It would not matter what they seem like, houseplants are a stunning addition to any residence. Nevertheless when you want to add choice to your assortment, numerous distinctive kinds that stand out from the rest. From crops with zebra-striped flowers to ones with foliage shaped like wildlife (suppose bat flower and dolphin succulent), many houseplants go strategy previous what you might see at your native massive area retailer. To broaden your horizons, we’re sharing out-of-the-ordinary houseplants advisable by consultants.
Raven ZZ Plant
Whereas many houseplants have inexperienced foliage, raven ZZ plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) strays from the pack with its distinctive leaves that are so purple they provide the impression of being black. The best half? This plant is very hardy and low-maintenance. “It has quite a lot of lighting circumstances, and its rhizome roots make it drought-tolerant,” says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State School.
- Dimension: 2 to 3 toes tall x 2 to 3 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Indirect daylight (an extreme quantity of direct photo voltaic will burn the leaves); well-draining soil; water then the best 2 inches of soil is dry
Triostar
Triostar (Stromanthe sanguinea) has beautiful variegated pink-and-green foliage that items it except for totally different houseplants. It is a member of the prayer family and, like totally different varieties inside this species, it folds its leaves up at night time time, says Langelo.
This plant shall be significantly finicky nonetheless is often beginner-friendly. It likes humidity, so the bathroom is often a wonderful location for it. “It should be watered with spring or distilled water as a result of chemical compounds in faucet water,” says Langelo. “By the rising season, it does correctly with a diluted reply of a balanced fertilizer every couple of weeks.”
- Dimension: 2 to 3 toes tall x 1 to 2 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; well-draining soil; water with distilled, room temperature water
Curly Orchid Cactus
Curly orchid cactus (Epiphyllum guatemalense ‘Monstrose’) is an epiphyte—which suggests it’s going to get its nutritional vitamins from the air—with prolonged evergreen stems that twist and curve as they develop, says Langelo. “These undulating stems are notched and seem like wavy locks of hair. The stems produce aerial roots,” she says. “They’ve 3-inch enormous white flowers with 6-inch prolonged tubes that open at night time time.”
- Dimension: 2 to 3 toes tall x 1 to 2 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; moist, well-draining soil; water when the best inch of soil is dry
Life Saver Plant
Life saver plant (Huernia zebrina) is a low-growing perennial succulent with distinctive zebra-striped flowers. This plant grows in a creeping pattern and has gray-green stems that are usually mottled with purple, says Langelo. No matter its intricate look, life saver plant is low-maintenance and desires little watering.
- Dimension: 6 to eight inches tall x 1 to 6 inches enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight to partial shade; well-draining potting soil; water when the best inch of soil is dry (by way of the rising season, solely water as quickly as a month, as a result of the plant is dormant)
Albo Variegated Monstera
Albo variegated monstera (Monstera lechleriana Albo-Variegata) is a hard-to-find choice that choices lush inexperienced leaves with irregular splashes of creamy white. “It’s enticing when it’s youthful, nonetheless turns into an absolute showstopper as a result of it climbs and matures as this variegated monstera’s leaves get so much bigger and are embellished with rounded fenestrations,” says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms.
- Dimension: 6 toes prolonged x 3 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; well-draining potting soil; water when the best half of the soil is dry to the contact
Dolphin Succulent
Aptly named for its curly dolphin-shaped leaves, dolphin succulent (Senecio peregrinus) is a vining plant that blooms in spring with small white flowers as quickly because it reaches maturity. It appears to be beautiful when displayed in a dangling basket, allowing its foliage to spill over the container delicately.
- Dimension: 12 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, direct daylight; well-draining potting soil; water when the soil is often dry
Frizzle Sizzle Plant
Even the title of this houseplant is pleasant! Frizzle sizzle plant (Albuca spiralis) has quirky skinny leaves that curl into very tight springs as they develop, says Langelo. This bulbous succulent varieties charming lime-yellow flowers that resemble daffodil blooms.
- Dimension: 8 inches tall x 12 inches enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; well-draining potting soil; water when the soil is often dry
Bat Flower
Bat flower (Tacca chantrieri ) is a tropical herbaceous perennial that grows from rhizomes with shiny, lance-shaped inexperienced leaves, says Langelo. As a result of the title implies, this plant produces bat-shaped flowers with brown, black, or purple whisker-like bracts.
- Dimension: 2 to 3 toes tall x 1 to 2 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Indirect daylight; moist, well-draining soil; mist recurrently to boost the humidity surrounding the plant
Dwelling Stone Plant
One of many unusual crops on this guidelines, dwelling stone plant (Lithops spp.), mimics the seems to be of stones and pebbles that develop in dry sandy soil, says Langelo. These succulents range in shade from muted earthy shades to vibrant greens, oranges, and pinks.
- Dimension: 1/2 inch tall x 1 to 3 inches enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; well-draining cactus potting soil with a barely acidic to alkaline pH; water when the soil is often dry
Jewel Orchid
Jewel orchid (Macodes petola) choices velvety, shiny broad leaves with intricate veining. Whereas the foliage is the star of this orchid, it moreover boasts clusters of small creamy white flowers with yellow to brownish petals.
- Dimension: 10 inches tall x 10 inches enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant, indirect daylight; equal parts perlite and coco coir medium; the soil should be persistently moist, nonetheless not soggy
Hoya Coronary coronary heart
One in all Martha’s head gardener’s favorite houseplants to current on Valentine’s Day, hoya coronary coronary heart (Hoya kerrii) is a vining succulent with thick, heart-shaped foliage. It’s a gradual grower nonetheless very easy to take care of and will survive for years when saved in a location with vibrant daylight.
- Dimension: 13 toes prolonged x 3 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant to medium, indirect daylight; well-draining cactus potting soil with a barely acidic to alkaline pH; water when the soil is often dry
Scindapsus Mount Salak
Scindapsus Mount Salak (Scindapsus ‘Mount Salak’) is an attractive climbing plant with heart-shaped inexperienced leaves mottled with shades of inexperienced and silver, says Hancock. “As a result of it grows, the leaves get bigger, together with to the affect it brings your own home. No matter its elegant appears to be, it’s a reasonably forgiving unusual plant, so that you presumably can get pleasure from it whether or not or not you’re an skilled plant mum or dad or just starting out,” he says.
- Dimension: 6 toes prolonged x 3 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant to medium indirect daylight; well-draining potting soil; water when the best half of the soil is dry to the contact
Pothos Neon Pleasure
Pothos Neon Pleasure (Epipremnum aureum ‘Neon Pleasure’) is an lovable pothos choice that could be onerous to go looking out. It reveals off small, heart-shaped leaves in a vivid neon-yellow shade. “Each leaf is delicately and irregularly edged in darkish inexperienced, making a stunning distinction,” says Hancock. “It’s slower rising than totally different pothos varieties and with the smaller leaves, it makes a wonderful choice for tighter areas.”
- Dimension: 6 toes prolonged x 3 toes enormous
- Care requirements: Vibrant to medium indirect daylight; well-draining potting soil; water when the best half of the soil is dry to the contact