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Calathea amabilis
Pronounced kal-A-thee-a. It is also known as Stromanthe or Ctenanthe amabilis. Description Calathea amabilis is much admired for its beautiful oval, strikingly patterned leaves. Habitat Tropical America Species Marantaceae Care Tips It grows best in a warm, bright and draught-free location but not in direct sunlight. Water it moderately and feed it with half strength…
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Calathea crocata
Often referred to as the ‘eternal flame’ due to its bright orange flowers, Calathea crocata (pronounced kal – ATH – ee – a) also has a rich foliage, making it a popular and eye-catching houseplant. It is a compact perennial that can be difficult to maintain and requires either a heated greenhouse or to be…
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Carex
Carex (pronounced Kay-rex) is a variety of plant more commonly referred to as marsh grass or Japanese sedge. It resembles a grass, with some of the varieties sold in garden centres being labelled ‘bronze’ due to the reddish tint of the leaves. Description This perennial plant is a narrow-leaf grass, which usually grows in clumps…
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Cattleya
Cattleya gets its name from John Lindley who named the flower after his friend Sir William Cattley. Cattley imported tropical plants to England from Brazil and noticed that a strange bulb was used as packing material. He cultivated this bulb and it grew into what is now referred to as ‘The Queen of Flowers.’ John…
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Celosia
Commonly known as ‘woolflower’, Celosia’s generic name is derived from the Greek word κηλος (kelos), meaning ‘burned’, and refers to the flower’s flame-like appearance. Celosia Cristata’s unusual folded appearance is where the flower gets its common name of ‘cockscomb celosia’, while Celosia Plumosa is often called ‘Prince of Wales feathers’. Habitat Having been cultivated in…
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Ceropegia woodii
Ceropegia Woodii is a popular houseplant worldwide and known internationally as “chain of hearts”, “string of hearts”, or “rosary vine” because its trailing branches resemble a string of beads. Its flowers can capture insects but these are not carnivorous plants. Description The plant grows stems that are very long and wiry. They have leaves that…
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Chlorophytum comosum
Chlorophytum, also known as the spider plant, is an evergreen perennial that is native to tropical and southern Africa. It is one of the world’s most popular house plants. Description The plant can grow to a height of three feet and produces lance-like leaves that are bordered in a dark green colour, with a centre…
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Chlorophytum orchidastrum
The Chlorophytum orchidastrum is closely related to the Chlorophytum comosum, which is more commonly known as the Spider Plant. It takes its name from the Greek words ‘chloros’ and ‘phuton’, which mean ‘green’ and ‘plant’ respectively. Description It has wide, glossy evergreen leaves and its long stems produce small creamy white flowers. It can grow…
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Christmas cactus
The Christmas Cactus is a distinctive member of the cacti family and, as the name suggests, is often given as a present during the festive period and used for decorative purposes around the home. Description Unlike most members of the cacti family, the Christmas Cactus does not have spines and is formed of flattened fleshy…
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Chrysalidocarpus
The Chrysalidocarpus (kriss-ah-lid-oh-KAR-poss) lutescens is the only species of Chrysalidocarpus that is an indoor plant and it is sometimes called the Areca Palm. Other names for the Chrysalidocarpus include Dypsis Lutescens, Areca Lutescens, Yellow Palm, Golden Feather Palm or the Butterfly Palm. Description It is an evergreen with reed-like stems topped with yellow-green fronds which…
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