Whether you need to increase your home plant knowledge , want to describe a tagless , nameless house plant life you unexpectedly inherit , or just impress your friends with your power to compliment their Scindapsus aureus without thrash an optic , being able to identify planetary house plants is a great skill to have .

This complete guide will covers everything you involve to be intimate about identifying house plant , including descriptions of specific features of common house plants , the differences between doppelganger house plants , and review of the good house plant identifying apps .

Common House Plant Descriptions

There are sure plants that everyone seems to have . Because of this , a little household plant noesis can take you a long way when it comes to identifyingcommon house plants .

Below are descriptions of the house plants you are most likely to encounter .

Spider Plant

One of the most popular firm plants of all prison term isspider plantsbecause they are nimble cultivator , easy to take care of , and excellent air purifiers . They have long , grass - like leave that jut out from the plant ’s center , like the leg of a spider stretch out from its soundbox . The foliage are greenish with cream sharpness and produce plantlets at their tips . They prefer indirect light and make excellent hanging flora .

The spider works is among the most adaptable houseplant and very easy to grow . A graceful plant that makes a statement anywhere — from a tabletop to a mantle , or with its adorable arching leaves as a hanging plant life . The Spider Plant is also known for its tremendous air distill quality , making it a healthy addition to your home as well .

Get the Price !

An image of sweet peas

English Ivy

You definitely have seen English ivy hanging around before , this elegant works add romanticist vibe to the way it lodge in with its gorgeous cascade of tendrils . Those tendrils can reach up to 100 foot in duration due to English Ivy ’s prolific grow potentiality . The leaves are a dark green color with a slick , waxy appearance , and palmate veins . They run to have a centre - shaped base and 3 or 5 lobes . dark-green - white-livered flower can grow on English ivy in the fall , finally deform into berries with a blackish color .

Live Variegated Ivy in 6-Inch Grow Pot

This 6 - inch growpot come with a good for you , amply stock-still variegated English ivy . Proper concern of a variegated common ivy requires that you come out the ivy plant in indirect or filter out bright sunshine . Variegated ivy leaves will burn off if localize in direct sun . Variegated ivy will do best on a window sill behind a sheer pall .

Prayer Plant

These dramatic household flora are known for their intricate leafage rule and nighttime “ prayer ” ritual , which require the leaves of the industrial plant lento rising and fold up in a motion that resemble script coming together in prayer . The leaves amount in different coloration but most commonly have cerise vena , a dark immature color , and a idle green “ costa ” around the primal vein . The leaves are large and oval - shaped and stretch out on long stems from the industrial plant ’s center . Preferring warm conditions , but not too much verbatim sun , these plants are normally position near windows .

The Maranta Red Prayer Plant has soft blue immature leaves with feathered , painterly - like centers of light green and red vein . The coloured foliage and dumb increment make this a perfect flora for window sill , mantles , or shelves that need a splattering of colouring .

Weeping Fig

You will be weeping with joy if you ever encounter a tears fig ; these common planetary house flora are beautiful , with soft grey trunks and sheeny immature foliage . The tree diagram ’s leaves are ellipse - shaped , lustrous fleeceable , and turn out from the top of the trunk , taper downwards . Some varieties have leaves with cream - colour on their edge while some even have braided automobile trunk . This is an adaptable , perdurable industrial plant that need minimal care and passable sunlight .

Wintergreen Weeping Fig Tree in 8-Inch Pot

The Wintergreen Weeping Fig is a new presentation from Europe . The tree thrives in low light , which is strange for a Weeping Fig . Keep evenly moist , not smashed or dry and trim as demand .

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The fiddle leaf fig tree is a “ Libyan Fighting Group ” deal- it ’s an incredible indoor plant that has lately develop in popularity to the extent that baby’s room have worry keep them in livestock . It ’s no wonder why , with it ’s big , dark - unripe leaves that have an unusual violin shape , this tree is a show showstopper . The leaves grow out from the tree ’s central trunk , which can originate to be quite tall if you rent it . They are fairly easygoing to grow and require indirect sunshine to flourish .

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is famous for its broad , vibrant dark-green farewell with prominent veining . It prefers a stable surroundings and can be quicksilver when temps waver . Keep it in promising Christ Within , and water about once every 1 - 2 week .

ZZ Plant

These perdurable indoor plants have grown in popularity because they are perfect for individuals with browned thumbs- to belt down them you quite literally have to try out to and they STILL might live . They have overweight , ellipse - shaped leave of absence , that are drear - green and lustrous . The leaves are small and get in pairs in row on the industrial plant ’s brownish , short - green , wand - shaped stems . Their waxy - sheen and power to grow with minimal care and only fluorescent lighting often make people mistake them for fake . Is there a mode to identify phony ZZ ’s plant from real ones ? utterly not , unless you design on trim back open some leaves .

The ZZ floor flora ’s lush , lustrous - gullible leaves sick a chill vibe that reminds you to stop and take a deep , calming breath . Is it normal to care a plant more than the great unwashed ? ( demand for a ally ) . Plant Perk : Thrives on neglect so you’re able to respire slowly .

Nerve Plant

The thing that stands out about nerve plant is there multi - colored nervure . bet on the variety , the vein might be bright blanched , pinkish , or red , stand out against the drear green color of the leaves . The leaves are shaped like jigaboo and attached to furred , light green stem . Nerve plant do not develop to be very tall , but the intricate pattern on their leaf makes them stand out . If they are grown indoors , mettle plants tend not to flower , but when they do their flowers resemble reddish - whitish spiked , which tend to be shadow by the nerve plant ’s incredible foliage . These hardy , interesting plants make unbelievable house plants .

Pink Nerve Plant in 2.5-Inch Pot

The Nerve Plant is an easy to grow theatre plant require only smart , collateral light . It also maturate well in terrariums . Keep the soil moist … but never boggy . Feed monthly if the plant is actively spring up … bi - monthly when rest . shave as needed .

Succulents

You perfectly acknowledge someone withsucculents , if you do n’t already have one yourself . There are over 60 succulent plant families , and over 10,000 succulent species . Because of this , succulents can descend in all shapes , gloss , and sizing , but typically as house plants tend to be notably small and have fleshy leave of absence . If it ’s a small , weird - count plant in a trendy , diminutive pot , it ’s credibly a succulent .

This adorable trio of assorted succulent require bright light , but little else . Petite in size of it , they make a great desk addition to your rest home government agency so you may really settle into your work from home routine . And they come handpotted in your alternative of our mini 2.5 - column inch planter , so you wo n’t call for to get your hired hand or workspace unsportsmanlike to savor them .

Lucky Bamboo

Consider yourself lucky if you see one of these ! With their interesting styling , these plants are living artistry . The stem tend to be erect , straining , or bent into optic - hitch design . They have medium - green stalk and thin , surfboard - shaped folio that jut out of the top of the bamboo . These plants are passing easy to care for and riotous growers . Often , they are grown in shallow bay window full of small pebble .

Mini in sizing but max on overconfident vim , prosperity and portion … it ’s gentle to see why this bamboo is great for indue . Its sizing is made for # desklife ! Plant Perk : grant to feng shui principles , lucky bamboo will get confirming vim into a home , office or wherever it ’s set .

Orchids

Orchids are excellent flowers for growing inside , with fragile , butterfly stroke - shaped petals that come in a variety of color , rate from vivacious pink to a peaceful white to multi - colors . grow on long stalks that are often concur up by think wager , these delicate flowers are more long-wearing than they look . They can last for months indoors , requiring picayune charge , and even being capable to abide some lapse in watering .

Often called the beginner orchid or ‘ moth orchid ’ , the pop pet - well-disposed Phalaenopsis orchidaceous plant is one of the easiest varieties of orchids to grow as a houseplant . Indoors , it will typically bloom about once a year , for up to three month .

Snake Plant

It ’s fairly obvious why the bowstring hemp was given its mutual name , with its fatheaded , long leaves that stand upright like a snake equilibrize on its tail . The leaf have a striped light green and dark unripened pattern , and some varieties even have a yellow or clean color on the leave ' edge . The snake in the grass plant has no stems , no branch , and no efflorescence . Its compact and controlled growth is what makes it such an excellent houseplant .

Sansevieria Lauren has stiff , good , brand - like yellow farewell . Its architectural nature make it a natural pick for modern and present-day interior designs .

Peace Lily

This stunning house industrial plant contribute rooms an air of elegance and serenity with dark-skinned unripened leave of absence and perfect , ashen flowers . The peace lily ’s flowers have smart yellow centers cast by white flower petal that are the shape of a fire . The dark green folio are large and ridged , making this a gorgeous plant when it ’s in flower and when it ’s not . Peace lily ’s in verbatim sun will bloom , while in indirect sunlight they just add together tasteful verdure to a elbow room , actively filtering out aviation pollutants .

The Peace Lily industrial plant is as graceful as it is useful … It help purify the breeze while its white bract tot up just the right touch of simple beauty & positive energy to a space ! Plant Perk : The more soil surface country , the considerably this plant life is at get toxins and purifying the zephyr . So , keep those low leaves trimmed !

Red Aglaonema

More pink than red , the vibrant leaves of this industrial plant are eye - catching and show - fillet . The glossy light green leaves have pinkish accents on the base and on their edges , with the garden pink in some cases overshadowing the leaf , and sometimes remaining at bay letting the unaccented green refulgency . The leaves are reverse heart - mold and glossy . Easy to handle for , not postulate direct sunshine , and having comparatively verify growth , Red Aglaonema makes a great mansion plant .

A showstopping beauty with vibrant green , pink , and red foliage – the easy - going Aglaonema only wait difficult to care for . This low maintenance houseplant will append a soda of colouring to any interior quad , but to keep its coloring sheer , site your Aglaonema in bright to medium indirect light indoors .

Plant Doppelgangers

While the plant descriptions above should help you key out most mutual family plant life , there are some that can be tricky to name , not because they lack middle - catching features , but rather because they have exchangeable features to other theatre plants .

Below are the similarities and difference of opinion between some dopple - greenery !

Pothos vs. Philodendron

Harvesting sage from the herb garden

These plant search so similar that not only do homeowner grow them for years without know their right individuality , they are also sometimes mislabeled by retailers .

No , they are n’t different variety of the same plant , although they do come from the same plant family , Araceae . However , philodendrons are in the genus Philodendron , and golden pothos are in the genus Epipremnum .

It is undeniable , these two plants look VERY similar . Both of them have heart - shaped , undimmed green leaves , that get on vine and run to trail or climb . They both develop to be around the same sizing . They are also both downcast - maintenance and make excellent house plants . In other words , unless you know what to look for , it ’s likely you will use their names interchangeably .

The three sisters growing in a garden

Philodendron leaves tend to be a scrap wider while pothos leaves are thicker and calendered . Of of course , unless you are looking at the plant side - by - side it can be hard to observe these difference . Try actually feel the leaves . Philodendron leave feel velvety while golden pothos leaves have some texture . Pothos also have solitary aeriform beginning while Philodendrons have bunch aerial antecedent .

Both the Marble Green Pothos and Philodendron Green are quick growing , yet downcast upkeep , train plants that eventually cascade their way down the sides of their planters . They ’ll turn that shelf in your bedroom or office into a tropical oasis in no metre .

Dracaena vs. Bromeliads

While these plants have fewer law of similarity than Pothos and Philodendron , they still are often mislabeled and discombobulate by people which can be problematic because they do have some unlike care demand .

Both plant have similar long leaves that are bright fleeceable with white or lighter edges . The leaves jut out from the plant ’s center giving them a bush - like visual aspect . Because of this , without flowers they can be super hard to order apart .

Bromeliad Pineapple is a unequaled , beautiful works that will develop an edible ananas yield . This stunning plant will add a tropical stir to any infinite that will surely spark a conversation . Plus , when the yield is full grown and advanced , you’re able to eat it !

Article image

The biggest remainder between bromeliad and dracaena plant is that bromeliads tend to grow a gravid , brilliant peak right in the midriff of their leafage while bromeliad be given to mature a stem with small white blossom when they actually blossom . Because of this , when the plant are flower you should have no trouble determining which is which .

This Dracaena Marginata variety show is tall with an open braid weave consist of 4 canes or stems . Its thin , green leaves ring in cherry or pink on top of slender stems make a delicate , slight abstractionist silhouette .

Plant ID Apps

If you learn this entire guide and thought , “ But this is so much to remember ! ” fear not , as always technology is here to make the task easy .

Consider getting a works identifying app on your wandering machine !

PlantSnap

you may easily identify all kinds of industrial plant , not just business firm plants , with PlantSnap . There are over 600,000 + plant varieties in the app ’s database , so it can identify 90 % of all acknowledge plant and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree species . Of course , this app is n’t unfailing , it does have bother with some plant it should n’t , but overall you will be slaked with it .

you could start out with the costless version but you eventually have to upgrade to the premium version . If you are the sort of person who encounters a lot of plants you desire to learn facts about on a daily basis , this is a great app for you .

Picture This

flick This has over 30,000,000 drug user and a database with over 10,000 plants . They have information on flush , tree , succulents , cacti ’s , fruit , vegetables , you name it , they probably have it .

Picture This is all about being a quick and easy platform to use to read about plants , with an intuitive set - up and deep and detailed substance on the plants you shoot scene of .

They include playfulness facts about the plant , beautiful motion-picture show of the plants from around the humans , and plant care tips .

Buy Spider Plant at Bloomscape

The only downside of Picture This is that it ’s only your first 3 designation that are free , after that you have to pay for the app to get at the rest . Of course , if you recall you will use it often , this app is totally deserving that terms .

PlantNet

PlantNet has over 1 million user which is nifty because what really makes this app shine is its interactive component . Users can take pictures of plants and trees and then the app identifies them based on their fully stocked database , what part of the plant life you took a video of , and your geographical emplacement .

Like the other two apps , this unconscious process does n’t always forge out perfectly but if the app is unable to place the plant you’re able to require other substance abuser of the app to help you distinguish it .

The double recognition on PlantNet is not as precise as Picture This but the app is completely free , so if you are just experimenting to see if a plant recognition app is something you would employ , then this is a great one to start out with .

Get English Ivy at Amazon

Conclusion

Now you know everything and have the tools to successfully discover theater plants wherever you go ! Have fun shanghai your friend with your industrial plant art and never be left in the dark about what care a plant requires again .

I trust you found this article helpful ! If you did , be sure to deal it , and gloss below with any plant identifying questions !

Buy Prayer Plant at Bloomscape

Get Weeping Fig at Amazon

Buy Prayer Plant at TheSill.com

Buy ZZ Floor Plant at Plants.com

Get Pink Nerve Plant at Amazon

Buy ZZ Floor Plant at TheSillcom

Buy Lucky Bamboo at Plants.com

Buy Purple Orchid at TheSill.com

Buy Sansevieria Lauren at Bloomscape

Buy Peace Lily at Plants.com

Buy Red Aglaonema at TheSill.com

foliage closeup of variegated philodendron cultivar brasil brazil

Buy Ultimate Shelfie Set at TheSill.com

Buy Bromeliad Pineapple at Bloomscape

Buy Dracaena Marginata at Bloomscape

A plant expert at your fingertips

PictureThis: Identify Plant, Flower, Weed and More

PlantNet Plant Identification