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.
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