Strelitzia Nicolai

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Strelitzia Nicolai

The Strelitzia Nicolai is commonly known as the wild banana or giant white bird of paradise. It’s a species of banana-like plants – in optimal conditions it can grow up to 7-8m high. Individual leaves can be nearly 2m long from stem to base or leaf tip.

This plant can prove challenging to grow indoors – but the reward is worth the effort. This is a large and striking plant.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Strelitzia Nicolai

Pronunciation
(strell-IT-zee-ah NI-kuh-lai)

Common name
White Bird of Paradise

Origin
Southern Africa

Light

This plant thrives in the sun. Bright, full light is recommended.

Watering

Soil should be moist, particularly in the warm months. Water whenever the top two inches of soil are dry.

Pruning

Dead leaves and spent blooms should be cut off with a sharp knife or pruning shears. Otherwise, no pruning is necessary.

Feeding

A liquid plant food can be applied every four to six weeks.

Pest & Diseases

Prone to attack by mealybugs and other sap-sucking insects.

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Rhapis Excelsa

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Rhapis Excelsa

Otherwise known as Lady Palm or Bamboo Palm, Rhapis excelsa is a popular indoor palm that’s easy to care for.

Rhapis excelsa originates in China and North Vietnam and is characterized by its fan-shaped leaves and clusters of upright stems that create a full and vibrant appearance, as well as giving it its nickname “the bamboo plant”.

Furthermore, Rhapis excelsa ranked highly on a list of top houseplants for removing unwanted pollutants from the surrounding air according to a Dr Wolverton/NASA study.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Rhapis excelsa

Pronunciation
(“RA-puhs ek-SEL-suh”)

Common name
Lady Palm

Origin
China, North Vietnam

Light

Low light and shadier spaces.

Watering

Requires light watering when soil is dry to the touch.

Pruning

Although it’s slow growing, Rhapis excelsa leaves often have brown tips, which can be trimmed if desired, but avoid cutting into the leaf’s green flesh.

Feeding

Feed only once or twice a year during growing season.

Pest & Diseases

Spider mites can pose a problem for Rhapis excelsas by slowly suck the chlorophyll out of the leaves. Look out for small webs and yellow bumps under the leaves, particularly along the midrib.

Strelitzia ‘Bird of Paradise’

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Strelitzia ‘Bird of Paradise’

Related to, and resembling, a banana plant, Strelitzia reginae is a compact, clump-forming perennial. It grows up to 1.5m (about 5 feet) and has long, lanceolate, gray-green leaves.

The most impressive feature of the plant is its strikingly exotic and long-lived inflorescence. Long-stemmed flowers emerge from a boat-shaped, red-margined, spathe resembling the head of a bird. The individual flowers have three bright orange tepals surrounding three shimmering peacock-blue petals, two of which are fused to form a nectary. The plant is pollinated by humming birds.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Strelitzia reginae

Pronunciation
(“strell-IT-zee-ah rej-EEN-eh-ah”)

Common name
Bird of Paradise

Origin
South Africa

Light

Bright, but diffused, light is necessary. This plant does well in a sunroom.

Watering

Quite a heavy water user, but the potting soil should be allowed to dry out a little between watering.

Pruning

Dead leaves and spent blooms should be cut off with a sharp knife or pruning shears. Otherwise, no pruning is necessary.

Feeding

A diluted solution of fertilizer can be added to the water every time you water the plant. Add more fertilizer in the spring and summer.

Pest & Diseases

Prone to attack by mealybugs and other sap-sucking insects.

Dracaena Fragrans

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Dracaena Fragrans

The Dracaena fragrans is a species of flowering plant native throughout tropical Africa. It is available in a number of cultivars, the most common of which are the ‘Janet Craig’, ‘Compacta’, ‘Golden Coast’, and ‘Lemon Lime’.

It’s a slow-growing shrub, usually multi-stemmed at the base. In the wild, mature specimens can reach 15m (about 49 feet) tall. It is commonly used as a houseplant and valued for its tolerance or a wide range of indoor conditions.

Several cultivars have variegated foliage with a number of beautiful patterns designs available.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Dracaena fragrans

Pronunciation
(“DRUH-see-nuh fray-GRUHNZ”)

Common name
–

Origin
Tropical Africa

Light

It survives low light levels, but will thrive in filtered, indirect lights. Avoid direct sunlight.

Watering

The fragrans will tolerate most things – but not soggy soil. Water thoroughly allowing the top 2-3 cm of water to dry out between watering.

Pruning

Prune in spring or early summer to control its growth. If you cut off the cane, it will sprout new of leaves from where it was cut.

Feeding

The Dracaena will benefit from a liquid plant food every second watering during the growing season.

Pest & Diseases

The Dracaena is relatively easy to care for – however spider mites may attack during the winter months when the air is dry.

Spathiphyllum Wallisii “Peace Lily”

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Spathiphyllum Wallisii “Peace Lily”

The Peace Lily is a vigorous plant with large, long, glossy, leaves. Officially known as Spathiphyllum wallisii, the leaves typically have a deep green color, which contrasts sharply with the pure white, arum-like flowers that are borne on slender stems. Each flower may grow up to fifteen centimeters long, contains a creamy-white, maize-like spadix and turns green with age.

There are over 50 species of Spathiphyllum, although Spathiphyllum wallisii is the most common indoor plant. Plant breeders have produced many varieties and hybrids, including giants such as “Mauna Loa” and “Sensation” as well as variegated types (that look as if they have been kept too close to a clumsy house painter).

All Spathiphyllums do well in poor light and can tolerate occasional over watering and are ideal for novice houseplant keepers. Research conducted by NASA found the Peace Lily to be one of the top indoor plants for its air-cleansing abilities.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Spathiphyllum wallisii (Peace Lily)

Pronunciation
(“sapthi-FILL-um wall-ISS-ee-eye”)

Common name
Spathiphyllum wallisii

Origin
Venezuela and Colombia

Light

Low to medium light. Avoid direct sunlight as it will damage the leaves.

Watering

This is a thirsty plant so the growing medium should be kept moist at all times. Under-watering causes the plant to wilt although it usually recovers quite well when re-watered.

Pruning

This plant cannot be pruned. Dead leaves and spent flowers should be removed at their bases with a sharp knife or pruning shears.

Feeding

Diluted fertilizer should be added to the water at every watering.

Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free, but keep a lookout for mealybugs. These should be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel. Two-spotted spider mites may also affect the plant, especially if stressed or in bright, dry environments.

Howea Forsteriana “Kentia Palm”

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Howea Forsteriana “Kentia Palm”

Kentia Palm is a statuesque and graceful palm plant with dark green foliage and arching fronds, also known as Howea forsteriana or even Thatch Palm. Often grown as multiple plants in a pot to give bulk. They are best displayed on their own to show off their shape and they need a good amount of space around them. Kentia palms are the palms found in the “Palm Courts” of great hotels and during the heyday of ocean liners. On Lord Howe Island, the palm’s fronds were used as thatch for the huts of whalers who used to visit the island during the hunting season. Kentia palms are slow growing plants and rarely grow beyond their juvenile form to grow a proper trunk indoors.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Howea forsteriana “Kentia”

Pronunciation
(“HOW-ee-ah for-steh-ree-AH-nah”)

Common name
N/A

Origin
Lord Howe Island (a tiny island, 320 miles off the East coast of Australia). This is the only place on Earth where these plants grow in the wild, and all Kentia palms in cultivation are grown from seedlings started from wild-collected seeds on the island under the strict control of the Lord Howe Island Nursery. Every plant is unique and originated on the island. The species was first introduced to Europe in 1772 by the Forsters – father and son botanists from Germany who travelled as part of Captain Cook’s second voyage to the islands of the Pacific.

Light

Medium to medium-high light. Avoid direct sunlight.

Watering

The growing medium should be kept moist, but not constantly wet. Under watering may cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Pruning

Palms cannot be pruned. Dead or dying fronds should be cut back to the base of the plant.

Feeding

Diluted fertilizer can be added to the water every time you water the plant.

Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free, but keep an eye open for mealybugs, which should be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel. Two-spotted spider mite may also be troublesome if the air is too dry.

Yucca Elephantipes

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Yucca Elephantipes

Yucca elephantipes is a specimen plant used for the architectural value of its leaf clusters, sprouting from upright or branched trunks of varying height. It is suitable for bright sunny indoor areas. Indoor Yucca plants are produced by lopping off stem sections from mature specimens. Once rooted, clusters of long, leathery leaves sprout from buds hidden in these truncated stems. In time, these form long branches, which give the plant a great deal of character.

Yucca leaves are usually deep green with rough edges although variegated types are also available. Yucca’s occasionally flower, producing clusters of creamy-white bell-shaped flowers. In their native countries, Yucca’s have been used as a source of medicine, food, fiber and even as a soap-like substance that is made from the crushed roots.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Yucca elephantipes (2pp)

Pronunciation
(“YUK-ah ell-eff-an-TY-peez”)

Common name
Yucca elephantipes

Origin
Southern Mexico and Central America

Light

High – very high.

Watering

Water sparingly and allow the soil to dry out between watering.

Pruning

Long leggy branches can be cut back, which will allow dormant buds lower down the stem to break and produce new whorls of leaves.

Feeding

Add a little diluted fertilizer to water when watering.

Pest & Diseases

Mealybugs, scale insects and two-spotted spider mite are occasional problems, especially in warm conservatories. These should all be removed by cleaning the plant with a cloth or paper towel. Be careful around the sharp edges of the leaves. Plants kept in humid conditions, or which are misted, are prone to infection with Botrytis and mildew, which can be difficult to control and may prove fatal to the plant.

Schefflera Arboricola “Umbrella Plant”

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Schefflera Arboricola “Umbrella Plant”

The Umbrella Plant, also known as Schefflera arboricola, is an easy-care houseplant that adds a unique touch to your indoor plant collection and typically grows up to 40cm on a lava rock.

Schefflera arboricola is a small shrubby plant originating from Eastern China and Taiwan. It is an erect, well-branched shrub or tree with palmate, glossy foliage. A “parasol” of seven or more leaflets radiates from each leaf stalk. The plant can either be free-standing, or grow as an epiphyte or lithophyte – starting life in the branches of another tree or in a rock crevice.

In those conditions, the plan will produce aerial roots that will grip to its support and head to the ground, where they will then produce conventional roots. This habit makes them ideal to grow on small lava rocks where they can grow into unusual houseplant displays.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Schefflera arboricola

Pronunciation
(“SHEF-ler-ah ar-bor-IK-oh-lah”)

Common name
Schefflera arboricola

Origin
Taiwan and Hainan province of China

Light

Medium-low – medium-high. Avoid direct sunlight and sudden changes in light conditions.

Watering

The growing medium should be kept moist at all times. Mist the foliage with lukewarm water.

Pruning

The growing tip can be removed to encourage branching lower down the plant to create a more bushy habit.

Feeding

A little diluted fertilizer added to the water at every watering is beneficial.

Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free, but occasional scale insects and mealybugs might be found. Mealybugs will tend to congregate around the growing points (where there is lots of sap), so they can be removed by cleaning with a damp cloth or paper towel, or by cutting off the affected part of the plant (which will cause lower buds to break and branches to form). Scale insects can be removed by rubbing them off with a blunt tool such as a wooden popsicle stick.

Chamedorea elegans

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Chamedorea elegans

The Parlour Palm, also known as Chamaedorea elegans, is a popular pet-friendly houseplant that can tolerate modest light conditions in your home. Chamaedorea palms are slow-growing, small palms with typical feather-shaped fronds. Chamaedorea elegans has gently arching, yellowish leaf stalks that grow 45 to 60 centimeters long. These bear almost paired leaflets which are deep green, slender and up to 20 cm long and 2 cm wide. Sometimes, these palms may bear insignificant clusters of yellow flowers followed by tiny black fruits.

Chamaedoreas are natives of Mexico and the rain forests of Central America. The name is derived from two Greek words; “chamae”, meaning “on the ground” and “dorea”, a gift, referring to the accessibility of the fruits to small animals.

Chamaedorea elegans was widely grown in the 19th Century and graced many a Victorian “parlor”, before the increasing availability of other, more “exotic” palms led to a decline in its popularity. It is, however, ideal for modern homes because of its compact size and tolerance of modest light conditions.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Chamaedorea elegans

Pronunciation
((“kam-ay-door-REE-ah ell-eg-ANZ”)

Common name
Chamaedorea elegans

Origin
Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Guatemala

Light

Medium-low – medium. Keep out of direct sunlight.

Watering

The soil should be kept moist, but not wet. In cooler conditions, allow the soil to dry out a little between watering.

Pruning

Palms should not be pruned, and if the growing point is damaged, the results are fatal for the plant. Dead or dying fronds can be removed by cutting them off with a sharp knife or pruning shears close to where they attach to the stem.

Feeding

Add dilute fertilizer to the water every time you water the plant.

Pest & Diseases

Two-spotted spider mites can be a problem in dry atmospheres. At the first sign of any webbing, thoroughly clean the plant. Regular misting with tepid water will help deter spider mites. Mealybugs are an occasional problem, and they sometimes from clusters at the base of the leaf stems as well as on the leaves. They can be removed by cleaning the plant with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Philodendron “Imperial Green”

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Philodendron “Imperial Green”

Philodendron “Imperial Green” is a large-leaved plant notable for its glossy, leathery foliage and robust constitution. The leaves grow from a central rosette on thick fleshy stems, sometimes tinged deep red. It is a compact variety and does not climb.

“Imperial Green” started as part of a batch of mixed seedlings bought from a Florida nursery in 1977 and is probably a hybrid between two different species of Philodendron. The seedlings were brought to Belgium in the early 1980s where, once they were grown to maturity, were found to be a distinct new variety. As a hybrid, they are infertile, so all propagation is made by tissue culture.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Philodendron “Imperial Green”

Pronunciation
(“fill-oh-DEN-dron”)

Common name
Sweetheart Plant

Origin
In the wild, Philodendrons of this type originate in South America, especially Colombia. “Imperial Green” is a hybrid that occurred at a nursery in Florida, and its parentage remains unknown

Light

Low to medium light.

Watering

Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Over watering, especially in cool conditions, will cause leaf discoloration and leaf drop

Pruning

Do not prune. Dead or dying leaves should be cut off at the base with a sharp knife or pruning shears

Feeding

A little diluted fertilizer should be added to the water every time you water the plant

Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free, but watch for mealybugs, which can be removed by cleaning the foliage with a damp cloth or paper towel

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia “ZZ Plant”

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Zamioculcas Zamiifolia “ZZ Plant”

Our Zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as Zanzibar gem or ZZ Plant, is a very easy houseplant to care for.

An unusual-looking plant that resembles Zamia (a plant related to cycads), the Zamioculcas is a relatively new plant to cultivation – large scale commercial production only began in 1996. In some parts of East Africa, the plant is said to be used medicinally to reduce inflammation and as a treatment for earache, but details are sketchy. Surprisingly, this plant is most closely related to species such as Aglaonema and Peace Lilies.

KEY FACTS

Latin name

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Pronunciation
(“zam-ee-oh-KUL-kus zam-ee-iff-FOH-lee-ah”)

Common name
Zanzibar gem

Origin
East Africa, from Kenya to South Africa

Light

Medium – medium high. Avoid direct sunlight.

Watering

Keep on the dry side

Pruning

The “stems” are actually part of the leaf, so will not regrow or bud from pruning. If you need to remove a damaged leaf, cut it off just below soil level with a sharp knife

Feeding

Occasional dilute liquid fertilizer added to the water will be sufficient.

Pest & Diseases

Generally pest free, but mealybugs might be present. If found, remove when cleaning with a cloth or paper towel.

Aglaonema “Chinese Evergreen”

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Aglaonema “Chinese Evergreen”

Aglaonema “Silver Queen”, also known as Chinese Evergreen, is an easy low-maintenance houseplant with patterned leaves. Aglaonemas are native to the Philippines, parts of tropical Asia and Africa. There are many species and varieties used as ornamental plants and they all share the same compact habit with highly variegated leaves.

The scientific name is derived from two Greek words; “aglaos”, meaning “bright” and “nama”, a filament or thread, referring to the striking stamens produced within the flowers.

Aglaonema “Silver Queen” is a hybrid of two species and has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit All our potted plants come in compostable coir pots.

KEY FACTS

Latin Name
Aglaonema “Silver Queen”

Pronunciation
(“ag-lay-oh-NEE-mah”)

Common name
Silver Evergreen

Origin
Aglaonemas grow wild in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, although the hybrid that led to “Silver Queen” – a cross of Aglaonema nitidum “Curtisii” and Aglaonema pictum “Tricolor” occurred in a nursery in Florida

Light

Medium-low to medium-high (but can tolerate lower light levels if not over watered)

Watering

Keep the soil moist, but not wet, and avoid very cold water, which can be very damaging to the roots (allow to warm to room temperature if possible). Mist the leaves with lukewarm water to keep them looking fresh and to reduce the risk of two-spotted spider mite, or the leaf tips going brown and crispy.

Pruning

Little pruning required, but mature plants tend to form stalks, which can be cut back to encourage new growth from the base. The small and rather dull-looking flowers should be removed as they use valuable resources and, as this is a hybrid, are sterile.

Feeding

A little dilute fertilizer in the water at every watering will be beneficial.

Pest & Diseases

Warm dry conditions may encourage two-spotted spider mite, so mist the foliage or keep the plant in a more humid environment (bathrooms are good). Mealybugs are an occasional problem, and they should be removed by cleaning the plant with a damp cloth or paper towel.

Strelitzia Nicolai

KEY FACTS

Light

Watering

Pruning

Feeding

Pest & Diseases

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