Ask Us: Favorite Houseplants

Nick Orchids

Nick is our resident expert on roses, but he also loves blooming houseplants. He appreciate  orchids because they’re an easy plant to care for. Nick explained “I like the houseplants that thrive on neglect . . . for example, I have an orchid that I cut back last year and mostly left alone, but it already has two new growth points!”

Desirae citrus

Desirae is proud of the Meyer lemon tree she has growing at home. Why? She said “I enjoy the fruits of my labor. Literally!” Citrus plants can be grown indoors year round and produce Meyer lemons, limes, oranges, or even grapefruit. There’s nothing as delicious as home grown food!

Mariah Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’

Mariah had a hard time choosing her favorite houseplant, because our greenhouse is full of wonderful options to choose from. She finally decided on Ficus Elastica ‘Ruby’, AKA the Ruby rubber tree. Her reasoning was simple – “it’s pink!” The ruby rubber tree adds a pop of unexpected color to any houseplant arrangement, and it’s easy to care for too.

Melissa Sansevieria laurentii

Melissa chose Sansevieria laurentii because they’re the best choice for low light spaces. Her advice to achieve that ‘jungle’ aesthetic is to fill your home with snake plants, which are super affordable and require almost no maintenance. She said “my indoor jungle is filled with snake plants so it doesn’t require frequent watering and looks great all the time!”

Naomi african violets

African violets have a special meaning to Naomi, who has been gifting them to her mother for years. She said “I grew up with African violets in the house and we still have some of them.” With the right care, African violets can thrive for decades and bloom almost continuously. They’re available in a wide variety of colors; Naomi’s personal favorite is a variety with deep purple and white blooms.

Sara whale fin sansevieria 

Sara cares for an impressive collection of snake plants in her home – over 100 varieties! Above all, her favorite is the whale fin sansevieria for its unique shape and coloring. On snake plants, Sara said “there’s a ton of variety in shapes, colors, sizes . . . I want to collect them all.” 

Sam heartleaf philodendron

Heartleaf philodendron is a classic houseplant for a reason. Like similar vining plants, it’s easy to care for and makes a big statement. Sam especially appreciates that they’re forgiving of neglect – perfect for the first time houseplant caretaker! Heartleaf philodendron are simple to propagate by cuttings so one plant can multiply quickly.

Ally Philodendron Birkin

Ally had a difficult time choosing her favorite houseplant and used one of her favorite phrases, “my favorite plant is the one right in front of me!” Ultimately, she decided on the Philodendron Birkin for its unique striped variegation. She loves watching the new foliage emerge on her Birkin at home because no two leaves are alike.

Bambi Hoya Publicalyx

“It’s the only plant I’ve been able to keep alive for ten years!” Despite multiple attacks from her cats at home, Bambi’s Hoya Publicalyx is still going strong. She bought her plant in a tiny two inch pot and now it’s growing in a large hanging basket. Hoya don’t demand frequent watering and they produce beautiful fragrant blooms.

Sam Ficus Audrey

Sam chose the Ficus Audrey as his favorite houseplant for its textured foliage and branching growth habit. New leaves have a felt texture but the mature foliage is glossy. White stems and veining add to Audrey’s sleek look. Like many Ficus, Ficus Audrey thrives in bright lighting and requires diligent watering so it’s considered an intermediate care houseplant.