5 Houseplant Trends That Promise to Spark Delight

Houseplants have been adorning interior spaces ever since the early Greeks and Romans brought potted plants indoors. There have been some rather exuberant periods in houseplant glory; the Victorians and their fern-filled parlors come to mind. And what would the 1970s have been without macrame plant hangers playing best supporting actor to legions of pathos and spider plants?

Fast forward to the Internet age, and houseplants appear to be more popular than ever. A search for #houseplants on Instagram alone delivers 9.7 million posts. We are a people who love our plant children.

But is it really any wonder? Houseplants bring joy, wellness, and health benefits along with their aesthetic splendor. And given the challenges of modern times, plants may be in even higher demand. «With the current desire for resiliency to surround us and a desire for an energy-infused life, the internet is going crazy over houseplants,» says the Florida-based horticultural grower Costa Farms.

«We at Costa Farms have seen and heard about some of the most interesting houseplant trends, including variegation, gold foliage, fenestration, and statement plants,» Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, tells Treehugger in an email. The following are some of the trends that have been especially popular across the interwebs this year—though as with most houseplant trends, they are likely here to stay.

Costa Farms

Hancock explains that statement plants like Costa Farms’ ponytail palm (above) have been making waves. Likewise, «variegated varieties boasting interesting textures, whites-and-greens, and other colorways» have been especially popular of late. The gorgeous color and variegation of a plant like alocasia silver dragon (below) make for a