Field Guide

Discover

917 species across 145 genera — plus learning guides and the growers powering the wiki.

Nepenthes rajah
221 species

nepenthes

Tropical pitcher plants

Old World pitcher plants from Southeast Asia. Elaborate pitfall traps and incredible highland diversity.

Drosera regia
170 species

drosera

Sundews

Globally distributed sticky-trap carnivores. From beginner-proof Cape sundew to tricky petiolaris-complex tropicals.

Utricularia sandersonii
157 species

utricularia

Bladderworts

Microscopic suction-trap carnivores that punch above their weight with spectacular orchid-like flowers.

Pinguicula gigantea
41 species

pinguicula

Butterworts

Flat sticky rosettes with showy flowers. Mexican succulents are easy windowsill plants; temperates need dormancy.

Heliamphora minor
23 species

heliamphora

Sun pitchers

Endemic to the Venezuelan tepuis. Cool-growing highland carnivores with a prehistoric feel.

Brocchinia reducta
15 species

brocchinia

Carnivorous bromeliad

Tank bromeliad from the Guiana Highlands that drowns prey in its waxy, acidic leaf rosette.

Catopsis berteroniana
15 species

catopsis

Powdery strap airplant

A carnivorous epiphytic bromeliad with UV-reflective tank traps.

Sarracenia leucophylla
13 species

sarracenia

North American pitcher plants

Tall trumpet-shaped pitchers from eastern North American bogs. Hardy outdoor garden plants with winter dormancy.

Calathea freddy
10 species

calathea

Calatheas

Striking patterned foliage that folds up at night. Beautiful but humidity-demanding divas.

Genlisea violacea
10 species

genlisea

Corkscrew plants

Underground eel-trap carnivores. Known for the tiniest known genome of any flowering plant.

Alocasia melo
10 species

alocasia

Elephant ears

Dramatic arrow-shaped leaves on striking stems. Architectural houseplants that go dormant if stressed.

Philodendron hederaceum
9 species

philodendron

Philodendrons

Massive genus of trailing and climbing aroids. From bulletproof heartleaf to collector velvet-leaf species.

Ficus sylvia
8 species

ficus

Figs

From the dramatic fiddle leaf fig to the bulletproof rubber plant. Statement houseplants of every size.

Anthurium
7 species

anthurium

Anthuriums

Glossy heart-shaped spathes or velvety collector foliage. One of the largest aroid genera.

Aglaonema ruby
7 species

aglaonema

Chinese evergreens

Slow-growing, patterned foliage plants. Unbeatable low-light tolerance makes them ideal for offices.

Citrus aurantiifolia
7 species

citrus

Citrus trees

Fragrant blossoms and edible fruit on compact evergreen trees. Lemons, limes, oranges, and more.

Peperomia argyreia
5 species

peperomia

Peperomias

Compact, glossy-leafed plants that thrive on desks and shelves. Nearly pest-free and easy to care for.

Dracaena reflexa
5 species

dracaena

Plant genus.

Sansevieria moonshine
5 species

sansevieria

Plant genus.

Podocarpus macrophyllus
4 species

podocarpus

Plant genus.

Phalaenopsis schilleriana
4 species

phalaenopsis

Moth orchids

The most popular houseplant orchids. Long-lasting sprays of flat-faced flowers in every color imaginable.

Asparagus fern
4 species

asparagus

Plant genus.

Byblis gigantea
4 species

byblis

Rainbow plants

Sticky-glandular Australian annuals and perennials. Named for the iridescence of their dew in sunlight.

Asplenium nidus
3 species

asplenium

Plant genus.

Pilea
3 species

pilea

Chinese money plant

Round coin-shaped leaves on slender stems. Produces abundant pups — the friendship plant.

Dendrobium nobile
3 species

dendrobium

Dendrobiums

Hugely diverse genus of cane-forming orchids from Asia and Australasia. Over 1,800 species.

Chlorophytum comosum
3 species

chlorophytum

Plant genus.

Begonia
3 species

begonia

Begonias

Polka dots, angel wings, and spiraling leaves. A massive genus of ornamental foliage and flowers.

Portulaca japanese
3 species

portulaca

Plant genus.

Epipremnum aureum
3 species

epipremnum

Pothos

The virtually unkillable trailing houseplant. Thrives in nearly any indoor condition.

Colocasia esculenta
3 species

colocasia

Taro

Giant-leafed tropical aroids grown as ornamentals and food crops. Dramatic landscape plants.

Monstera deliciosa
3 species

monstera

Swiss cheese plants

Iconic climbing aroids with fenestrated leaves. The most recognizable houseplant genus in the world.

Haworthia fasciata
2 species

haworthia

Haworthias

Small, slow-growing succulents with distinctive white bands or translucent windows. Great for low light.

Schlumbergera buckleyi
2 species

schlumbergera

Christmas cacti

Jungle epiphytes that bloom around the holidays. Nothing like desert cacti — they love humidity and shade.

Sedum morganianum
2 species

sedum

Stonecrops

Trailing and ground-cover succulents with plump, colorful leaves. Easy growers and prolific propagators.

Echeveria agavoides
2 species

echeveria

Echeverias

Compact rosette succulents in pastels of blue, pink, and green. The quintessential succulent genus.

Cymbidium lowianum
2 species

cymbidium

Boat orchids

Cool-growing orchids with arching sprays of waxy flowers. Cultivated in Asia for over a thousand years.

Serissa japonica
2 species

serissa

Plant genus.

Kalanchoe
2 species

kalanchoe

Kalanchoes

Compact flowering succulents with clusters of long-lasting blooms. The most popular flowering succulent.

Ludisia discolour
2 species

ludisia

Jewel orchids

Grown for stunning velvety foliage with sparkling veins, not the flowers. Perfect terrarium orchids.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia
2 species

zamioculcas

ZZ plant

The ultimate set-and-forget houseplant. Thick waxy leaves, drought-tolerant, thrives on neglect.

Spathiphyllum
2 species

spathiphyllum

Peace lilies

Elegant white spathes above dark foliage. Droops visibly when thirsty — the self-watering reminder plant.

Pachira aquatica
2 species

pachira

Plant genus.

Oncidium ornithorhynchum
2 species

oncidium

Dancing lady orchids

Sprays of small yellow flowers that dance in the breeze. Easy-growing and frequently fragrant.

Adiantum fragrans
2 species

adiantum

Maidenhair ferns

Delicate fan-shaped leaflets on wiry black stems. Beautiful but notoriously demanding — needs constant moisture.

Crassula ovata
2 species

crassula

Jade plants

Woody succulent shrubs that develop a bonsai-like form over decades. Symbols of good luck.

Tradescantia nanouk
2 species

tradescantia

Inch plants

Fast-growing trailers with shimmering purple and silver stripes. Root in water in days.

Roridula gorgonias
2 species

roridula

Fly bush

Protocarnivorous South African shrubs that share prey with mutualistic assassin bugs.

Dischidia ruscifolia
2 species

dischidia

Plant genus.

Syngonium
2 species

syngonium

Arrowhead vines

Versatile trailing aroids with arrow-shaped leaves that become lobed with age. Many color varieties.

Plectranthus tomentosa
2 species

plectranthus

Plant genus.

Cattleya walkeriana
2 species

cattleya

Corsage orchids

The classic corsage orchid — large, fragrant, showy blooms. Cornerstone of orchid hybridization.

Murraya paniculata
2 species

murraya

Plant genus.

~
2 species

scindapsus

Satin pothos

Trailing aroids with silvery-spotted matte leaves and a satin sheen. Slightly fussier cousins of pothos.

Paphiopedilum insigne
2 species

paphiopedilum

Slipper orchids

Terrestrial orchids with a distinctive pouch-shaped lip. Slow-growing collector favorites.

Heuchera
1 species

heuchera

Plant genus.

Sempervivum tectorum
1 species

sempervivum

Hens and chicks

Hardy rosette succulents that form dense mats of offsets. Extremely cold-tolerant, even in snow.

Tillandsia ionantha
1 species

tillandsia

Plant genus.

Euphorbia acrurensis
1 species

euphorbia

Plant genus.

Ctenanthe burle
1 species

ctenanthe

Plant genus.

Aeschynanthus japhrolepsis
1 species

aeschynanthus

Plant genus.

Darlingtonia californica
1 species

darlingtonia

Cobra lily

Hooded cobra-like pitchers from Pacific Northwest serpentine seeps. Needs cold root runs.

~
1 species

lithops

Living stones

Mimicry plants that look like pebbles. Fascinating but demanding — strict seasonal watering is essential.

Radermachera
1 species

radermachera

Plant genus.

Lavandula
1 species

lavandula

Plant genus.

Strelitzia reginae
1 species

strelitzia

Plant genus.

Saintpaulia
1 species

saintpaulia

Plant genus.

Caladium bicolor
1 species

caladium

Angel wings

Paper-thin leaves in spectacular pinks, reds, and whites. Tuberous aroids that go dormant in winter.

Selaginella
1 species

selaginella

Plant genus.

~
1 species

lycopodiopsida

Plant genus.

Zanthoxylum piperitum
1 species

zanthoxylum

Plant genus.

~
1 species

xanthosoma

Plant genus.

Fortunella margarita
1 species

fortunella

Kumquats

Tiny citrus fruits eaten whole — sweet rind, tart flesh. The most cold-hardy and compact citrus.

Olea europaea
1 species

olea

Plant genus.

Callisia
1 species

callisia

Plant genus.

~
1 species

ferocactus

Barrel cacti

Large barrel-shaped cacti with prominent hooked spines. Slow-growing desert icons.

Brassavola nodosa
1 species

brassavola

Lady of the night

Night-fragrant orchids with elegant white-green flowers. Tough, heat-tolerant epiphytes.

Morus
1 species

morus

Plant genus.

Passiflora edulis
1 species

passiflora

Passion fruit

Vigorous vines with exotic, intricate flowers and aromatic fruit. Need warmth and a sturdy trellis.

Echinocactus grusonii
1 species

echinocactus

Golden barrels

Densely golden-spined spherical cacti. Critically endangered in the wild but extensively propagated.

Anacampseros rufescens
1 species

anacampseros

Plant genus.

~
1 species

dipteracanthus

Plant genus.

Drosophyllum lusitanicum
1 species

drosophyllum

Portuguese dewy pine

The odd one out — a dry, alkaline-loving carnivore from Iberian and Moroccan scrubland.

Solanum lycopersicum
1 species

solanum

Plant genus.

Hydrocotyle vulgaris
1 species

hydrocotyle

Plant genus.

Adenium (Desert Rose)
1 species

adenium

Plant genus.

Parodia leninghausii
1 species

parodia

Ball cacti

Columnar cacti with soft golden spines and bright yellow flowers. More cold-tolerant than most.

~
1 species

vriesea

Plant genus.

Codiaeum croton
1 species

codiaeum

Plant genus.

Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
1 species

gymnocalycium

Chin cacti

Small globular cacti. The neon-colored grafted moon cactus is one of the most recognizable cacti in stores.

Aeonium arboreum
1 species

aeonium

Tree aeoniums

Branching succulents with dramatic rosettes atop woody stems. The near-black Zwartkop is a collector icon.

~
1 species

ulmus

Plant genus.

Draco
1 species

draco

Plant genus.

Salvia rosmarinus
1 species

salvia

Plant genus.

Cereus repandus
1 species

cereus

Column cacti

Tall, columnar cacti with blue-green ribbed stems. Night-blooming with large fragrant white flowers.

Pachyphytum oviferum
1 species

pachyphytum

Moonstones

Plump, egg-shaped leaves coated in powdery farina. Chunky pastel rosettes loved by collectors.

Vanda coerulea
1 species

vanda

Vandas

Warm-growing epiphytes with flat, often tessellated flowers. Famous for true blue blooms.

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
1 species

rhaphidophora

Mini monsteras

Fast-growing climbers with fenestrated leaves. Not true Monsteras but just as charming at a smaller scale.

Rhoeo
1 species

rhoeo

Plant genus.

Maranta leuconeura
1 species

maranta

Prayer plants

Low-growing foliage plants with intricately patterned leaves that fold upward at night.

~
1 species

mentha

Plant genus.

Miltoniopsis vexillaria
1 species

miltoniopsis

Pansy orchids

Cloud-forest orchids with large, flat, pansy-like flowers. Prefer cool and humid conditions.

Hedera helix
1 species

hedera

Plant genus.

Fragaria ananassa
1 species

fragaria

Plant genus.

Dionaea muscipula
1 species

dionaea

Venus flytrap

The iconic snap-trap carnivore. Native to a tiny slice of the Carolinas — hundreds of cultivars in trade.

Dieffenbachia marianne
1 species

dieffenbachia

Plant genus.

Senecio rowleyanus
1 species

senecio

String succulents

Trailing succulents with bead-like leaves. String of pearls, dolphins, and bananas — dramatic hanging plants.

~
1 species

pelargonium

Plant genus.

Hypoestes
1 species

hypoestes

Plant genus.

~
1 species

hoya

Wax plants

Vining epiphytes with waxy leaves and clusters of fragrant star-shaped flowers. Long-lived and low-maintenance.

Aloe vera
1 species

aloe

Aloes

Thick-leafed succulents famous for their soothing gel. From tiny dwarf species to tree-sized giants.

Nematanthus
1 species

nematanthus

Plant genus.

Pterocarpus stain
1 species

pterocarpus

Plant genus.

Cephalotus follicularis
1 species

cephalotus

Albany pitcher plant

Sole member of its genus. Squat, jewel-like pitchers from a single location in southwest Australia.

Areca
1 species

areca

Plant genus.

Hatiora salicornioides
1 species

hatiora

Easter cacti

Epiphytic jungle cacti with bottle-shaped segments. Relatives of Christmas cacti with similar care.

Aldrovanda vesiculosa
1 species

aldrovanda

Waterwheel plant

Rootless free-floating aquatic snap-trap. An aquatic cousin of the Venus flytrap.

Mammillaria hahniana
1 species

mammillaria

Pincushion cacti

Globular cacti with rings of small colorful flowers at the crown. One of the largest and easiest cactus genera.

Opuntia microdasys
1 species

opuntia

Prickly pears

Flat-padded cacti found across the Americas. Iconic bunny ears form is a houseplant staple.

~
1 species

plumeria

Plant genus.

~
1 species

echinopsis

Easter lily cacti

Night-blooming cacti with spectacular, fragrant flowers often larger than the plant itself.

Rosa
1 species

rosa

Plant genus.

Rhipsalis baccifera
1 species

rhipsalis

Mistletoe cacti

Spineless trailing jungle cacti. The only cactus genus native to the Old World. Perfect hanging plants.

Nephrolepis exaltata
1 species

nephrolepis

Boston ferns

Classic arching ferns with long graceful fronds. The quintessential hanging basket and porch plant.

Platycerium bifurcatum
1 species

platycerium

Plant genus.

~
1 species

epiphyllum

Plant genus.

~
1 species

iresine

Plant genus.

Cojoba arborea
1 species

cojoba

Plant genus.

Oxalis spiralis
1 species

oxalis

Plant genus.

~
1 species

chamaedorea

Parlor palms

Compact, shade-tolerant palms popular since the Victorian era. Graceful arching fronds in low light.

Fittonia
1 species

fittonia

Plant genus.

Schefflera
1 species

schefflera

Plant genus.

Capsicum annuum
1 species

capsicum

Plant genus.

Astrophytum myriostigma
1 species

astrophytum

Star cacti

Spineless, star-shaped cacti covered in tiny white flecks. Slow-growing collector favorites.

Guzmania
1 species

guzmania

Plant genus.

Buxus
1 species

buxus

Plant genus.

~
1 species

epidendrum

Reed-stem orchids

Vigorous reed-type orchids with vibrant orange-red flower clusters nearly year-round.

Heliconia
1 species

heliconia

Plant genus.

Drimiopsis kirkii
1 species

drimiopsis

Plant genus.

Lysimachia
1 species

lysimachia

Plant genus.

Gardenia
1 species

gardenia

Plant genus.

~
1 species

fuchsia

Plant genus.

Clusia rosea
1 species

clusia

Plant genus.

Camellia
1 species

camellia

Plant genus.

Triphyophyllum peltatum
1 species

triphyophyllum

Part-time liana carnivore

West African rainforest liana that is only carnivorous during a brief juvenile phase.