This article throws light upon the top thirty-three types of shade loving plants. The types are: 1. Aglaonema sp. (Araceae) 2. Alocasia sp. (Araceae) 3. Anthurium sp. (Araceae) 4. Aphelandra Auriantiaca (Acanthaceae) 5. Asparagus (Liliaceae) 6. Aspidistra Elatior (Liliaceae) 7. Chlorophytum Comosum Variegata (Liliaceae) 8. Beloperone Guttata (Acanthaceae) 9. Caladium Hortulanum (Araceae) and a few others too.
Type # 1. Aglaonema sp. (Araceae):
The group includes plants having erect habit with long, slender pointed leaves with depressed lateral veins and conjugated appearance. A. angustifolium has dark green and shining leaves. A. costatum has white spotted leaves. A. silver King and A. pseudobracteateum are variegated, ornamental and are much prized.
Type # 2. Alocasia sp. (Araceae):
These are lovely plants with sagittate-peltate leaves, and bushy growth.
There are several species but common types sold in the market are:
A. sanderiana ‘Van Houtte’. The leaves have variegated and prominent veins.
A. macrorhiza variegata. The leaves are variegated and very attractive.
Type # 3. Anthurium sp. (Araceae):
It is native of West Indies. This genus comprises more than 200 species which are valued for ornamental leaves and colourful spathes which are rigid and waxy. Plants are rhizomatous and can be propagated through division.
Important species and varieties are:
A. andreanum. Leaves are long lobed, heart shaped, green in colour and are very long. Spathe is waxy and red. Other attractive sports are album, giganteum, rubrum.
A. ornatum. Leaves are ovate-cordate and bright green, spathe is cup shaped, white turning purplish rose.
A. veitchii.Leaves are cordate, long about 90-100 cm, pendant of rich green colour.
A. cordatum. Leaves are broadly sagittate with wide sinus of olive green. Spathe green but reddish from inside.
A. magnificum. Leaves are large, heart shaped, velvety, olive green with prominent white veins. Spathe and spadix are green.
A. crystallinum. Leaves are large, beautiful, heart shaped and green with contrasting white veins. Spathe is green and linear.
A. podophyllum. Leaves are large, leathery, and lobed with finger like segments.
A. lirtdenianum. Leaves are fleshy, sagittate, leathery, glossy green, borne on stiff wiry long petioles.
Type # 4. Aphelandra Auriantiaca (Acanthaceae):
It is native of Mexico. Plants are erect and leave ovate, smooth, green grey in vein area. Flowers are borne in bracted spikes of brilliant scarlet-red flowers and orange in throat. A. squarrosa is another species with handsome waxy, dark green ovate leaves with silver white veins. Flowers of yellow colour are borne on long spikes with orange bracts.
Type # 5. Asparagus (Liliaceae):
It is native of South Africa. It is another common plant grown in pots for ornamental foliage.
Asparagus are tuberous rooted. Important species are:
A. densiflorus cv. Sprengeri. It has profuse branches which are soft to touch.
A. densiflorus ‘Myers’. It is showy plant dense with stiffly erect, plume like branches, dense needle like ‘foliage’ is rich green.
A. densiflorus pyramidelis. Branches are erect and zigzag on grey stem. Leaves are thread like in dense cluster of bright green colour.
A. setaceus syn. A. plumosus is commonly called as ‘Fern Asparagus’. Plants have thin wiry stem and fern like rich green fronds.
A. scandens deflexus. It is a climber with green stem. Branches are zigzag in nature. Leaves are light green in colour.
Type # 6. Aspidistra Elatior (Liliaceae):
It is native of China. It is small plant highly suitable for pots. Leaves are tough, leathery, oblong and blackish green in colour measuring about 60-75 cm long.
A. elatior variegata is another decorative species having alternately striped and banded green and white in varied widths.
Type # 7. Chlorophytum Comosum Variegata (Liliaceae):
It is commonly called as ‘Ribbon plant’ and is native of tropical Africa. It has large rosettes of arching, green, linear leaves having white margins. Long recemes appear from the center with first flower, and then develop tufts of leaves with aerial roots.
C. comosum uittatum is commonly called as ‘Spider plant’. It has narrow linear, recurving leaves with white centre. Successive plantlets develop from the long flowering recemes which are pendant in nature.
Type # 8. Beloperone Guttata (Acanthaceae):
It is native of Mexico and is commonly called as ‘Shrimp plant’. It has wiry stem and leaves are ovate and hairy. Bracts are reddish brown and overlapping to give showy effect. Flowers are white.
B. guttata ‘Yellow Queen’—It has yellow bracts instead of reddish brown.
Type # 9. Caladium Hortulanum (Araceae):
It is native of tropical America and is a tuberous herb. Leaves are large peltate— heart shaped and mostly beautifully marked in many colours and patterns. There are numerous varieties, the important of which are Ace of Heart, Bleeding Heart, Cinderella, Fire Chief, June Bride, key Stone, Pink Beauty, Red Ace, Red Polka, Red Frill, and Tom Thumb.
Type # 10. Calathea sp. (Marantaceae):
It is native of tropical America. The plants resemble Maranta. Plants are small and are prized for their attractive foliage.
Important species are:
C. zebrina, C. magnifica, C. medio-picta, C. insignis, C. metallica, C. picturata, etc.
Type # 11. Coleus blumei (Labiatae):
It is another beautiful foliage plant which makes a garden in itself. These are prized for their richly coloured leaves of different sizes in different patterns. The plants can be easily propagated by seeds or terminal cuttings.
There are several varieties which are grouped as follows:
Light centered:
Varieties with cream, yellow, light pink or any other pale shade in the centre of leaf but having a wider green margin.
Bright centered:
Leaves are bright red with coppery centre and have wider green margin; Fringed—The margins of leaves are fringed or deeply indented, with variable colours, self-speckle and central blotching is there with leaf fringed; Mammoth—Varieties with large leaves (15-25 cm long and 8-12 cm wide) variable colours and often reflexed foliage; Irregular leaved—Leaves are small having a longer petiole and twisted; Basket— Plants have prostrate growth and leaves are very small green with brown or red colours; Narrow leaved—Leaves are shorter about 2.5 cm wide, irregular and deeply indented.
Speckled—Varieties with a green ground or pale shade of any other colour speckled, splashed or blotched with a darker shade, usually brown or red.
Important varieties are:
Rainbow, Red, Sunset, The Chief, Pyreness Gold, Majesty, Frilled Fantasy, Christmas Cheer, etc.
Type # 12. Cordyline sp. (Liliaceae):
It is native of New Zealand, India, Malaysia to Polynesia and commonly called as Red dracaena. It has many varieties differing in shades, intensity of colour, shapes and sizes of leaves. The plants remain colourful in semi-shade. Direct exposure to sun causes scorching whereas dense shade results into dull colour.Easily propagated through cuttings and air layering. Latter method helps in faster growth of plants.
Important species are:
C. terminalis. Plants are slender growing about 3 m high, leaves are leathery, sword shaped, and is of green coppery colour with red shade. Other attractive varieties are: C. terminalis—bi-colour, C. terminalis—firebrand and C. terminalis—tri-colour.
Type # 13. Crotons—Codiaeum variegatum (Euphorbiaceae):
It is native of South India, Ceylon, Malaya and Sunda islands. It is beautiful tropical shrub which is valued for its colourful ornamental foliage. Leaves are thick, leathery and glabrous. Shape of leaves vary from ovate to linear, entire or lobed, flat or twisted. Young and emerging leaves are green to yellow and later on colour changes according to varietal characteristics.
Propagated easily through air layering. Seeds give rise to new forms. There are numerous varieties. The important ones are Beautiful Lady, Day Spring, Duke of Windsor, Golden Ring, Imperials, Indian Headdress, Jungle Queen, King George, Mona Lisa, Sunrise, Show Girl, Undulatum, Mosaic, etc.
Type # 14. Dieffenbachia sp. (Araceae):
It is native of Costa Rica, Columbia and Ecuador. Plants are dwarf, sturdy and thick stemmed. Leaves are large oblong pointed, glabrous and vary from green to variegate. Important species are:
D. amoena. Leaves are dark green and marked with cream white bends and blotches along lateral veins.
D. amoena. Tropic Snow is another prized variety for its ornamental foliage. Leaves are leathery, glossy, deep green, highly variegated from center with cream and Nile green. ‘Gigantea’ is another popular variety. Leaves are broad ovate, smooth fresh green with irregular creamy white blotches.Other important varieties are Mars, Jupiter and Venus.
Type # 15. Dracaena sp. (Liliaceae):
It is native of tropical America. Plants are highly valued for their ornamental foliage. Leaves vary from green to variegated and are lanceolate in shape which are 30-40 cm long. Plants are grown in pots and are kept in shade and semi-shady situations.
Important species are:
D. godseffiana. Plants have spreading, wiry stems and thin leathery and elliptic leaves. Leaves are glossy deep green with irregular yellow spots.
D. sanderiana. Plants are erect with neat growth. Leaves are lanceolate twisted, green and with white margins.
D. fragrans. It is common species which grows upto 4-5 metres. Branches are erect. Leaves are large, oblanceolate and recurved.
D. deremensis bausii, D. deremensis warneckei are other colourful species.
Exocaria bi-colour:
It is a dwarf bushy plant. Leaves are elliptic in shape. Upper side of leaves is shining olive green and lower side is rich red colour which makes them very elegant. Veins are prominent.
Ferns:
There are more than 1,000 species of ferns found growing in humid hilly regions but only few ferns can be grown in the garden in the plains of north India. For raising large number of ferns, special structures like chick houses are needed.
These ferns, due to their elegant foliage and diversity are preferred in the gardens which are grown in pots, hanging baskets, or under the trees. For successful rising of ferns, fertile and porus soil, adequate humid conditions and maintenance of optimum temperature in extreme climates are important-factors.
Important ferns which are grown successfully in plains are: Asplenium nidus (Bird’s net fern), Adiantum peruuianum (Maiden hair fern), Adiantum capillus-ueneris (Venus hair fern, hair fern), Blechnum occidentale, Nephrolepis exaltata, etc.
Type # 16. Fittonia sp. (Acanthaceae):
It is native of Peru. Plants are small, growing low and foliage is ornamental which is known for their beauty of network of veins.
F. argyroneura. It is a creeping herb with flat, papery, oval leaves green with white veins.
F. uersehaffeltii pearcei. Leaves are thin-papery with rose-pink veins.
Type # 17. Graptophyllum picturn (Acanthaceae):
It is native of New Guinea. It is a small shrub with oval pointed leaves, purplish green marked with yellow centre vein and pink stem.
Type # 18. Hedera canariensis (Araliceae):
It is native of Morocco and is commonly called as Algerian Ivy’. Leaves are broadly ovate and shallowly lobed. H. canariensis variegata commonly known as ‘Ghost tree’ is very effective with variegated leaves.
Type # 19. Heliconia sp. (Musaceae):
It is native of tropical America and West Indies. The plants are similar to banana and grow for handsome foliage. They grow well in semi shade.
Common species are:
H. metallica. It is a slender perennial with long red stalks. Leaves are oblong velvety and lush green with white midrib. H. humilis, H. psittacorum and H. bihai are other good species.
Type # 20. Kalanchoe sp. (Crassulaceae):
It is commonly called as bryophyllum and is native of tropical Asia and Africa. Plants have thick leaves and serrated or toothed margin. Vegetative buds are present in the axil of north of leaf. Propagation is very easy through leaf cuttings.
Common species are:
K. pinnata. It is native of India and other tropical regions. Plant is erect and has oval, green tinged red leaves.
K. tubiflora. It is slender, erect, with pinkish brown stem with many almost cylindrical, pinkish leaves.
K. uelutina. It has creeping branches. Lower leaves are ovate and crenate, upper leaves narrower. Flowers are yellow to salmon in colour.
K. mortagei syn. K. crenate. It is tall branching succulent. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, fleshy, waxy green with red doubly crenate margins. Flowers are red.
K. marmorata. It is a short plant. Leaves are fleshy, broad obovate, pinkish to purplish green blotched purple on both sides.
K. tomentosa. It is commonly called as panda plant and is valued for its beautiful look. Plants are erect with fleshy spoon shaped leave; and marked brown with light brown stripes.
Type # 21. Maranta sp. (Marantaceae):
It is native of tropical America and is grown for its ornamental foliage.
The common species are:
M. bicolor. Plant is slow growing and producing oval leaves. These leaves have chocolate spots on upper side of leaves and red blotches on lower side. Plants produce tuber and propagation is done by dividing in rainy season.
M. leuconeura perchoveana. Plants are slow growing. Leaves are oval of about 15 cm length. Leaf surface is pale green with a row of chocolate spots on both sides of leaves along with mid rib. Other species are: M. arundinacea and M. arundinacea variegata.
Type # 22. Monstera sp. (Araceae):
It is commonly called as ‘carimen’ and is native of tropical America. There are numerous species but commonly growing species is M. deliciosa. It is a tree climber and produce aerial roots. Stem is woody and has nodes very closely. Leaves are large, green about 80 cm long, pinnately cut and perforated with oblong holes. Cone like fruit is edible. M. deliciosa variegata has white spotted leaves.
Type # 23. Peperomea sp. (Piperaceae):
It is native of tropical America and is commonly called as ‘Pepper face’. It is very good for dish garden. Leaves are obovate or spatulate, waxy, green, fleshy and light green underside.
P. obtusifolia variegata has beautifully obovate, waxy leaves, light green variegated with broad area of creamy white.
Other good species are: P. japonica, P. peltifolia, P. uerschafeltti, P. glabella, P. glabella variegata, P. bi-colour; etc.
Type # 24. Pilea macrophylla syn P. musocsa (Urticaceae):
It is native of West Indies and is commonly called as ‘Artillery plant’ Plant is small, densely branched with sub-erect fleshy stems. Leaves are green, small and oblong, green. It makes excellent pot plant. P. cadierei. It is commonly called as ‘Aluminium plant’. It is a fast growing plant. Leaves are thin, opposite, obovate, and margins are toothed. Leaves have attractively shining silver spots giving them a painted look.
Type # 25. Philodendron sp. (Araceae):
It is a larger group comprising of about 300 species and their hybrids. It is native of tropical America. There is a great variation in leaf shape, size, colour and variable spadex. It is widely used for interior decoration and also grown as pot plant.
The beautiful species are:
P. domesticum. Leaves are lush green, arrow shaped, pale veins raised and ascending. P. domesticum uariegatum-a mutant with irregularly variegated leaves and splashed with cream white and yellow spots.
P. bipinnatifidum. It makes good growth and has stiff leaves measuring about 90 cm, waxy green, bi-pinnate having 10-12 segments each side.
P. ilsemannii. Leaves are leathery sagittate, almost entire, white or cream with grey dark green spots.
P. imbe. Leaves are long sagittate with veins at right angle and somewhat red beneath are petioles in red.
P. imbe uariegatum. Leaves are waxy, saggittate and irregularly variegated. One side of leaf may be dark green with white spots.
P. oxycardium. It is tall climbing vine and leaves are dark green and cordate. Leaves are velvety when young and glossy at maturity.
P. oxycardium uariegatum. Leaves are heart shaped spotted with ivory white colour.
Other important species are:
P. florida, P. florida variegata, P. wendlendii, P. wandlandii uariegatum, etc.
Type # 26. Pleomele sp. (Liliaceae):
It is very similar to dracaena and is still grouped along with dracaena. P. reflexa variegata.”Song of India”. It is very common as pot plant. It is self-branching, slow growing but grows about 3 m high, densely covered with leathery leaves which are margined by two bands of golden yellow or creamy shades.
P. reflexa is also common which has deep glossy green leaves, waxy and reflexed.
Type # 27. Roheo spathacea syn. R. discolour (Commelinaceae):
It is native of Mexico and is commonly called as ‘Moses in the Cradle’. It is a dwarf plant with rosette of waxy, lens shaped leaves which are dark green on upper side and glossy purple beneath. In the leaf axils, little white boat shaped flowers are produced.
R. spathacea ‘vittate’ is a variegated form with leaves striped length wise on the surface which is pale yellow and tinted red.
Type # 28. Ruscus aculeatus (Liliaceae):
It is commonly called as ‘Butcher’s Broom’. It is an erect and bushy plant. Leaves are ovate, stiff and spiky. Easily propagated through leaf which has growing bud in centre.
Type # 29. Sanchizia nobilis glaucophylla (Acanthaceae):
It is native of Ecuador. Leaves are large lanceolate, leathery, glossy green with contrasting prominent yellow veins. Easily propagated through terminal cuttings during rainy season.
Type # 30. Scindapsus aureus (Araceae):
It is native of Solemen islands and is commonly called as ‘Pothos’ or ‘Money Plant’ or ‘Devils ivy’ and is quite commonly grown plant. It can climb up with the help of aerial rootlets. Leaves are ovate, waxy, and green with yellow variegation in some varieties. Young leaves are small whereas old leaves are large.
S. aureus ‘Marble Queen’ commonly known as Silver Pothos, is a mutant with white variegation and tinting of leaves.
Other attractive species are S. pictus and S. pictus argyraeus. The plants can be easily propagated through stem cuttings.
Type # 31. Syngonium sp. (Araceae):
It is native of tropical America and is a climber for shady situations. Plants are highly valued for their attractive foliage. It produces aerial roots and is easily propagated through cuttings.
Important species are:
S. podophyllum. Leaves are thin, sagittate, 5-7 lobed in later stages.
S. podophyllum albolineatum.Very ornamental with silver white centre and veins. Mature leaves are green.
S. wendlandii. Leaves are trilobed having white veins in the young leaves whereas mature leaves are green.
Type # 32. Tradescantia sp. (Commelinaceae):
It is native of tropical America and is very good plant for pot as well as for hanging baskets. Branches are brittle. Leaves are oval and plants grow luxuriantly in shade. Easily propagated through stem cuttings.
Important species are:
T. albiflora laekenensis. It has creeping stems, and leaves are delicate, small, ovate, pale green with white.
T. flaminensis. It is another beautiful species. Leaves are bluish and purplish beneath.
T. sillamontana (white velvet). Leaves are ovate, fleshy, deep green covered with fluffy white wool, underside and the stem is purplish, and brittle.
T. blossfeldiana variegata. It is another attractive sport with the fleshy leaves striped cream to yellow and pale green, midrib purple, underneath deep purplish and white.
Type # 33. Zebrina pendula (Commelinaceae):
It is native of Mexico and is commonly called as ‘Wandering Jew’. It is very similar to Tradescantia. Plants are fleshy and have creeping stem. Leaves are small, fleshy, deep green to purple with two bands but clear purple beneath. It can be easily propagated by cuttings.
Z. pendula quadricolor. Leaves are small, purplish green, broadly banded glistening white with pink and carmine red and silver stripes.
Z pendula discolour. It has trailing stem. Leaves are large, glossy coppery and edged with metallic purple with two narrow silver bands and are purple beneath.