By Justin Hancock, Costa Farms Horticulturist
Photographs courtesy of Costa Farms
I’m often asked what the best plants for a bedroom, dining room, etc., are. The truth is that there’s no one set of plants perfect for a particular room because different rooms have varying conditions. Your living room may be warm and bright, for example, but mine might be dim. So it’s better to look at your room’s conditions and pick plants based on them. That said, there are a few houseplants that grow practically anywhere. Here are some of my favorites for any (or every!) room of your home.
Raven® ZZ Plant
Showing off striking good looks, you can enjoy this beauty even in a windowless bathroom (if you leave a light on for it throughout the day). Along with its laissez faire attitude about light, Raven® ZZ Plant is equally undemanding about water. It’s able to survive a month—or more (especially in low light) between drinks. This makes it one of the most durable houseplants around. And its shiny purple-black leaves also make it one of the most fashionable.
Colorful Aglaonema
This plant’s name may be overwhelming, but its care isn’t. Like Raven® ZZ Plant, Colorful Aglaonema (pronounced Ag-lay-o-nee-ma) doesn’t mind artificial light. It can also go several weeks without watering if it needs to, but it’s best if watered regularly (every 7 to 10 days on average). As the other part of its name suggests, it also adds interest to your home with its dark green leaves streaked, splashed, or striped in contrasting shades of red, pink, purple, chartreuse, or white.
Manjula Pothos
Pothos is a tried-and-true houseplant loved by generations, and that’s a testament to how easy it is to care for. Manjula Pothos is a newer patented variety that shows off large, heart-shaped leaves marked with crisp, creamy white. It’s just as easy to grow as traditional golden pothos, making it perfect for any room of your home.
Moonshine Snake Plant
Snake plant (also called Sansevieria, Dracaena trifasciata, sword lily, and mother-in-law’s tongue) is ideal for decorating rooms that range from well lit to providing just enough light for you to read by. It features stiff, upright silvery leaves often marked with green striations. Water once every couple of weeks, but don’t worry if you forget now and again. It survives periods of drought well.
Slim Jim Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreens are a delightful group of plants that show off dark green leaves often overlaid in silver. Many have broad foliage, but Slim Jim is a newer selection that has almost grassy leaves (ideal for adding a textural accent to your space!) variegated with cream. White petioles add interest up close. It grows in low, medium, and bright light, and can be watered every other week.
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By Dan Heims, President, Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Photographs courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.
Terra Nova’s breeders have created a series of outstanding world-class echinaceas that are consistent in size, bloom power, color intensity and are a pollinator buffet. What’s not to like.
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