Plants that Last a Lifetime…or Longer
When we think of “heirlooms,” old jewelry, books, and antique furniture may come to mind. In the gardening world, heirloom tomatoes come from seeds that have been genetically preserved for many years. But what if, in the realm of houseplants, an heirloom is a bit of a combination of both? Houseplants have a long and rich history and the way we keep and share plants has changed through the years. In today’s blog, we’re exploring the traditions and stories of long-living plants that have been passed down through generations.
The first documentation of indoor potted plants can be found in ancient Greek artwork. With the furthering of global exploration and travel, humans began bringing exotic plants back to their countries to be studied and propagated. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London contains tens of thousands of such plants. The oldest potted plant, an Eastern Cape Giant Cycad (Encephalartos altensteinii), is ringing in its 246th year!
In the 17th century, citrus trees were brought indoors in the winter, both to protect the plants from the cold and for the enjoyment of their winter blooms. The Victorian era, beginning around 1840, experienced a true houseplant boom when central heating made homes a bit more livable for plants year-round. In the 1920s, houseplants became available on the market, making them more accessible to those who were unable to get their hands on cuttings or seeds. Since then, we have seen countless houseplant trends and revivals. Through it all, the tradition of passing plants around persisted. Some of us will even be lucky enough to inherit long-living plants that have been passed down through generations.
So which long-living plants can handle the pressure of being a generational plant? For most of us, keeping a plant around for 2-5 years is an attainable goal. In many cases, long-living plants are the ones that are hearty and easy to care for – pothos, sansevieria, and aspidistra to name a few. If they can survive the coal-laden air of the Victorian era, perhaps we too can keep them around.
Plants Passed Down: Your Stories Shared
Pothos is one of those plants that everyone has. It is also a plant that frequently has a story behind it. One of our Wild Interiors team members, Kayla, shared the story of her Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ryan’s beloved pothos plant. Found in a planter from Ryan’s grandfather’s funeral, then cared for by his mother, the plant became known as “Mom’s plant.” Every daughter and granddaughter in the family has a cutting from the same plant. The plant has experienced changes along with its family. The ebb and flow from 30 feet long to now a few leaves remind us of life’s changes and challenges. The original plant now sits in a pot (hand painted by Ryan’s mother) and is lovingly kept alive in her memory since her passing in 2006.
Wild Interiors follower, amanda_sparks_ shared her story of the spider plant she inherited from her dear friend, Crystal, who lost her battle with cancer this past November. The once failing plant is now showing new growth and appearing greener. She shares “I have plenty of plants I’ve spent a lot of money for, but this is the most important one for me to keep alive.”
With the sentimental value that we give our plants, how do we keep them for longer? It’s all about understanding the plant, giving it the right growing conditions and care, and maybe a little bit of luck. The internet has given us a great gift, allowing us to pick the brains of plant care experts and research our plants, in efforts to better care for them.
While the history of giving flowers to loved ones is long-documented, not much history exists of the passing down of or giving of live plants. In passing down plants to each other, we are creating history and stories today. We all have perhaps one thing in common: everyone wants their plants to live. If you are overwhelmed with caring for a plant, whether it is an 80-year-old Christmas Cactus of your great aunt or a snake plant from the grocery store, ask for help! And remember the old wive’s tale: it is bad luck to thank someone for a plant. Instead, offer to give the plant a loving home and declare that you will think of the person whenever you care for it!
Reach out to the Wild Interiors Plant Care Team for support in keeping your generational plants alive at plantcare@wildinteriors.com. Share with us your stories of plants that have been passed down to you @wild_interiors on Instagram.