Bird of paradise, Crane flower
Flowers sit in boat-shaped, green-purplish bracts (4 - 6 " long), with orange outer petals, and inner upright blue petals. Look for flowers that have a tight sheath with one opened petal section. Very heavy stems - take special care to provide ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Spider plant
Long, slender, graceful leaves curve from central rosette and have a central white stripe. Easy to grow if given bright light (not full sun) and kept evenly moist. Leaves fade when plant needs water. Most often used in hanging baskets. Green and ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Cast iron plant, Barroom plant
Long, arching, glossy, dark green leaves which arise from central point on stalk. Brown marks on leaves: Don't overwater or leave water in pan under pot. Is used as a cut foliage in floral arrangements. Long lived. One of the most tolerant plants ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Nephthytis, Arrowhead vine
Three lobed, arrow-shaped leaves vary in shape depending on its age. Leaves are variegated light and dark green. Small container, small planter (terrarium, hanging basket, dish garden). Prefers warm temperatures, but will tolerate medium. Often ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Dwarf Schefflera
Leaf drop (low humidity): Provide adequate humidity and keep away from heat vents. The regular Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla - Umbrella tree) grows in its natural habitat to over 40' tall. Often used as ground cover or understory ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Zebra plant, Saffron spike
Highly decorative foliage has large, oblong, glossy, dark green leaves with pointed tips and prominent white veins. Showy terminal spike has medium yellow flowers arising from golden-yellow bracts. Leaf, bud, flower drop: Do not subject to sudden ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Bird's nest fern
Undivided, shiny, bright green fronds which rise in rosettes. Each leaf has central prominent vein. Very Frequent. Water thoroughly, keeping soil quite moist, never allowing to dry to touch. Do not let plant sit in water. Aphids (on new growth): ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
(Calathea picturata `Vandenheckei')
Pointed, oval, dark green leaves have silvery - white stripe down center of leaf and a scalloped stripe down each side of leaf near the margin. Red tint on underside of leaf. Requires good drainage, high humidity, and warm night temperatures, ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Wandering Jew
Leaves are elongated with pointed tip and striped dark green and silver lenghwise. The underside of leaves are purplish. Leaves are arranged along a trailing stem. Pinch back to keep bushy appearance. Used in hanging basket and as a ground ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Peace lily
Beautiful lance shaped leaves are 8" - 15" long and arise from soil surface. Showy white spathe and spadix flower. Large container, small planter (seedlings used in dish gardens), large planter (mass display). Peace lily can recover from severe [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Areca palm
Clustered non branching stems with fronds that are subdivided and arching Medium to high. Does well near an east, west, or south window, filtered light, or location receiving 1000 footcandles or more. [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
Prayer plant, Rabbit's tracks
Oblong leaves are green on the upper surface with dark green to brown splotches in a line along both sides of the midrib. Small planter (hanging basket, terrarium, dish garden), small container. Moderate - difficult Can live well under average ... [... more]
Virginia Tech Extension |
