20 Plants Even You Can't Kill
An easy garden.
November/December 2007
By Barbara Pleasant
Tree-Form Plants
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- Parlor palms (Chamae- dorea elegans) and kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) adapt well to moderate indoor light. Slender lady palms (Rhapis excelsa) fit easily in small spaces. Most prefer fairly dry conditions.
- Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) always sheds some leaves in the fall, but plants will lose fewer leaves if they’re kept in one spot. Green-leafed varieties are more vigorous than those with variegated foliage. Prefers full sun but tolerates shade and regular watering.
- Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) can make a terrific formal floor plant when its leaves are kept clean. Many newer varieties have reddish leaves. Prefers partial shade and regular watering.
- Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) fills a large space with its layered lateral branches. It’s a strong style-setter in a cool, well-lit room. Water regularly.
- Red-leaf philodendron (Philodendron erubescens) can be trained to climb a post or board, eventually forming a 5-foot tower of glossy, tropical-looking foliage. Prefers light shade and regular watering.
Plants for Entryways
- Sansevieria (Sansevieria trifasciata), is also known as snake plant and mother-in-law’s tongue. Tall varieties grow to 2 feet, and there are dwarf varieties for small spaces. Prefers full sun and frequent watering.
- Aspidistra (Aspidistra elatior) is called cast-iron plant because of its sturdy constitution. Most varieties are dark green, but some have creamy to white variegation. Prefers moderate to full shade and dry to moist, well-drained soil.
Full-Light Plants
- Calamondin orange (Citrus madurensis) produces fragrant flowers and tart fruits. Providing winter quarters for a ‘Meyer’ lemon helps bring the sun indoors. Prefers moist but well-drained soil.
- Angel-wing begonia (Begonia coccinea) has variegated leaves and loves to bloom, or you can grow nonblooming species with stained-glass leaves such as rex begonias (Begonia rex-cultorum). Water regularly.
- Fancy-leafed zonal geraniums (Pelargonium xhortorum) have been enjoyed in windowsills for hundred of years, and varieties such as ‘Roger’s Delight’ (Pelargonium ‘Roger’s Delight’) produce lovely flowers and showy, scented leaves. Most geraniums prefer fairly dry soil.
- Cacti and succulents excel in high light, though they benefit from a gradual period of adjustment. Showcase small cacti in a dish garden; combine succulents’ exotic colors and forms in larger containers. Most require little water.