Ctenanthe species (pronounced ten-AN-thee), Never Never Plants, or Bamburantas are lovely members of the Prayer Plant family, native to Brazil. Like all Prayer Plants, they raise their leaves at night like praying hands and lower them during the day in a fascinating process called nyctinasty. My Ctenanthe setosa is young, so it’s only about 8″ … Read more
Croton varieties flaunt their vivid yellows, oranges, and reds in an array of leaf shapes. My Gold Dust Croton (Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gold Dust’) is a speckled variety that brightens up my office windowsill with a pop of color. This fun plant displays random yellow spots on its dark green, ovate leaves as if yellow paint … Read more
I have many favorites in my houseplant collection, but my pink-striped Lilac Tradescantia tops the list. It’s lovely to look at and one of the easiest plants to care for, making it an excellent choice for beginning and seasoned gardeners alike. Lilac is a small-leaved, trailing Tradescantia that grows 6 to 8 inches high and … Read more
Moon Valley Pilea is an eye-catching little houseplant, also known as Moon Valley Friendship Plant or Artillery Plant (Pilea mollis ‘Moon Valley’). It’s a member of the Nettle family, but don’t worry, it doesn’t sting like its cousins and is non-toxic and pet-friendly. Pilea mollis ‘Moon Valley’ is often sold as Pilea involucrata ‘Moon Valley,’ … Read more
I did a double-take the first time I saw a Purple Passion Vine. On closer inspection, I noticed that the dark green leaves were covered in tiny purple hairs that shimmered in the sun. This fascinating native of the Indonesian island of Java grows upright in its native habitat. The cultivar ‘Purple Passion,’ though, is … Read more
The popular Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) and its beautiful variegated cultivars are my favorite houseplants. I received my first Peperomia when I was ten and have loved them ever since. They’re perfect houseplants – attractive, easy to care for, adaptable to most household environments, and pet-friendly. Peperomias are native to Florida, Mexico, and islands … Read more
When Venus Flytraps were newly discovered in North and South Carolina in the 1700s, people were in awe of their carnivorous habit and snap-trap jaws. There was excited correspondence across the Atlantic, and they were first named Dionaea muscipula (Aphrodite’s Mousetrap) by John Ellis, a British naturalist. Venus Flytraps made quite an impression on the … Read more
Venus Flytraps are famous for their ability to catch insects and spiders with their amazingly sophisticated “snap-trap” jaws. These Carolina natives make fascinating houseplants that are a source of fun and interest for the whole family, and part of Flytrap care is knowing what and how to feed them. Like all green plants, Venus Flytraps … Read more
Carnivorous Sundews sparkle in the sun and wait for their prey to get caught in the glistening drops of sticky glue covering the leaves on tiny stalks. These fascinating plants are the most diverse of the carnivorous flora, growing in acidic, low-nitrogen fens and bogs on every continent except Antarctica. There are nearly 200 types … Read more
In 2005, Venus Flytraps became the state carnivorous plant of North Carolina. These fascinating plants that eat exploring insects are hardy perennials native to the coastal plains of North and South Carolina. The poor soils and acidic bogs fed by underground streams in these two states make them perfect hosts for the Flytraps. Interestingly, 36 … Read more
