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