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Houseplant Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia of popular houseplants with care guides, traits, and placement tips.

Showing 9 of 134 species

Calathea roseopicta

Calathea roseopicta

Goeppertia roseopicta

Advanced

Beautiful Calathea with dark green leaves featuring pink margins and patterns. Many cultivars like 'Dottie' and 'Medallion'. Folds leaves at night in nyctinastic movement.

AdvancedCalatheaPink

Crown Staghorn Fern (Platycerium coronarium)

Platycerium coronarium

Advanced

A staghorn fern whose shield fronds rise into finger-like lobes forming a crown-shaped basket, with long, narrow fertile fronds hanging like a net. Spores form on ear-like, semicircular special lobes.

Staghorn fernSpeciesLarge species

Giant Staghorn Fern (Platycerium grande)

Platycerium grande

Advanced

A giant staghorn fern endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. It closely resembles P. superbum but carries two equal spore patches on each divided lobe of the fertile frond.

Staghorn fernLarge speciesSpecies

King Anthurium

Anthurium veitchii

Advanced

The 'King Anthurium', with long pendent leaves 50-90 cm long, ridged by numerous parallel lateral veins.

AnthuriumKing AnthuriumLong leaves

Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum

Advanced

Delicate small leaves swaying in breeze are beautiful. This fern loves humidity and needs attentive care.

FernDelicateHigh humidity needed

Queen Anthurium

Anthurium warocqueanum

Advanced

The 'Queen Anthurium', with long velvety leaves hanging to around a metre, dark green with silvery-white veins. It creeps over trees in Colombian rainforest. It is known as a difficult plant.

AnthuriumQueen AnthuriumVelvet leaves
Queen Staghorn Fern (Platycerium wandae)© Honymand / Public domain

Queen Staghorn Fern (Platycerium wandae)

Platycerium wandae

Advanced

A New Guinea species regarded as the largest staghorn fern. Its upright shield fronds form a lobed basket, and frilly outgrowths appear around the growing bud.

Staghorn fernGiant speciesSpecies

Ridley's Staghorn Fern

Platycerium ridleyi

Advanced

A staghorn fern whose ribbed shield fronds overlap like a rounded shell around the base, with antler-like fertile fronds standing upright above. Spores form on small, spoon-shaped special lobes.

Staghorn fernSpeciesEpiphytic fern
Stromanthe Triostar

Stromanthe Triostar

Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar'

Advanced

Stunning tricolor foliage in white, pink, and green. Undersides are vivid magenta-pink. Close relative of Calathea — humidity management is key to success.

AdvancedColorfulHigh humidity

Houseplant FAQ

How much do houseplants cost?
Common Pothos and small Monstera cost 500-3,000 yen, variegated Monstera 10,000-100,000+ yen, and rare Philodendrons can reach tens to hundreds of thousands of yen.
Can beginners grow houseplants?
Pothos, Sansevieria, and Pachira are shade-tolerant and hardy, making them easy for beginners. Once you learn the watering schedule, they're hard to kill and great for indoor enjoyment.
What should I check when buying houseplants?
Check for well-established roots, leaves free of disease spots or pests, and no excessive stretching. After purchase, avoid sudden environment changes and acclimate gradually.
Why do houseplants die?
Root rot from overwatering is the most common cause. Water only when the soil surface is dry. Insufficient light is the next most common issue, so ensure proper brightness for your variety.
How long do houseplants live?
With proper care, houseplants can thrive for decades. Monstera and rubber plants commonly live for many decades, and you can propagate them through cuttings and division.