Plants of the Month

Once upon a time a poor man found a Money Tree, took it home and nurtured it. It gave him seeds and more little plants that he sold and made lots of money, and that's how the plant got its nickname. Slender brown trunks decoratively braided, sprout a new top of hand-shaped leaves with shiny green fingers. Pachira rewards with an extravagant, gigantic flower, one of the largest tree flowers in the whole world. Orangey-yellow, long and thin petals peel open like a banana revealing a big tangerine to red colored pouf. Originally a tropical wetland tree favoring swamps in South America, it now grows in our own tropical home collections. Take one home and share the wealth!

• Pet Friendly

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Medium (3):  Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
• Light - Med/High (4):  Needs more light than most, but direct light not necessary. Can handle morning and afternoon sun directly on leaves.
• Difficulty - Med/High (4):  A little more finicky than most. Requires some extra care.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

The first N'Joy Pothos was espied growing in the midst of Pothos Marble Queens in a greenhouse in India. It was soon after reared so that the vines would turn out leaves sprouting very closely together, making this plant so very dense and lush, leaves and vines just tumbling over each other in joy. With loud, splashy, snowy white and apple green leaves and real long trailing vines, N'Joy is a lovely hanging plant or shelf plant. You can hang or drape it anywhere. It'll enjoy almost any conditions from somewhat low ambient light to brightest indirect light, which it actually enjoys best of all.

• Also known as Devil's Ivy
• Air Purifying
• Low Maintenance
• Trailing

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Low/Med (2):  Doesn't need as much water, but doesn't like to stay dry for too long. Plant will become droopy when really thirsty.
• Light - Low/Med (2):  These plants need some diffused light to stay happy. Prefers if there is a window in the room, but doesn't need to be very light nor close to it.
• Difficulty - Low/Med (2):  A little less finicky than most. Doesn't require much attention at all.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

The Surprise here is the bright coloring of this Dracaena. These leaves are a vivid, lemony chartreuse banded down the center in soft, moss-green stripes and a couple of white pinstripes thrown in. Surprise goes its own way, with foliage stacked so close together on the stalk they overlap one another, and wanting to twirl a bit in a wayward, clockwise unruliness. Growing like a Warneckii, it'll get 6' to 8' or more, but slowly, and with color like this and its curvy figure, is quite a nice surprise. As with many cane Dracaenas, flowers can arrive unannounced in an exceedingly happy plant; fancy, white, fragrant little bouquets. 

• Air Purifying
• Low Maintenance

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Medium (3):  Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
• Light - Medium (3):  Plant prefers natural, diffused light. Can be placed in a spacious living room. Indirect light preferred. No direct sunlight on leaves.
• Difficulty - Low (1):  These plants need barely any attention to thrive. Set it and forget it.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

Sansevierias were named for the illustrious Raimond de Sansgride Sansevieru, an 8th century Italian prince who was responsible for important botanical expeditions and exploration. Let's just call this one Twist. And, this one really does do the Twist! Emerging from the center of the plant come thick, wide blades for leaves with deep, pine green centers and wide, bright yellow bands all down the sides, dabbed with whitish/green touches that look like little clouds. As they emerge they start right in twisting, curling, and banking around corners, sometimes upright, sometimes reaching for the ground. Each plant does its own dance. Treat it like all other Sansevierias; don't do anything. Just a watering once in awhile is all Twist wants. Or you could ask it to dance.

• Also known as Snake Plant or Mother-In-Law's Tongue
• Air Purifying
• Drought Tolerant
• Low Light
• Low Maintenance

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Low/Med (2):  Doesn't need as much water, but doesn't like to stay dry for too long. Plant will become droopy when really thirsty.
• Light - Low (1):  Doesn't need much if any light. Plants will be okay in a darker bedroom or bathroom.
• Difficulty - Low (1):  These plants need barely any attention to thrive. Set it and forget it.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

You won't find a single Birkin in the tropical jungles, it's a sport of jungle native Congo Rojo, and now tissue created beings account for our Birkins today. We love them all the same for their engaging, bushy shape and thin, off white/lemon cream sketched on lines gracing their heart-shaped, dark green foliage. Overall size to expect is around 3' tall. Every leaf is painted differently, with its spotted midrib and held up on fat, pale, green stems. Some leaves stay totally green and some, almost all white. With the white areas unable to make chlorophyll, bright light is advised if you want maximum snowy colors.

• Air Purifying
• Low Light
• Low Maintenance

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Medium (3):  Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
• Light - Low/Med (2):  These plants need some diffused light to stay happy. Prefers if there is a window in the room, but doesn't need to be very light nor close to it.
• Difficulty - Low/Med (2):  A little less finicky than most. Doesn't require much attention at all.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

Well, there are two explanations for the Calathea Rattlesnake's name that we know of. There may be more.... One is that the wild, dark green spots on smooth textured but wavy bumpy, pale green leaves resemble the skin of an exotic snake (probably poisonous). The other is that as a member of the Prayer plant family, Rattlesnake also folds up its leaves at night making praying hands, accompanied by a soft rustling sound that reminds one of a rattling snake tail. This is one of the hardier Calatheas which can even grow outside all year in California and Florida. Much less prone to leaf-tip burn and less of a fussy than most, this nice forgiving Calathea is a good choice for beginners and everyone else.

• Also known as Calathea Lancifolia
• Air Purifying
• Pet Friendly

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Med/High (4):  Prefers more water than most, but soil can dry out periodically. Use a spray bottle to mist and increase humidity levels without soaking the soil and roots.
• Light - Medium (3):  Plant prefers natural, diffused light. Can be placed in a spacious living room. Indirect light preferred. No direct sunlight on leaves.
• Difficulty - Low/Med (2):  A little less finicky than most. Doesn't require much attention at all.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

Her Majesty Snow Queen is named for her lovely, snowy white foliage. Purer white than her more cream-hued sister, the Marble Queen, she also sports small green splashes that splotch and speckle the leaves. Held up to the light, some of the leaves have a translucent quality, like looking out a magical, frosty window. The sweetheart shaped leaves grow on strong stems and cascade really long out of a hanging pot. Snow Queen is a little slower growing than most Pothos. Although she tolerates and thrives in lower light, bright indirect light encourages the brilliant whites.

• Also known as Devil's Ivy
• Air Purifying
• Low Maintenance
• Low Light
• Trailing

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Low/Med (2):  Doesn't need as much water, but doesn't like to stay dry for too long. Plant will become droopy when really thirsty.
• Light - Low/Med (2):  These plants need some diffused light to stay happy. Prefers if there is a window in the room, but doesn't need to be very light nor close to it.
• Difficulty - Low/Med (2):  A little less finicky than most. Doesn't require much attention at all.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

Greenstripe's green stripes slash down the center of brilliant, acid yellowy-green leaves, some with a couple of white pinstripes thrown in too. The foliage curves around just enough to look like it's being tossed around in a light breeze. Multi plants growing in the pot give a nice fullness in younger plants. Older ones grow politely straight up on strong stems that show a marbly green design. Plants with different heights of canes in the pot make interesting stand-alone accent plants, with any cane that's trimmed for shape sprouting at least 2 new heads and often more. Bright light keeps the intense acid color vibrant.

• Also known as Dragon Tree
• Air Purifying

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Medium (3):  Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
• Light - Medium (3): Plant prefers natural, diffused light. Can be placed in a spacious living room. Indirect light preferred. No direct sunlight on leaves.
• Difficulty - Low (1):  These plants need barely any attention to thrive. Set it and forget it.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.

Peperomia Thailand is a robust, no nonsense kind of houseplant, nearly indestructible and reliable. Round, cupped, shiny leaves lean out from their jointy, reddish stems holding themselves horizontally for an even, orderly shape. Faintly traced indented veins of lighter green run along the tops of leaves, undersides are lighter green with less shine. The whole plant will get to about 12" or a bit more, staying nice and small and tidy. Not needing much attention at all, Peperomias gained the nickname "radiator plant," as in the olden days the plants were often placed in a windowsill above the radiator heater. This is the perfect plant to set and forget.

• Pet Friendly

Quick Care Guide:

• Water - Medium (3):  Water plant when dry. Plant does not like soil to always be moist, but doesn't like to stay dry once becomes dry. Water as soon as soil is dry.
• Light - Medium (3):  Plant prefers natural, diffused light. Can be placed in a spacious living room. Indirect light preferred. No direct sunlight on leaves.
• Difficulty - Medium (3):  Not too difficult to keep happy, but does require some attention.

View full breakdown of Care Guide here.