Field Guide
Discover
917 species across 145 genera — plus learning guides and the growers powering the wiki.
nepenthes
Tropical pitcher plants
Old World pitcher plants from Southeast Asia. Elaborate pitfall traps and incredible highland diversity.
drosera
Sundews
Globally distributed sticky-trap carnivores. From beginner-proof Cape sundew to tricky petiolaris-complex tropicals.
utricularia
Bladderworts
Microscopic suction-trap carnivores that punch above their weight with spectacular orchid-like flowers.
pinguicula
Butterworts
Flat sticky rosettes with showy flowers. Mexican succulents are easy windowsill plants; temperates need dormancy.
heliamphora
Sun pitchers
Endemic to the Venezuelan tepuis. Cool-growing highland carnivores with a prehistoric feel.
brocchinia
Carnivorous bromeliad
Tank bromeliad from the Guiana Highlands that drowns prey in its waxy, acidic leaf rosette.
catopsis
Powdery strap airplant
A carnivorous epiphytic bromeliad with UV-reflective tank traps.
sarracenia
North American pitcher plants
Tall trumpet-shaped pitchers from eastern North American bogs. Hardy outdoor garden plants with winter dormancy.
alocasia
Elephant ears
Dramatic arrow-shaped leaves on striking stems. Architectural houseplants that go dormant if stressed.
genlisea
Corkscrew plants
Underground eel-trap carnivores. Known for the tiniest known genome of any flowering plant.
calathea
Calatheas
Striking patterned foliage that folds up at night. Beautiful but humidity-demanding divas.
philodendron
Philodendrons
Massive genus of trailing and climbing aroids. From bulletproof heartleaf to collector velvet-leaf species.
ficus
Figs
From the dramatic fiddle leaf fig to the bulletproof rubber plant. Statement houseplants of every size.
anthurium
Anthuriums
Glossy heart-shaped spathes or velvety collector foliage. One of the largest aroid genera.
citrus
Citrus trees
Fragrant blossoms and edible fruit on compact evergreen trees. Lemons, limes, oranges, and more.
aglaonema
Chinese evergreens
Slow-growing, patterned foliage plants. Unbeatable low-light tolerance makes them ideal for offices.
sansevieria
Plant genus.
dracaena
Plant genus.
peperomia
Peperomias
Compact, glossy-leafed plants that thrive on desks and shelves. Nearly pest-free and easy to care for.
podocarpus
Plant genus.
asparagus
Plant genus.
byblis
Rainbow plants
Sticky-glandular Australian annuals and perennials. Named for the iridescence of their dew in sunlight.
phalaenopsis
Moth orchids
The most popular houseplant orchids. Long-lasting sprays of flat-faced flowers in every color imaginable.
epipremnum
Pothos
The virtually unkillable trailing houseplant. Thrives in nearly any indoor condition.
pilea
Chinese money plant
Round coin-shaped leaves on slender stems. Produces abundant pups — the friendship plant.
colocasia
Taro
Giant-leafed tropical aroids grown as ornamentals and food crops. Dramatic landscape plants.
asplenium
Plant genus.
dendrobium
Dendrobiums
Hugely diverse genus of cane-forming orchids from Asia and Australasia. Over 1,800 species.
begonia
Begonias
Polka dots, angel wings, and spiraling leaves. A massive genus of ornamental foliage and flowers.
chlorophytum
Plant genus.
portulaca
Plant genus.
monstera
Swiss cheese plants
Iconic climbing aroids with fenestrated leaves. The most recognizable houseplant genus in the world.
cymbidium
Boat orchids
Cool-growing orchids with arching sprays of waxy flowers. Cultivated in Asia for over a thousand years.
zamioculcas
ZZ plant
The ultimate set-and-forget houseplant. Thick waxy leaves, drought-tolerant, thrives on neglect.
syngonium
Arrowhead vines
Versatile trailing aroids with arrow-shaped leaves that become lobed with age. Many color varieties.
serissa
Plant genus.
sedum
Stonecrops
Trailing and ground-cover succulents with plump, colorful leaves. Easy growers and prolific propagators.
murraya
Plant genus.
tradescantia
Inch plants
Fast-growing trailers with shimmering purple and silver stripes. Root in water in days.
oncidium
Dancing lady orchids
Sprays of small yellow flowers that dance in the breeze. Easy-growing and frequently fragrant.
roridula
Fly bush
Protocarnivorous South African shrubs that share prey with mutualistic assassin bugs.
dischidia
Plant genus.
cattleya
Corsage orchids
The classic corsage orchid — large, fragrant, showy blooms. Cornerstone of orchid hybridization.
crassula
Jade plants
Woody succulent shrubs that develop a bonsai-like form over decades. Symbols of good luck.
pachira
Plant genus.
ludisia
Jewel orchids
Grown for stunning velvety foliage with sparkling veins, not the flowers. Perfect terrarium orchids.
scindapsus
Satin pothos
Trailing aroids with silvery-spotted matte leaves and a satin sheen. Slightly fussier cousins of pothos.
haworthia
Haworthias
Small, slow-growing succulents with distinctive white bands or translucent windows. Great for low light.
schlumbergera
Christmas cacti
Jungle epiphytes that bloom around the holidays. Nothing like desert cacti — they love humidity and shade.
adiantum
Maidenhair ferns
Delicate fan-shaped leaflets on wiry black stems. Beautiful but notoriously demanding — needs constant moisture.
plectranthus
Plant genus.
echeveria
Echeverias
Compact rosette succulents in pastels of blue, pink, and green. The quintessential succulent genus.
kalanchoe
Kalanchoes
Compact flowering succulents with clusters of long-lasting blooms. The most popular flowering succulent.
paphiopedilum
Slipper orchids
Terrestrial orchids with a distinctive pouch-shaped lip. Slow-growing collector favorites.
spathiphyllum
Peace lilies
Elegant white spathes above dark foliage. Droops visibly when thirsty — the self-watering reminder plant.
nephrolepis
Boston ferns
Classic arching ferns with long graceful fronds. The quintessential hanging basket and porch plant.
heuchera
Plant genus.
morus
Plant genus.
iresine
Plant genus.
aeonium
Tree aeoniums
Branching succulents with dramatic rosettes atop woody stems. The near-black Zwartkop is a collector icon.
rhipsalis
Mistletoe cacti
Spineless trailing jungle cacti. The only cactus genus native to the Old World. Perfect hanging plants.
opuntia
Prickly pears
Flat-padded cacti found across the Americas. Iconic bunny ears form is a houseplant staple.
hedera
Plant genus.
lycopodiopsida
Plant genus.
hoya
Wax plants
Vining epiphytes with waxy leaves and clusters of fragrant star-shaped flowers. Long-lived and low-maintenance.
guzmania
Plant genus.
strelitzia
Plant genus.
solanum
Plant genus.
brassavola
Lady of the night
Night-fragrant orchids with elegant white-green flowers. Tough, heat-tolerant epiphytes.
selaginella
Plant genus.
callisia
Plant genus.
rhaphidophora
Mini monsteras
Fast-growing climbers with fenestrated leaves. Not true Monsteras but just as charming at a smaller scale.
ulmus
Plant genus.
dieffenbachia
Plant genus.
ferocactus
Barrel cacti
Large barrel-shaped cacti with prominent hooked spines. Slow-growing desert icons.
aloe
Aloes
Thick-leafed succulents famous for their soothing gel. From tiny dwarf species to tree-sized giants.
fortunella
Kumquats
Tiny citrus fruits eaten whole — sweet rind, tart flesh. The most cold-hardy and compact citrus.
codiaeum
Plant genus.
epidendrum
Reed-stem orchids
Vigorous reed-type orchids with vibrant orange-red flower clusters nearly year-round.
dionaea
Venus flytrap
The iconic snap-trap carnivore. Native to a tiny slice of the Carolinas — hundreds of cultivars in trade.
vriesea
Plant genus.
drimiopsis
Plant genus.
radermachera
Plant genus.
triphyophyllum
Part-time liana carnivore
West African rainforest liana that is only carnivorous during a brief juvenile phase.
hydrocotyle
Plant genus.
pelargonium
Plant genus.
ctenanthe
Plant genus.
chamaedorea
Parlor palms
Compact, shade-tolerant palms popular since the Victorian era. Graceful arching fronds in low light.
xanthosoma
Plant genus.
platycerium
Plant genus.
areca
Plant genus.
rhoeo
Plant genus.
astrophytum
Star cacti
Spineless, star-shaped cacti covered in tiny white flecks. Slow-growing collector favorites.
cereus
Column cacti
Tall, columnar cacti with blue-green ribbed stems. Night-blooming with large fragrant white flowers.
lysimachia
Plant genus.
vanda
Vandas
Warm-growing epiphytes with flat, often tessellated flowers. Famous for true blue blooms.
clusia
Plant genus.
mammillaria
Pincushion cacti
Globular cacti with rings of small colorful flowers at the crown. One of the largest and easiest cactus genera.
parodia
Ball cacti
Columnar cacti with soft golden spines and bright yellow flowers. More cold-tolerant than most.
drosophyllum
Portuguese dewy pine
The odd one out — a dry, alkaline-loving carnivore from Iberian and Moroccan scrubland.
pachyphytum
Moonstones
Plump, egg-shaped leaves coated in powdery farina. Chunky pastel rosettes loved by collectors.
cephalotus
Albany pitcher plant
Sole member of its genus. Squat, jewel-like pitchers from a single location in southwest Australia.
tillandsia
Plant genus.
oxalis
Plant genus.
epiphyllum
Plant genus.
echinocactus
Golden barrels
Densely golden-spined spherical cacti. Critically endangered in the wild but extensively propagated.
mentha
Plant genus.
euphorbia
Plant genus.
gardenia
Plant genus.
gymnocalycium
Chin cacti
Small globular cacti. The neon-colored grafted moon cactus is one of the most recognizable cacti in stores.
zanthoxylum
Plant genus.
fittonia
Plant genus.
hypoestes
Plant genus.
rosa
Plant genus.
adenium
Plant genus.
heliconia
Plant genus.
lithops
Living stones
Mimicry plants that look like pebbles. Fascinating but demanding — strict seasonal watering is essential.
passiflora
Passion fruit
Vigorous vines with exotic, intricate flowers and aromatic fruit. Need warmth and a sturdy trellis.
capsicum
Plant genus.
maranta
Prayer plants
Low-growing foliage plants with intricately patterned leaves that fold upward at night.
sempervivum
Hens and chicks
Hardy rosette succulents that form dense mats of offsets. Extremely cold-tolerant, even in snow.
camellia
Plant genus.
aeschynanthus
Plant genus.
saintpaulia
Plant genus.
olea
Plant genus.
caladium
Angel wings
Paper-thin leaves in spectacular pinks, reds, and whites. Tuberous aroids that go dormant in winter.
echinopsis
Easter lily cacti
Night-blooming cacti with spectacular, fragrant flowers often larger than the plant itself.
draco
Plant genus.
fragaria
Plant genus.
hatiora
Easter cacti
Epiphytic jungle cacti with bottle-shaped segments. Relatives of Christmas cacti with similar care.
plumeria
Plant genus.
miltoniopsis
Pansy orchids
Cloud-forest orchids with large, flat, pansy-like flowers. Prefer cool and humid conditions.
pterocarpus
Plant genus.
schefflera
Plant genus.
buxus
Plant genus.
darlingtonia
Cobra lily
Hooded cobra-like pitchers from Pacific Northwest serpentine seeps. Needs cold root runs.
lavandula
Plant genus.
senecio
String succulents
Trailing succulents with bead-like leaves. String of pearls, dolphins, and bananas — dramatic hanging plants.
fuchsia
Plant genus.
dipteracanthus
Plant genus.
salvia
Plant genus.
cojoba
Plant genus.
nematanthus
Plant genus.
anacampseros
Plant genus.
aldrovanda
Waterwheel plant
Rootless free-floating aquatic snap-trap. An aquatic cousin of the Venus flytrap.
Learn
Field notes & getting started
Plain-language guides for new and experienced growers. Suggestions welcome via Settings › Feedback.
Getting started on GreenerThumb
How to track a collection, post a Help-ID, log a wild sighting, and contribute photos to the wiki. A quick tour of the platform.
Read the guide →Carnivorous plants
Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Drosera, Cephalotus, Heliamphora — vocabulary, altitude ranges, and the core concepts every grower should know.
Read the guide →Orchids
Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Cattleya, Vanda — vocabulary, growth habits, and when to water.
Read the guide →Aroids
Monstera, Philodendron, Anthurium, Alocasia — why fenestrations exist and how to keep the rare ones alive.
Read the guide →Succulents & cacti
Echeveria, Haworthia, Opuntia, Mammillaria — built for drought, killed by overwatering. The rules that keep them alive.
Read the guide →