Chlorophytum – Spider plant –
Description
Chlorophytum – Spider Plant – Ribbon Plant –
There are about 250 species of evergreen, rhizomatous perennials, in this genus. Those grown are from a variety of habitats in South and Western Africa, Southern Asia, Australia and South America. From fibrous or fleshy rhizomes sprouts linear, lance shaped, ovate, or strap shaped, basal leaves. In summer they bear arching racemes or panicles of starry small, 6 petalled, white or greenish flowers that hardly show, and often produce plantlets. Where not hardy grow in containers and hanging baskets in a cool or temperate conservatory, they are also popular foliage house plants, tolerant of a wide range of conditions, In warmer area, use in a border or as a groundcover. One species is widely grown as a hardy houseplant.
C. comosum – C. capense of Gardens – Spider Plant – Ribon Plant – Hen and Chickens – This popular hanging basket, interior plant, from moist coastal South Africa forms untidy clumps of linear, grass like to linear-lance shaped, fresh green leaves, 12-18″ long. It bears small, star shaped white flowers, are carried in racemes, to 24″ long, but are rare to flower indoors.
Indoors grow in soil based potting mix in bright indirect to full light, shaded from hot sun. Water freely in growth, moderately other times. Divide plantlets at anytime of year except winter.
zones 9-11