flowers. They do best in a warm, humid environment with bright light or partial shade.

Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

The forests of southern China gives us this stately palm with broad palmate leaves. Lady palm likes a bright spot, protected from direct sun. It’s a big drinker, especially in summer.

Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

Moluccas, a group of islands in Indonesia, is the home of this brightly colored foliage plant. From the island’s tropical forests, croton does best with damp soil and regular misting. It likes bright light, but not direct sun. It’s a relatively care-free plant to grow.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

West Africa is home to the popular, easy-care snake plant. It thrives in bright sun or low light conditions and requires only minimal care. It should dry completely between waterings and can survive periods of neglect.

Resources:

Complete Houseplants, A Foolproof Growers’ Guide, by Jack Kramer, Creative Homeowner, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2008.

Houseplants from A to Z, by Karin Greiner and Dr. Angelika Weber, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., Hauppauge, N.Y., 2007.

Guide to Growing Healthy Houseplants, Denny Schrock, editor, Meredith Publishing Group, Des Moines, IA, 2005.