Categories: Blog

The History of Houseplants

Houseplants have long been a fixture in many homes. They add beauty, color, and even clean the air. Some houseplants, such as herbs and citrus trees, even add fragrance to the air and flavor to a wide variety of dishes. But how did houseplants come to share our homes? They’ve been around for thousands of years. Archeologists have discovered artwork from ancient Egypt depicting houseplants in urns and troughs. The ancient Greeks and Romans also loved houseplants and often had atriums in their homes.

Around the 15th century, when Europeans began exploring the New World, many new houseplants were discovered. Explorers often brought back houseplants for their Kings and Queens. Most houseplants come from an area covering 40% of the Earth’s surface and circling the globe from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. Being tropical in nature, plant houses were built to provide a suitable climate for them. These houses were called orangeries and housed such exotic treasures as palms, figs, and citrus fruits. Today we call them greenhouses and conservatories.

Houseplants became especially popular during Victorian times, when growing houseplants became a common hobby. This is also when the houseplants we know and love came into existence. The Victorians grew and treasured some familiar favorites such as Jasmine, Boston Ferns, Cast Iron Plants, and Palms. Unfortunately, the shipping of houseplants from the New World back to England was problematic due to the lack of warmth and care given to them on the ships that brought them. This changed in 1833 when Dr. Nathaniel Ward created a glass case to transport plants. Called a Wardian Case, it provided the right climate for transporting plants and eventually began to be used in the home. We know them today as terrariums and they are still just as popular.

Here in America houseplants became popular in the 50s and 60s. Before then, the lack of precise temperature control in most homes made the climate unsuitable. Two of the most popular houseplants of the time were Swedish Ivy and Philodendron. Almost every home seemed to have at least one. Their popularity increased in the 70s with the arrival of plant hangers and poles, and of course, that 70s mainstay, the macramé holder. Rubber Plants also gained popularity, especially in offices and public spaces. By the 1990s more exotic houseplants such as Orchids enjoyed a new popularity as they became available in home centers and nurseries.

Today, the variety of houseplants available is endless. What can’t be found locally in a garden center, box store or nursery can be found on the Internet. New varieties are being introduced all the time, and old favorites like Philodendrons are still with us. Over 3000 years since the Egyptians first brought plants into their home, they still find a place in ours.