High Light

Also known as dracaena trifasciata, sansevieria trifasciata or mother-in-law's tongue, snake plants are native to tropical West Africa. Because they store water in their leaves, they're virtually indestructible. These popular, low-maintenance plants grow slowly and, depending on the variety, can reach anywhere from eight inches to 12 feet with proper care.

Behold the beauty that is Prismacolor™ 'Brandtianum' ( Philodendron brandtianum ), a vining, heart-leaf philodendron whose dark olive-green leaves boast splashy, resplendent silver variegation. A true climber, 'Brandtianum' arrives on its own Climb-itt™ pole, ready to send out aerial roots and ascend; give it bright, indirect light to keep that silver marbling glowing, and let it climb — or train it to spill and trail over the edge of its pot instead.

Meet Color Full® 'Helen Kennedy', a calathea ( Calathea dressleri ) patterned like a chessboard and named for the botanist who first described it. Its large, glossy leaves are laid out in alternating patches of deep and silvery green, an eye-catching checkerboard that flips to reveal a rich burgundy underside. Like other calatheas, 'Helen Kennedy' is a true prayer plant, folding its leaves up at night and opening them again with the light. Give it bright, indirect light, high humidity, and water once the top inch of soil dries, and this collector's gem will settle right into your collection.

Cast in silver and dusted with frost, 'Lunar Mist' ( Begonia ) looks like it caught the moonlight and never let go. Thick, plump leaves are blanketed in a dense, velvety down that catches the light in a ghostly, mineral-silver sheen, while papery sheaths wrap each stem like tiny moonlit cloaks. This compact, semi-succulent begonia is tougher than it looks — give it bright, filtered light and let it dry out well between waterings, and 'Lunar Mist' will keep its frosted glow all year long.

Falling Arrows® 'Pink Splash' ( Syngonium podophyllum ) lives up to its name — every glossy, arrowhead-shaped leaf carries its own splash of pink across rich green, brightening the more light it gets. Give it medium to bright, indirect light to keep the color vivid, and water once the top inch of soil dries out. Left alone it will vine and trail; trim it back to keep the splash compact on a desk or shelf.

Meet 'Udom Sap' ( Dieffenbachia hybrid ), a houseplant that wears its variegation like a badge of honor. Like other Dieffenbachias, it carries broad, oval leaves, and grows into a dense, upright clump of statement foliage patterned in a mix of green and paler tones. Give it bright, indirect light to keep that variegation lively, and keep the soil consistently damp; like other Dieffenbachias, this one dislikes drying out completely. It's toxic if ingested, so keep it well out of reach of pets and kids.

Calathea 'Flamestar' ( Calathea ) lives up to the name, fanning out oval leaves brushed with warm, flame-toned patterning — the kind that earns a Calathea its star billing. Flip a leaf and you'll find a deep purple underside, the quiet contrast behind all that fire up top. Like other prayer plants, 'Flamestar' folds its leaves up at night and opens them again by morning, a small daily performance worth watching. Give it medium to bright, indirect light, evenly damp soil, and the higher humidity it craves, and this Calathea will keep putting on its show.

No two leaves of 'Green Congo Variegata' ( Philodendron hybrid ) marble quite the same way. This self-heading philodendron holds broad, glossy, paddle-like leaves in a tidy upright clump, each one brushed with irregular streaks of creamy white and buttery yellow over a deep green ground — a variegated twist on the ever-popular Green Congo. Give it bright, indirect light out of direct sun to keep that pattern crisp, keep humidity on the higher side, and let the top inch or so of soil dry before watering again for a lush, eye-catching centerpiece.

Descend into the deep with Submerged Relics® 'Black Kanzi' ( Dracaena sp. ), whose deep, midnight-green arching leaves look like they emerged straight from the ocean floor. Each leaf is edged in a thin ribbon of gold, like a treasure salvaged from a sunken galleon, glinting a little brighter every time the light catches it. 'Black Kanzi' grows at a slow, steady pace into an upright, cane-forming houseplant that makes a stunning statement piece for your collection. Give it bright, indirect light, let the top of the soil dry before watering again, and never let it sit in a puddle.

Prismacolor™ 'Silver Sword' ( Philodendron hastatum ) lives up to its name: each elongated leaf gleams in a cool, metallic silvery-gray, catching the light like polished steel. This vining jungle aroid climbs eagerly given the chance — give it a Climb-itt™ pole or a traditional moss pole and it will draw itself upward, leaf after gleaming leaf. Give 'Silver Sword' bright, indirect light, keep the soil consistently damp without staying soggy, and boost the humidity where you can; this one rewards a little extra care with foliage striking enough to steal the show.

Every regal collection needs a showstopper, and 'Princess "Black Rose"' plays the part in leaves instead of petals. This calathea ( Calathea ) earns its name with near-black foliage streaked in a vivid, hot-pink midrib and veining — as if brushed on with a single, deliberate stroke of paint. Like other prayer plants, its foliage folds up at night and unfurls again by day. Give this regal calathea bright, indirect light well out of harsh direct sun (which can fade its dark color), high humidity, and water once the top inch of soil dries, and 'Princess "Black Rose"' will reign over your plant collection.

Behold Beautifall® 'Snowy Stream' ( Epipremnum ), a pothos as cool, crisp and captivating as river rapids in late winter. Its glossy, spade-shaped leaves are streaked with high-contrast swirls, splashes and striations of white and cream across rich green. No two vines are alike: some rush with snowy brightness, while others churn with the deeper greens of the surrounding forest. Give it medium to bright, indirect light, such as an east- or west-facing window, and let it trail or climb. Go with the flow, and enjoy the current.

Meet a variegated Rhaphidophora tetrasperma ( Rhaphidophora tetrasperma ), the climbing aroid many plant lovers know as Philodendron 'Minima'. Its small, split leaves are dusted with fine white speckles, like fresh snow settling on green, a variegation pattern our growers had never seen before. It arrives in a 12cm grow pot inside a white ceramic cachepot. Give it bright, indirect light to keep the white markings crisp, and let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings. As it grows, it sends out aerial roots and will happily climb a pole or trail from a shelf.

Meet a one-of-a-kind Monstera 'Electro Light' ( Monstera deliciosa ), a variegated Monstera whose leaves light up in electric chartreuse with soft green marbling, in a pattern no other plant shares. The plant in the photos is the exact one you will receive, settled in a 17cm grow pot inside a natural jute cachepot. Keep its glow charged with bright, indirect light, such as near an east- or west-facing window, and let the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings. As it matures, its leaves develop the classic Monstera splits, so the show keeps growing.

'Sterling' ( Dieffenbachia hybrid ) lives up to its name, with a streak of silver running through every leaf. This Dieffenbachia's deep green, broad leaves are struck through by a bold white midrib that branches into a fine herringbone of veining — as if brushed with sterling silver leaf. It grows slowly and steadily, eventually reaching 3 to 4 feet tall indoors. Medium to bright indirect light keeps that silver striping crisp; let the top few inches of soil dry out before watering again. Like other Dieffenbachias, best to keep it out of reach of pets and curious kids who might be temped to taste.

Some treasures you have to go looking for. Endless Cascades® Nabawensis ( Hoya nabawensis ) is a species hoya from the forests of Sabah, Borneo, trailing in fine, branching stems hung with small tear-drop leaves — thick, leathery, deep green, and scattered with irregular silver flecks like spray off a wave. Give it bright, indirect light and a chunky mix, and let it dry partway between waterings. In time it may reward your patience with umbels of tiny, downy star-flowers, cream around a yellow crown.

Siesta™ Mint Chocolate™ ( Maranta leuconeura ) earns its name with cool green brushstrokes over each elliptical leaf, joined by rich, cocoa-brown blotches for a dessert-inspired palette that’s strictly a treat for the eyes. Give ‘Mint Chocolate’ medium to bright, indirect light, consistently damp soil, and good humidity, and — like every Maranta in the Siesta™ collection — it will fold up its patterned leaves each night in a ritual known as nyctinasty, drifting off to its own sweet dreams.

Introducing Velvet Tapestry® 'Malayan Gem' ( Episcia cupreata ), a genuine gem woven into our Velvet Tapestry® collection. Fuzzy, velvet-soft leaves glow deep green with coppery veining and hints of pink and purple, edged in warm red-purple margins for extra richness. Left to its own devices, 'Malayan Gem' sends out trailing runners in every direction, so give it room (or a hanging spot) to wander. It thrives in bright, indirect light but tolerates a dimmer spot too, prefers high humidity, and likes to stay evenly hydrated — a terrarium or misty bathroom shelf suits it well.

Something wild is prowling through the understory — meet Velvet Tapestry® 'Pink Panther' ( Episcia cupreata ), a flame violet with a coat as bold as its namesake. Velvety, bronze-to-deep-green leaves are marked with a lighter green pattern down the center of each, like brushstrokes across fur, and under the right conditions it can produce bright pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. As it matures, 'Pink Panther' sends out trailing stolons and will happily cascade from a hanging pot or shelf. Keep it warm, in bright indirect light and evenly damp soil, and water at the soil line — those velvety leaves resent water on their foliage.