Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera deliciosa · Rain forests of Central America and Brazil · Easy care
Despite its imposing, striking appearance, the Swiss cheese plant, named for the distinctive natural holes and splits in the leaves of mature specimens, makes an ideal beginner’s houseplant. Tolerant of various light conditions, though you should avoid full shade, happy with average room temperatures, and not too fussy about watering, it allows for easy success in plant parenting. Younger plants develop mostly full leaves, but as a monstera ages, more and more holes develop on its leaf blades, giving the plant a beautiful patterned look. Its botanical name means delicious monster, probably because in the wild the plant bears a sweet, rich tropical fruit.
Did you know? Most scientists believe the monstera’s holes evolved from competing for sunlight in the rain forest: they let the plant spread farther without spending energy on full leaf blades, and they help it withstand heavy wind and rain. The technical name for hole making in leaves is fenestration, from the Latin word for window, and monsteras aren’t the only plants that do it.
Philodendron
Philodendron · Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela · Easy care
The philodendron is in fact not a single plant but a genus, a classifying category in biology that ranks above species and below family, containing nearly 500 different species. These divide into two basic types: vines and non climbers. Popular examples are the heartleaf philodendron, a vine, and the tree philodendron, which doesn’t climb. What all varieties share is glossy foliage, generally quick growth, an air cleaning reputation, and low maintenance care. They like bright light and humidity, which makes sense given their places of origin, but they won’t sulk if conditions fall short of ideal.
Did you know? Although the philodendron is toxic to our pet companions, in the wild its varieties are an important food source for several species of bats and monkeys. The name combines the Greek words for love, philo, and tree, dendron.
Radiator Plant
Peperomia · Mexico, South America, Caribbean islands · Easy care
Peperomia is also a genus rather than a single species. There are around 1,000 different kinds, many so different from each other in appearance that a family connection seems hard to believe. Some are succulents, storing water in their thick tissue, while others are epiphytes, drawing water mainly from the air, or geophytes, with thick, tuberous roots. All varieties share lush, fleshy foliage, slow growth, and easy maintenance. They prefer a warm and steamy environment but can manage with less, and because they’re slow growing, they can stay in the same relatively small pot for years. Many have highly ornamental leaves, like the dazzling watermelon peperomia.
Did you know? Peperomias belong to the Piperaceae family, making them distant cousins of the black pepper we cook with. That doesn’t make peperomia plants edible, though.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii · Colombia and Venezuela · Easy care
Deep green leaves and white blooms have made the peace lily a classic among indoor plants, and it will brighten a living room that gets little sun. It tolerates low light, though it flowers more in a brighter spot, and it announces thirst by drooping and perking back up after a drink. Let the top of the soil dry before watering, because soggy soil invites root rot.
Did you know? The white petal that looks like a flower is a spathe, a leaf-like bract wrapped around the tiny true flowers on the spike.
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura · Brazil · Intermediate care
Like most tropical houseplants, the prayer plant grew up on a humid rain forest floor, so it wants steady moisture, gentle warmth, and no harsh sun. A north facing window suits it well, and a pebble tray or a bathroom shelf helps with humidity. Dry air crisps the leaf edges, a sure sign this tropical plant wants more of the humidity it grew up in.
Did you know? The leaves fold upward at night like hands in prayer and lower again by morning.
Anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum · Colombia and Ecuador · Intermediate care
Glossy, heart shaped leaves and waxy red spathes keep an anthurium looking tidy for months. It is slow growing and happiest in bright indirect light, with the soil kept lightly moist and never soggy. Rinse the leaves now and then to keep dust off, and move it closer to the window if it stops sending up new spathes.
Did you know? Anthurium means tail flower in Greek, a nod to the spike that rises from the middle of the colorful spathe.
Not all tropical plants on a windowsill started out in the Americas. The bird of paradise comes from South Africa, the fiddle leaf fig from West Africa, and the snake plant, the ZZ plant, and the spider plant are African too. You can meet all of them in the plants of Africa guide.
All the world’s major biomes live in the Americas.
A few of their alumni can live on your bookshelf.
