Interior Plants – Jr. GGIA Certification

Michael Ferguson

Chinese Evergreenovate leaf shape

green outer edges with silvery white center

often confused with dumbcane

leaves are more linear than dumbcane

1’ to 2’ tall

grows in clumps

Norfolk Island Pine

soft textured leaves

weeping growth habit

can get up to 6’ indoors

needs a bright place indoors

often used as a substitute Christmas tree

Sprengeri Fern

Sometimes called asparagus fern

airy, cloud-like appearance

sharp needle tipped leaves

red berries

often used as a container plant

used as an accent plant

not really a fern - lily family

Schefflera

distinct palmate leaves

umbrella appearance

can be dark green or variegated (striped)

Parlor Palm

Tall graceful appearance

compound, arching fronds

can get 6’ tall

grows in clumps

often gets spider mites

Spider Plant

green and white striped leaves

distinct runners with baby plants at the end.

baby plants have areal roots

confused with variegated liriope (monkey grass)

easy to propagate

grown in hanging baskets

CrotonBrightly colored leaves – red, yellow, red.

Ovate leaf shape

many different varieties

Jade Plantdark green fleshy leaves

green stems

often used as a small indoor plantor bonsai

doesn’t need a lot of water

Dumbcanevery toxic – can cause skin irritation if touched.--can also cause paralysis of vocal cords, swelling of the tongue, and excessive slobbering

oval leaves with white variegation in the center

easy to grow

interesting flower

Dracaenavery common

brown, scaly trunk is often visible with plumes of long, narrow, spiky leaves up top.

leaves vary in shape and size among varieties

Pothos (Devil’s Ivy)tailing, vine-like plant

stems can grow up to 8’ long

most often bought in hanginging baskets

heart-shaped leaves

dark green leaves. Some leaves are green and yellow variegated

Poinsettiapopular plant during the holidays

the brightly colored part or the plants is the bracts (modified leaves), not flowers.

mildly poisonous

small yellow flowers in center

photo-periodic – color changes in response to day length

colors can be red, burgundy, white, pink, or speckled

Weeping Figusually tree-form with exposed bark

white, sticky sap

can grow to be up to 10’ indoors

leaves are green, bark is whitish-gray

trunk is sometimes braided to add ornamental value

easy to bonsai

Broad-leaved Indian Rubber Plantdark, chocolate brown leaves

thick, oval leaves that come to a point on the tip

reddish, pink apexes to stems where new leaves unroll

some varieties can have white and pink variegation on the leaves

white sap used to make latex

easy to grow, can get large

Kalanchoethick, fleshy leaves

leaves often produce baby plants (sometimes called mother of millions)

solid green leaved varieties are more common with a large assortment of flower colors and leaf sizes. Rely on feel to identify

Succulent – stores water in leaves

Prayer Plantgreen, flexible leaves that have symmetrical burgundy spots

grows in clumps

leaves have an unusual characteristic of folding and bending upright in the evening (like hands clasped in prayer)

new leaves unroll

Boston FernCommonly sold in hanging baskets

can be divided – grows in clumps

fronds unfurl from fiddle heads

Peperomiarigid, coarsely textured leaves

candle-like flowers

leaves can be dark green to purpleand heart-shaped

Heartleaf Philodendrondark green, leaves are heart shaped

vine growth habit

confused with Pothos, but there are no variegated varieties of Philodendron

one of the easiest houseplants to grow

Aluminum Plant

Shiny, silver leaves

Superhero shield look

small white flowers

grows only 12” tall

Swedish IvyFuzzy leaves and stems

Lemon scented

Repels mosquitoes

Can be used outside in full sun.

Needs bright light area indoors

Drought tolerant

African Violetvery hairy leaves

round, slightly heart-shaped leaf

grown for flowers – purple, white, pink, or blue

must be watered from underneathwater drops make spots on leaves

grows very short – 6”

Snake Plant3’ – 4’ tall, stiff, upright leaves with dark green and light green stripes

Some varieties have yellow variegationon the leaf edges

sometimes called mother-in-law’s tongue

easy to grow and divide

Gloxiniagreen oval leaves with serrated leaf margins

grown for flower color

flowers are tube shaped andcome in shades of purple, red, blue, and white

often confused with African violeta

Peace Lily FlowerMost common indoor plant

large dark green, oval leaves that come to a point.

Large showy, white flower that looks like a sail on a sailboat with a straight, spiky appendage in the middle

Many different varieties . Some variegated. different flower sizes, but all are white

Arrowhead Nephthytisvariegated arrowhead shaped leaveskind of heart-shaped but more pointed

some varieties can have pink leaves

plants stay small – less than 2’

needs a lot of light but easy to grow

Wandering Jewvine-like, trailing growth habit

small oval leaves

purple leaves with silver stripes. There are some green leaf varieties

grown in hanging baskets or mixed containers

very easy to grow and propagate