August 1996
Working with an indoor garden of lush, tropical houseplants can make us forget the winter cold. Foliage growers are introducing a variety of new plants prized for disease resistance, colorful highlights on the foliage, and improved hardiness. Some of these plants may be a challenge to find. If a certain plant piques your interest, let your local nursery or garden center know, so they can begin identifying suppliers.
Anthurium is not a new plant, but it is not used as widely as deserved. Cultivars of anthurium include 'Lipstick' in pink; 'Mia,' a red variety; 'Trampelino,' also pink; and 'Vesuvio' in red. All four grow quickly, remain compact, and have the distinctive, flat, heart-shaped blooms. 'Purple Viking' blooms are dark purple and continue for eight to ten weeks. This introduction is heat and disease tolerant. The Lady assortment of anthurium includes 'Lady Anne,' with pure-white spathes, and 'Lady Beth,' with pearly pink spathes. Both have dark-green, disease-resistant foliage.
Asplenium antiquum 'Victoria' is a fern that displays wide, glossy fronds with ruffled edges. The form of this fern is quite eye-catching as new leaves are produced from the center of the plant and gracefully arch as they mature.
'Saber' ficus has long (about 4 inches), lance-shaped, dark-green leaves. This ficus, unlike most others, tolerates a wide range of light, temperature, and watering conditions without loosing its leaves. 'Saber' grows in a tree form that is more compact than most ficus trees.
A plant with a very tropical appearance is Pandanus baptistii. It features graceful, arching, lance-shaped leaves that spiral symmetrically around the main stem. Medium light levels are required.
Plants that thrive in low to medium light are hard to come by, but 'Camry' philodendron is perfect for such an environment. The plant has a compact, trailing habit, and new leaves emerge in a deep, red-bronze color, maturing to a dark, glossy green. An unusually colorful plant, Breynia disticha roseo-picta has burgundy-colored stems and oval-shaped, emerald-green leaves with variegations of burgundy, pink, and white. This house plant grows to 3 feet tall and needs bright light.
(Originally published as "Foliage Introductions for 1993," by Ellen S. Bennett, Horticulture Extension Technician, Department of Horticulture, Virginia Tech, in The Virginia Gardener Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 1.)