Elegant Houseplants for Your Home

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Elegant Houseplants for Your Home

Updated May 7, 2012
2 minute read

Flowering Maple (Abutilon)

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The evergreen leaves of this attention-grabbing, dark red, bell-like flower resemble the foliage on a maple tree, hence the name.  The flowering maple is invaluable in a large conservatory, whether trained against a wall or supported by a sturdy cane, adding height and eye-catching leafy growth, and flowers that appear over a long summer season.

Crane Flower, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

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From the side, the lovely flowers of crane flower appear like a fantastic green and red-beaked bird with an orange-crested top.

Wendy (Kalanchoe)

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A brilliantly colored kalanchoe, Wendy has small, downward pointing, bell-shaped flowers, which are purple-red with orange or yellow around the lip of the mouth.  The plants, which appears at the end of winter, tend to have dangling to semi-erect stems, covered by glossy green leaves up to 3 inches long, which makes them a good choice for a hanging basket.

Wax Flower (Hoya lanceolata)

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Some hoyas are tall climbers, but the considerably smaller wax flower is usually grown in a hanging basket.  The stems with fleshy, rich green leaves are initially upright, but will then arch and dangle over the side of the container.  Alternatively, train the stems around a wire loop.  In summer, groups of seven or nine star-shaped white flowers with a red eye will appear, releasing a lovely, sweet scent.

Glory Pea (Clianthus puniceus)

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The quirky shape of the bright red flowers on this fun, evergreen climbing shrub explains why it is also called lobster claw.  In the wild, it grows up to 12 feet high, but in a conservatory border with limited root space it will reach only about 8 feet. 

Rose of China (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

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The large, bushy evergreen shrub has golden yellow flowers that are flushed reddish orange in the center.  The lovely flowers are nicely set off against a background of glossy dark green leaves.  Moderate humidity is important, as is good ventilation.

Eternal Flame (Calathea crocata)

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The tropical calatheas are grown mainly for their astonishing leaves, many of which are beautifully patterned, but C. crocata has the added advantage of superb flowers.  The upward-pointing, bright orange blossoms contrast nicely with the dusky, dark green leaves that are purple beneath. 

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