African House Plants – A Guide to Bringing Exotic Beauty Indoors
Africa has some of the most diverse and exotic plant species in the world, many of which can be grown inside your home as house plants. House plants not only make your home more beautiful, but also connect you to one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions. This article will dive into many of our favourite African house plants, their care needs, and tips for growing them successfully inside your home.
Why Choose African House Plants?
Because they are must-have plants for people who love house plants, and for plant collectors, and why? A long list of reasons for the popularity of African house plants. Some are unique in their aesthetics for being strange and striking. Many have a growth habit like nothing else, and a few have flowers (blooms) in vibrant colours and interest that make them favourites. Many came from the wild, and, as such, needed to be tough to survive the conditions of Africa – making them often hardy, low-maintenance plants when grown in the more comfortable but non-natural conditions that most houses and homes provide.
In addition to importing familiar good luck plants from Africa, you may also have the chance to introduce some rare and less commonly known species to your home. If cultivated in the right manner, they can be a source of interesting conversation. A botanical encounter like this not only brings more greenery into your house, but also the promise of a little global connectivity and the sharing of stories.
Popular African House Plants
1. Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)
The Zebra Plant is so named as its leaves resemble the stripes of its namesake; it is leafy with dark green backed by almost white veins and hailing from the rainforests of Brazil, whilst the name and its striking appearance may evoke images of African flora. The plant is a wild one, flourishing in humid and warm climates.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Water: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity; mist regularly or use a humidifier.
2. African Violet (Saintpaulia spp.)
African Violets are one of the most popular flowering houseplants in the world. Their short appearance and vivid flowers make them a perfect indoor plant. This little gem is native to the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, and blooms beautifully year round with the right conditions. African Violets come in a variety of colours ranging from purple to vivid pinks, and a wide range of warm hues in between. Available colours include black, blue, white, and red.
Care Tips:
Light: Moderate to bright, indirect light.
Water: Use lukewarm water and avoid getting water on the leaves to prevent spotting.
Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix designed for African Violets.
3. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Popularly known as the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, the Snake Plant is indigenous to West Africa, and is one of the least demanding of houseplants. With its slender upright leaves that are a dark green, edged with lighter strips of green horizontally – it has a sleek contemporary look. The Snake Plant is also great for beginners as it’s almost impossible to kill.
Care Tips:
Light: Tolerates low light but thrives in bright, indirect light.
Water: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures but can tolerate cooler conditions.
4. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
This succulent hails from South Africa and Mozambique. It produces thick, oval leaves, and can live hundreds of years. Because of the notion that the Jade Plant brings luck and prosperity, it has become a favoured plant in homes and offices around the world.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, direct light.
Water: Water deeply, but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Temperature: Prefers moderate temperatures but can tolerate cooler nights.
5. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant is one of the most adaptable houseplants. It is originally from the costal areas of South Africa. This plant is very easy to distinguish by its long orbiting petioles and plantlets from the parent plant on its spiders. It’s very useful for filtering indoor air.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright to moderate, indirect light.
Water: Keep the soil slightly moist, but do not overwater.
Humidity: Tolerates a range of humidity levels but prefers a bit of extra humidity.
6. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Aloe Vera may have a Mediterranean feel, but its origins are in Africa. This succulent is native to North Africa, and is used for its clear, soothing gel. It is a very easy to take care of plant that you can keep inside and forget about.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Water: Water sparingly; allow the soil to dry completely between waterings.
Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures and is sensitive to frost.
7. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)
A large and striking plant with impressive, bird-like tropical flowers, the Bird of Paradise comes from the Cape region of South Africa. Sometimes, this plant can be a demanding housemate, but if your care is rewarded, the result is worth the effort.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, direct light for best flowering.
Water: Water deeply whenever soil is dry in growing season (up to once a month in winter).
Humidity: Prefers high humidity; mist the leaves regularly.
8. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The is native to East Africa. Its thick-and-glossy dark-green foliage grows upright from long, sweeping stems, which more than makes up for your laziness. Another advantage of this plant is that it cleans your air.
Care Tips:
Light: Tolerates low light but grows best in bright, indirect light.
Water: Allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Temperature: Prefers warm conditions and does not tolerate cold drafts.
9. Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
The Dragon Tree is native to Madagascar and is famous for its long, thin red-tipped leaves. This is perfect for contemporary interiors as by placing it in the right conditions, they can build up quite a height around them.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Temperature: Prefers warm temperatures and consistent conditions.
10. African Mask Plant (Alocasia amazonica)
This plant earned the weird name African Mask Plant although it’s native to Southeast Asia, and tends to be sold as an African houseplant. With hanging, dark green leaves boasting large veins of white with an arrowhead shape, you almost feel bad for you man because it could have been worse.
Care Tips:
Light: Bright, indirect light.
Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity; mist regularly.
How to Care for African House Plants
Light Requirements
Most of my house plants from Africa like indirect, bright light, similar to what they would encounter in their natural habitats, but with dappled sun and moving shadows. The growing conditions of the motherwomb are replicated this way too, as sun filters through leaves. However, plants such as the Snake Plant and ZZ Plant take well to low-light places, so can be made to work in dimmer rooms or even in offices. Others enjoy direct sun, such as the Bird of Paradise and Jade Plant, and will only flower or retain their colour if grown and pruned well in this way.
Watering Needs
When it comes to plant care, watering is everything. And watering requirements – a.k.a. how irrigated the environment should be – can vary greatly within the group of African house plants. Succulents such as the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) and Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) tend to prefer to dry out completely in the soil in between each watering; these plants are hardy, desert-originating succulents, and bout of overwatering will not engender fatal consequences. Other plants, however, such as the Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa) and African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha), really want to be kept moist, but will rot if given too much water. Pay attention to what your plant needs and don’t underwater or overwater
Soil and Potting
Most African house plants are accustomed to well-drained soil, as waterlogging their roots may cause root rot. A ‘standard’ houseplant potting mix with added perlite or sand will do for most, but succulents and any other plants with tender bodies may do better with a mix more suited to fast drainage, such as Cactus Mix. When a plant has outgrown pot-bound, with or you are confident that for another year or two a pot that is just slightly larger, or if it’s already large, don’t change the size at all.
Temperature and Humidity
Most African house plants like the temperature in the range of 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C) which is typical of indoor and temperate zones; however, they might be sensitive to sudden changes and drafts, so away from doors or windows that could be closed or opened and expose a plant to sudden cold air and currents is best. Humidity might need to be adapted to each plant’s vary needs with some needing high humidity that one can get from frequent misting or a humidifier.