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A field journal of theHouse&Hedgehome & garden, kept in ink

The index

Index of Specimens

plant care entries, A to Z — 166 in all, and growing

A

10 entries

A photograph of an African milk tree against a pale wall, showing upright three angled stems ridged with paired brown thorns and small leaves along the edges.

African milk treeEuphorbia trigonaA three sided green column that looks like a cactus and is not, with a caustic white sap that is the thing to know about it.Light full sunWater sparingPets not known No. 2

A hand coloured plate of the African violet, published as Saintpaulia ionantha, showing the violet flowers over hairy leaves.

African violetStreptocarpus ionanthusAfrican violet care that keeps it flowering all year, with why you water from below, what makes the pale rings on the leaves, and how to root a single leaf.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 3

A hand coloured engraving of an agapanthus in flower, a single stout stalk carrying an open head of pale blue trumpet shaped flowers above two broad strap shaped leaves.

AgapanthusAgapanthus praecoxAgapanthus: planting, sowing and dividing months for both hemispheres, how little water it wants, and why a crowded clump flowers best of all.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 4

A photograph of a potted alocasia, its dark arrow shaped leaves with scalloped edges and broad white veins rising in a clump and not in flower.

AlocasiaAlocasia x amazonicaAlocasia care with the humidity and warmth it insists on, why it drops leaves in winter, and what the tuber is doing when the plant looks dead.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 5

A hand coloured plate of Aloe vera in flower, with a second aloe beside it.

Aloe veraAloe veraAloe vera care on a bright windowsill, with the soak and dry watering it needs, why leaves flatten or curl, and how to pot up the offsets.Light full sunWater moderatePets unsafe No. 6

Hand coloured lithograph of a hybrid amaryllis in flower, one thick hollow scape topped by trumpet shaped blooms whose white petals are striped and feathered with red.

AmaryllisHippeastrum hybridsAmaryllis bulbs for winter flowers: when to pot them in each hemisphere, how to water one without rotting it, and how to bring it back next year.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 7

Chromolithograph of an apple in flower and in fruit, a branch of oval toothed leaves with clusters of white and pink blossom and one ripe red flushed apple shown whole and cut through.

AppleMalus domesticaApples: the bare root planting months for each hemisphere, when the fruit is actually ready to pick, and what the codling moth leaves behind in it.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 8

A photograph of an areca palm in a garden, a slender ringed green stem carrying long arching fronds of narrow feathery leaflets.

Areca palmDypsis lutescensAreca palm care that keeps the fronds green, with how often to water, what browns the tips, why spider mites arrive, and how big it really gets.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 9

A photograph of an arrowhead vine in a clay pot, its arrow shaped leaves marked with pale veins and held on long upright stalks.

Arrowhead vineSyngonium podophyllumArrowhead vine care for a shelf or a pole, with the light that keeps the markings and the pinching that stops it going stringy.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 10

A black and white photograph of an asparagus fern in a hanging basket, its arching stems crowded with fine needle like foliage trailing well below the rim and bearing no flowers.

Asparagus fernAsparagus densiflorusNot a fern at all but an asparagus, in soft green plumes that turn out to have thorns. Easy, fast, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

B

13 entries

A hand coloured plate of a baby rubber plant in flower, a low spreading stem of thick blunt ended leaves with two slender upright flower spikes rising from the centre.

Baby rubber plantPeperomia obtusifoliaBaby rubber plant care for a shelf or a desk, with the long watering interval its thick leaves allow and why it rots in a large pot.Light medium lightWater moderatePets safe No. 12

A line engraving of Ocimum basilicum showing the flowering spike and a single flower enlarged.

BasilOcimum basilicumHow to grow basil on a windowsill or in the garden, with sowing months for both hemispheres, a watering rhythm that stops it bolting, and fixes for leggy plants.Light full sunWater oftenPets safe No. 13

A hand coloured plate of a beetroot in flower, showing the upright ribbed stem, broad wavy edged leaves and long green flower spikes, with the florets and seed studied separately.

BeetrootBeta vulgarisHow to grow beetroot, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 14

A hand coloured plate of Strelitzia reginae showing the orange and blue flower emerging from its bract.

Bird of paradiseStrelitzia reginaeBird of paradise care in a pot or a bed, with the sun it needs to flower, why a young plant will not bloom, and how to divide a crowded clump.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 15

A plate of a bird's nest fern with one broad undivided frond hand coloured green and ruled with lines of spores, drawn above an engraving of the whole rosette of upright fronds.

Bird's nest fernAsplenium nidusBird's nest fern care for a shaded bathroom, with how to water without rotting the crown and why the new fronds unfurl from the middle.Light low lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 16

BlackberryRubus fruticosusBlackberry for a productive, trainable fruiting hedge: why most cultivars fruit on last year's canes, and the two diseases worth checking for.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 17

A hand coloured plate of the blackcurrant, a woody branch bearing lobed and toothed leaves with drooping sprays of small greenish flowers, and a flower, a young fruit and a truss of ripe black berries drawn separately below.

BlackcurrantRibes nigrumBlackcurrants: when to plant bare root bushes in each hemisphere, when the fruit ripens, and how to prune so there is new wood for next year.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 18

A hand coloured lithograph of a blushing philodendron in flower, a deep red spathe curled open around a pale spadix with a second spadix and one broad green leaf behind.

Blushing philodendronPhilodendron erubescensBlushing philodendron care for a pole, with the light the red stems and pink markings need, how often to water, and what to do about reversion.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 19

A photograph of a Boston fern showing a dense stand of long arching fronds, each divided into many narrow bright green segments.

Boston fernNephrolepis exaltataBoston fern care that stops the fronds going crisp, with the humidity it needs, how often to water, and what to do with a plant that has gone brown in the middle.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 20

A hand coloured plate of a bougainvillea in flower, showing an arching stem of glossy pointed leaves and clusters of papery pink bracts, each cradling three small cream tubular flowers.

BougainvilleaBougainvillea glabraBougainvillea: planting months for both hemispheres, why keeping it thirsty is what brings the colour, and how hard it can be cut back.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known No. 21

A hand coloured plate of box in flower, showing a stiff upright shoot closely set with small glossy oval leaves and tight greenish yellow flower clusters in the leaf joints, with the flower parts and seed studied separately.

BoxBuxus sempervirensBox for hedging and topiary: the long winter planting window in each hemisphere, what a new hedge drinks, and what box blight looks like.Light part shadeWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 22

A close photograph of a single pale green bunny ears cactus pad, not in flower, its spineless surface studded with evenly spaced areoles of rust coloured glochids.

Bunny ears cactusOpuntia microdasysFlat oval pads in pairs, spotted with tufts of tiny barbed bristles that are far worse than spines. Sun, grit and no winter water.Light full sunWater sparingPets not known No. 23

A photograph of a potted burro's tail on a windowsill, its trailing stems packed with plump blue green leaves spilling over the rim of the pot, not in flower.

Burro's tailSedum morganianumRopes of plump blue green leaves hanging a metre from a basket, safe for cats and dogs, and impossible to move without losing some.Light full sunWater sparingPets safe

C

24 entries

A photograph of a caladium in leaf, showing a broad arrow shaped blade of soft green flecked with white and veined in bright pink, with a second leaf behind it and no flowers.

CaladiumCaladium hortulanumPaper thin leaves painted in pink, white and green, a summer plant that sleeps all winter, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 25

A photograph of a calathea in a clay pot on a bare wooden floor, its broad rounded leaves banded with alternating stripes of silver and dark green.

CalatheaGoeppertia orbifoliaCalathea care that keeps the leaves whole, with the humidity and water quality it insists on, why the edges curl, and how to divide a crowded pot.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 26

Cape leadwortPlumbago auriculataCape plumbago for a long-flowering, drought-tolerant screen: why it is cut back hard at the end of winter, and a genuine skin-contact caution.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known No. 27

Hand coloured plate of a whole carrot plant in flower, showing the tapering pale root, finely cut feathery leaves and flat white umbels, with enlarged studies of a floret and the ribbed bristly seeds around it.

CarrotDaucus carota subsp. sativusHow to grow carrot, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 28

A hand coloured plate of a variegated cast iron plant, one broad strap shaped leaf striped in cream rising from a creeping root, with two dull purple flowers sitting at soil level and one of them drawn open beside them.

Cast iron plantAspidistra elatiorThe plant that survives the hallway nothing else will. Deep shade, drought, cold and neglect, and safe for cats and dogs.Light low lightWater moderatePets safe No. 29

A hand coloured plate of a century plant in flower, a low rosette of long grey green spined leaves sending up a tall branched stalk tipped with clusters of yellow flowers, with a second plant not yet flowering and two small figures drawn beside it for scale.

Century plantAgave americanaA huge grey rosette with spines along every edge and a spike on every tip. Full sun, sharp drainage, and a serious plant to place carefully.Light full sunWater sparingPets not known No. 30

Cherry laurelPrunus laurocerasusCherry laurel for a broad-leaved evergreen screen: why it dislikes heavy feeding, when the shot-hole disease appears, and the truth about its leaves.Light part shadeWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 31

A hand coloured plate of a chilli pepper in flower, showing the branching stem with pointed oval leaves and nodding white star shaped flowers, one ripe red fruit alongside and the flower parts and seed studied separately.

Chilli and sweet pepperCapsicum annuumHow to grow chilli and sweet pepper, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 32

A hand coloured plate of Aglaonema commutatum showing a leaf, the spathe and dissected flower parts.

Chinese evergreenAglaonema commutatumChinese evergreen care for a dim room, with how often to water, why the leaves curl at the edge, and which forms need more light than others.Light low lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 33

Hand coloured plate of a young Chinese fan palm not in flower, showing pleated fan shaped leaves carried on long slender stalks that rise from a short stout base.

Chinese fan palmLivistona chinensisPleated circular fronds that split into drooping fingers, a slow tolerant palm for a bright corner and a large pot.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets not known No. 34

A photograph of Pilea peperomioides showing the round leaves held on long stalks.

Chinese money plantPilea peperomioidesChinese money plant care with the light that keeps it symmetrical, how often to water, why the leaves curl, and how to pot up the pups it makes.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 35

A hand coloured plate of chives in flower, a spreading tuft of slender hollow leaves with two stems each carrying a rounded pink flower head, and a single floret drawn to one side.

ChivesAllium schoenoprasumHow to grow chives, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 36

A hand coloured plate of Schlumbergera truncata showing the flat jointed stems and a red flower.

Christmas cactusSchlumbergeraChristmas cactus care that brings it into flower, with the dark nights and cool weeks it needs, why buds drop, and when it blooms south of the equator.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets safe No. 37

A hand coloured plate of a clivia in flower, showing broad strap shaped leaves arching from the base and a dense head of orange red trumpet flowers with pale yellow throats.

CliviaClivia miniataClivia: the deep shade it wants, planting months for both hemispheres, the dry winter rest that sets the flowers, and its toxic orange berries.Light part shadeWater moderatePets unsafe No. 38

Hand coloured engraving of a common jasmine shoot in flower, a slender twining stem with pinnate leaves of narrow pointed leaflets and white star shaped blooms opening from pink tipped buds.

Common jasmineJasminum officinaleSummer jasmine on a warm wall: planting months for both hemispheres, the water and feeding it wants, and when to prune it without losing the scent.Light full sunWater weeklyPets safe No. 39

A hand coloured plate of Coriandrum sativum showing the divided leaves, umbel of flowers and the seed.

CorianderCoriandrum sativumCoriander that does not bolt in a fortnight, with when to sow in each hemisphere, why it runs to seed, and how to keep leaves coming all season.Light part shadeWater oftenPets safe No. 40

Engraving of a slender single-trunked tree topped by a rosette of arching strap-shaped leaves and a long drooping panicle of buds, with enlarged studies of a flower cluster, a single flower, a fruit and a seed beside it.

Corn plantDracaena fragransCorn plant care for an office corner, with the long watering interval it wants, why the tips brown, and how to cut a bare cane back.Light medium lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 41

Hand coloured plate of an upright branching annual in full flower, its rose-red daisy-like blooms held on wiry stems above thread-fine divided leaves, with small studies of a single floret and a seed alongside.

CosmosCosmos bipinnatusCosmos: sowing months for both hemispheres, why poor soil gives more flowers, and how deadheading keeps it going right up to the first frost.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 42

Hand coloured engraving of a trailing squash in both flower and fruit, a large ribbed green fruit cut open to show the pale flesh and seeds, with one broad lobed leaf above and a slim yellow flower on its bristled stalk.

CourgetteCucurbita pepoHow to grow courgette, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 43

A hand coloured plate of Ficus pumila showing a rooting stem set with small oval leaves, two of them turned to show the pale veined underside, and a single dark fig.

Creeping figFicus pumilaSmall leaves on a self clinging fig that will cover a wall or trail from a shelf. Steady moisture, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 44

A hand coloured plate of Codiaeum variegatum showing the narrow leaves and flowering spike.

CrotonCodiaeum variegatumCroton care that keeps the colour, with the light it needs, why it drops every leaf after a move, and how to root a cutting from a bare stem.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 45

A hand coloured engraving of crown of thorns in flower, thick upright stems densely armed with long grey spines, oblong green leaves gathered towards the tips and clusters of small scarlet bracted flowers on slender stalks.

Crown of thornsEuphorbia miliiThorny grey stems that flower almost all year in red, pink or white. Full sun, very little water, caustic sap and serious spines.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known No. 46

Wood engraving of a long ridged and warted cucumber hanging by its stalk among the broad lobed leaves of the vine, with a second fruit cut across to show the seed cavity, shown in fruit rather than in flower.

CucumberCucumis sativusHow to grow cucumber, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 47

Hand coloured plate of a tuberous plant in full flower, its heart-shaped marbled leaves forming a low mound above the corm and rose-pink flowers with swept-back petals held on slender stalks, with one white flower drawn separately.

CyclamenCyclamen persicumSwept back flowers over marbled leaves through the winter, a plant that wants cool rooms and hates warmth, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater sparingPets unsafe

D

6 entries

A hand coloured plate of a single daffodil drawn whole, from the papery bulb and its roots up through narrow strap leaves to one open yellow trumpet flower and a second still in bud.

DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissusDaffodils: the months to plant the bulbs in each hemisphere, how deep to set them, and why the leaves have to be left to die back on their own.Light full sunWater rarelyPets unsafe No. 49

Hand coloured lithograph of an upright branching perennial in full flower, carrying single scarlet blooms with yellow centres and rounded green buds above leaves divided into broad toothed leaflets.

DahliaDahlia pinnataDahlias: when to start the tubers in each hemisphere, the water and feeding they want in summer, and whether to lift them for the winter.Light full sunWater oftenPets unsafe No. 50

A hand coloured plate of dill in flower, feathery thread like leaves on a ribbed stem below two flat umbels of tiny yellow flowers, with a single flower and the ribbed seeds drawn larger beside it.

DillAnethum graveolensHow to grow dill, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets safe No. 51

A hand coloured plate of the dragon tail aroid in flower, a huge pinnately slit leaf drawn in fine outline behind one solid dark green blade, with thick arching stems and a cream and pink spathe beside two pale green spadices.

Dragon tailEpipremnum pinnatumA pothos relative with narrow blue green leaves that split as it climbs. As easy as the common pothos, and just as toxic.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 52

A photograph looking down into the head of a Dracaena marginata, showing the narrow red edged leaves.

Dragon treeDracaena marginataDragon tree care for an office or a hallway, with how often to water, why the tips brown, and how to cut a bare stem so it branches.Light medium lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 53

A photograph of a Dieffenbachia seguine leaf showing the cream marking along the veins.

Dumb caneDieffenbachia seguineDumb cane care with the light and watering it wants, why the lower leaves drop, how to cut a leggy stem back, and why to wear gloves when you do.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

E

5 entries

Hand coloured plate of an Easter lily in flower, an upright stem clothed in narrow glossy leaves and topped by long white trumpet blooms held almost horizontally.

Easter lilyLilium longiflorumEaster lily: the bulb planting months for each hemisphere, the drainage it insists on, and the reason it must never be in a house with a cat.Light part shadeWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 55

A photograph of an echeveria among red rocks, a tight rosette of pale blue green spoon shaped leaves with a second rosette offsetting behind it and no flower stalk.

EcheveriaEcheveria elegansEcheveria care on a sunny windowsill, with the soak and dry watering it wants, why the rosette stretches, and how to grow new plants from a single leaf.Light full sunWater moderatePets safe No. 56

Hand coloured plate of a clumping tuberous herb, one broad heart-shaped leaf carried on a long upright stalk beside a furled yellow spathe and its pale spadix, with small corm and flower studies set around the margins.

Elephant's earColocasia esculentaEnormous drooping leaves on long stalks, a bog plant that wants far more water than any houseplant, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light part shadeWater oftenPets not known No. 57

A hand coloured plate of Hedera helix showing the lobed juvenile leaves and the flowering growth.

English ivyHedera helixEnglish ivy care indoors and out, with the cool bright spot it wants, why spider mites arrive, and how to root a cutting in a fortnight.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 58

EscalloniaEscallonia (garden hybrids)Escallonia for a flowering seaside hedge: why it needs a trim straight after flowering and not before, and the leaf spot that spread fast.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known

F

5 entries

A photograph of a fiddle leaf fig grown as a small glasshouse tree, its slender trunk branching low beneath broad leathery leaves shaped like a violin, in leaf only with no figs on the branches.

Fiddle-leaf figFicus lyrataFiddle-leaf fig care that keeps the leaves on, with the light it actually needs, why brown spots appear, and what to do about a bare lower stem.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 60

A photograph of a fishbone prayer plant, a low spreading mass of oblong pale green leaves ruled with dark green herringbone bars and not in flower.

Fishbone prayer plantCtenanthe burle-marxiiPale leaves ruled with dark herringbone bars, purple underneath, folding up at night. Shade, humidity and soft water.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 61

An engraving of a fishtail palm growing in the open, showing a ringed trunk carrying spreading bipinnate fronds of wedge shaped leaflets and long strands of flowers hanging from the crown.

Fishtail palmCaryota mitisLeaflets shaped like ragged fish tails, unlike any other palm. Bright light, steady moisture, and a plant that flowers once and dies.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 62

Photograph of a flaming Katy seen close up, a dense clump of thick scallop edged leaves flushed red over green with coral flower buds rising at the top.

Flaming KatyKalanchoe blossfeldianaDense heads of small bright flowers over thick scalloped leaves, sold everywhere in winter, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light full sunWater moderatePets unsafe No. 63

An uncoloured engraving of a flamingo flower showing one large heart shaped leaf, a single waxy spathe with its curved spadix on a long stalk, and the whole plant drawn small in leaf below.

Flamingo flowerAnthurium andraeanumFlamingo flower care that keeps it in bloom, with the light and watering it wants, why the flowers turn green, and how to divide a crowded pot.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

G

8 entries

Garden privetLigustrum ovalifoliumPrivet for a fast, dense screen: the true dormant planting window, what a new hedge drinks, and the two problems worth knowing.Light full sunWater oftenPets unsafe No. 65

A hand coloured plate of garlic showing long flat strap shaped leaves on a leaning stem, a head of dark bulbils opening from its papery sheath, and a clove bulb with roots drawn at the foot of the plate.

GarlicAllium sativumHow to grow garlic, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 66

A hand coloured plate of a zonal geranium in flower, a jointed woody stem carrying rounded scalloped leaves and two long stalked heads of pink blooms.

GeraniumPelargonium hortorumBedding geraniums: sowing and planting months for both hemispheres, how dry they like to be kept, and how to carry a plant through the winter.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 67

A hand coloured plate of a ginseng ficus branch in fruit, glossy elliptic leaves set alternately along a slim stem with small round figs ripening from cream to pink to red in the leaf axils, and two plain leaf outlines drawn at the side.

Ginseng ficusFicus microcarpaA bonsai style fig on a swollen aerial root, sold everywhere as a beginner's bonsai, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 68

Golden dewdropDuranta erectaGolden dewdrop for a fast frost-tender screen: why the berries are genuinely dangerous to pets and children, not just mildly unwise to eat.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 69

GooseberryRibes uva-crispaGooseberry for a compact fruiting bush or a trained cordon: the twice-yearly prune it actually wants, and the mildew that catches an overfed one.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 70

A photograph of a grape ivy in a pot indoors, showing trailing reddish stems carrying toothed diamond shaped leaflets in threes, with no flowers present.

Grape ivyCissus rhombifoliaA fast climbing vine with glossy toothed leaves and curling tendrils, safe for cats and dogs, and happy in light most plants find dull.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 71

A wood engraving of a dwarf green bean plant, not in flower, a low bush of broad pointed leaflets parted to show a dense hanging cluster of long straight pods.

Green beansPhaseolus vulgarisHow to grow green beans, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known

H

4 entries

A photograph of Philodendron hederaceum showing the heart shaped leaves on trailing stems.

Heartleaf philodendronPhilodendron hederaceumHeartleaf philodendron care for a shelf or a pole, with how often to water, why the stems go leggy, and how to root a cutting in a week or two.Light medium lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 73

Hand coloured plate of a hosta in flower, showing broad ribbed heart shaped leaves behind an arching stem of pale funnel shaped blooms.

HostaHosta sieboldianaHostas for a shaded bed: when to plant and divide in each hemisphere, how much water the big leaved kinds want, and how to keep slugs off them.Light part shadeWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 74

Hand coloured engraving of three hyacinth varieties in flower, each bulb drawn whole with its roots, strap shaped leaves and a dense spike of blue to violet bells, with a small white crocus between them.

HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisHyacinths indoors and out: the planting months for each hemisphere, how to stop the flower stems flopping, and how strong the scent really is.Light full sunWater rarelyPets unsafe No. 75

Hand coloured plate of a hydrangea shoot in flower, a rounded mophead of pale blue florets above stout paired leaves with toothed edges and sunken veins.

HydrangeaHydrangea macrophyllaA shrub that tells you when it is thirsty. Planting months for both hemispheres, the water it wants, and what actually changes the flower colour.Light part shadeWater oftenPets unsafe

I

1 entry

A photograph of a spreading mat of inch plant, its fleshy stems set with pointed oval leaves striped silver and green above and flushed deep purple beneath, not in flower.

Inch plantTradescantia zebrinaInch plant care that keeps the purple stripe, with how often to water, why the stems go bare in the middle, and how to root cuttings in a week.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

J

1 entry

Hand coloured plate of a thick-stemmed succulent branch carrying paired oval fleshy leaves and a rounded head of small pale pink star flowers, with one flower drawn enlarged below.

Jade plantCrassula ovataJade plant care with the long watering interval it wants, the light that keeps it compact, why leaves drop, and how to root a single leaf.Light full sunWater moderatePets unsafe

K

3 entries

A photograph of a kale plant growing in a vegetable bed, showing the open rosette of long blue green blistered leaves rising from a short thick stem.

KaleBrassica oleracea (Acephala Group)How to grow kale, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 79

Photograph of a young kentia palm growing in a glasshouse bed, a single slender ringed trunk topped by arching feather shaped fronds.

Kentia palmHowea forsterianaKentia palm care for a dim room, with the slow growth to expect, how often to water, and why it is the palm that survives a hallway.Light low lightWater moderatePets safe No. 80

A hand coloured plate of the king protea in flower, a single wide bowl of pointed pink bracts enclosing a dense cream centre, held on a stout red stem above leathery oval leaves.

King proteaProtea cynaroidesKing protea: when to sow the seed in each hemisphere and why, the acid sand and moving air it needs, and why it must never meet a normal fertiliser.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known

L

7 entries

A hand coloured plate of a young lady palm, several slender green canes each carrying a fan of narrow ribbed leaf segments and no flowers.

Lady palmRhapis excelsaLady palm care for a shaded room, with the slow steady growth to expect, how often to water, and why it suits a cool hallway.Light low lightWater moderatePets not known No. 82

Hand coloured plate of a ladyfinger cactus in flower, a low clump of finger shaped stems covered in knobbly tubercles and short spines with open white blooms at the tips.

Ladyfinger cactusMammillaria elongataClusters of finger thick stems covered in golden spines, a windowsill cactus that flowers, and about as easy as a plant gets.Light full sunWater sparingPets not known No. 83

LaurustinusViburnum tinusLaurustinus for winter flowers on an evergreen hedge: why it needs almost no pruning, and the beetle that skeletonises the leaves in spring.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 84

A hand coloured plate of Lavandula angustifolia showing the narrow leaves and the flower spike.

LavenderLavandula angustifoliaLavender care in a pot or a border, with the sun and drainage it insists on, when to cut it back, and why an unpruned plant goes woody and dies.Light full sunWater moderatePets unsafe No. 85

A hand coloured plate of a lemon in flower and fruit, showing a branch of leathery pointed leaves with white five petalled blossom, a whole ripe fruit above and the cut fruit and flower parts studied separately below.

LemonCitrus limonHow to grow lemon, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 86

An engraving of Lactuca sativa showing a low open head of broad crinkled and frilled leaves spreading from a short stem.

LettuceLactuca sativaHow to grow lettuce, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light part shadeWater oftenPets not known No. 87

Engraving of an upright cane in flower, lance-shaped leaves clasping it at the nodes and tufts of narrow flowers held in the leaf axils, surrounded by enlarged studies of the flower, the anthers, the ovary and a seed.

Lucky bambooDracaena sanderianaLucky bamboo care in water or in compost, with how often to change the water, why the leaves go yellow, and why it is not a bamboo at all.Light low lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

M

8 entries

A hand coloured plate of a maidenhair fern showing arching black wiry stems and tiers of small fan shaped leaflets, with a magnified leaflet and a spore case drawn beside it.

Maidenhair fernAdiantum raddianumThe finest foliage of any houseplant on wiry black stems, and the least forgiving. Constant moisture, humidity and no direct sun at all.Light medium lightWater oftenPets not known No. 89

A hand coloured plate of the male fern, one tall twice pinnate frond arching from a scaly brown rootstock with a smaller young frond beside it, bearing spores rather than flowers.

Male fernDryopteris filix-masA hardy garden fern for dry shade: when to plant it in each hemisphere, how little it asks for, and why the old fronds are worth leaving on.Light part shadeWater weeklyPets not known No. 90

An uncoloured engraving of Ming aralia as a branching woody shrub, its pinnate leaves cut into deeply toothed leaflets, in flower with small blooms carried in loose branched umbels.

Ming araliaPolyscias fruticosaFinely divided lacy foliage on woody stems, a slow plant that resents being moved and is worth the patience.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets not known No. 91

A photograph of a mini monstera trailing from a clay pot, its dark green leaves cut almost to the midrib into narrow lobes.

Mini monsteraRhaphidophora tetraspermaNot a monstera and not a philodendron, but a fast climbing aroid with split leaves on a small scale. Bright light and a pole are the whole of it.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 92

A hand coloured plate of Mentha spicata showing the toothed leaves and the spike of small flowers.

MintMentha spicataMint care in a container, with why it must never go straight into a border, how often to water, and how to keep the leaves coming all season.Light part shadeWater oftenPets unsafe No. 93

An uncoloured engraving of a money tree branch in flower, with one palmate leaf of five long leaflets spread from a single point, a tubular flower above and a large ribbed fruit drawn beside it.

Money treePachira aquaticaFive fingered leaves on a plaited trunk, a swamp tree sold as a lucky charm, and easier than its reputation once the watering is right.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets not known No. 94

A photograph of a moon cactus, a single squat globe of deep ribs flushed dusky red and grey, each rib edged with pale curving spines, sitting in coarse volcanic gravel and not in flower.

Moon cactusGymnocalycium mihanovichiiA bright red or yellow ball grafted onto a green stem, which is two plants rather than one, and the reason they are so often short lived.Light bright indirect lightWater sparingPets not known No. 95

A hand coloured plate of Phalaenopsis amabilis showing the white flowers and the strap shaped leaves.

Moth orchidPhalaenopsisMoth orchid care that keeps it flowering, with how to water bark rather than soil, why the roots go silver, and what to do when the last flower drops.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe

N

4 entries

A hand coloured plate of nasturtium showing a trailing stem with round shield shaped leaves and long spurred flowers in orange and red, some fully open and others still in bud.

NasturtiumTropaeolum majusNasturtiums: sowing months for both hemispheres, why thin soil suits them, and what to do about the blackfly they draw away from everything else.Light full sunWater weeklyPets safe No. 97

A hand coloured plate of the nerve plant, a low creeping shoot carrying broad oval leaves netted all over with fine white veins, drawn beside its upright green bracted flower spike with one small yellow flower open.

Nerve plantFittonia albivenisVeined in white or pink over dark green, and the most honest wilter in the house. Humidity, shade and a plant that faints when it is thirsty.Light medium lightWater oftenPets safe No. 98

New Zealand broadleafGriselinia littoralisGriselinia for a wind-resistant coastal hedge: why it needs almost nothing done to it, and the wind scorch that is not actually a disease.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 99

A hand coloured plate of a Norfolk Island pine showing a tiered branch of soft needle covered shoots beside two older scale clad stems, with cone scales and seeds drawn separately below.

Norfolk Island pineAraucaria heterophyllaA soft tiered conifer for a cool bright room, sold every December as a living Christmas tree, and safe for cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe

O

3 entries

A hand coloured engraving of an onion in flower, the papery spathe split back from a rounded head of small pale flowers and young bulbils, carried above two hollow tubular leaves.

OnionAllium cepaHow to grow onion, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 101

A hand coloured plate of an upright oregano stem in flower, carrying paired oval leaves and loose branching heads of small pale pink blooms, flanked by separate studies of one flower and the seed.

OreganoOriganum vulgareHow to grow oregano, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known No. 102

A photograph of an ox tongue in a clay pot, its thick tongue shaped leaves speckled with white and arranged in two opposite ranks, with no flower stem.

Ox tongueGasteria bicolorThick tongue shaped leaves in two ranks, speckled and slightly rough. One of the few succulents that is genuinely happy away from a window.Light medium lightWater sparingPets not known

P

17 entries

A line engraving of a young Chamaedorea elegans showing the slender stem and arching fronds.

Parlour palmChamaedorea elegansParlour palm care for a shaded room, with how often to water, why the tips go brown, and why you must never cut the growing tip off a stem.Light low lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 104

A hand coloured plate of parsley in flower, showing the grooved stem, finely divided triangular leaves and flat umbels of tiny greenish yellow blooms, with the ribbed fruit drawn separately.

ParsleyPetroselinum crispumHow to grow parsley, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light part shadeWater oftenPets unsafe No. 105

A photograph of a Spathiphyllum wallisii in a pot, with several white spathes above the leaves.

Peace lilySpathiphyllum wallisiiPeace lily care for shady rooms, with a watering rhythm that keeps it from wilting, the humidity it wants, and why its white flowers turn green.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 106

A hand coloured plate of the garden pea, showing a climbing stem with paired oval leaflets, broad stipules and coiling tendrils, in flower with white blooms and carrying swelling green pods, with the flower and the seed dissected alongside.

PeasPisum sativumHow to grow peas, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 107

A photograph of garden petunias in flower, several wide magenta trumpets with dark throats opening above soft ovate leaves.

PetuniaPetunia hybridsPetunias in pots and beds: sowing months for each hemisphere, how often they really need feeding, and why they stop flowering in midsummer.Light full sunWater oftenPets safe No. 108

PhotiniaPhotinia × fraseriPhotinia for red new growth on a hedge: how to time the trim so the colour keeps coming, and the leaf spot that never fully clears.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 109

A photograph of Begonia maculata showing the asymmetric olive green leaves spotted with silver, their red undersides behind, and a tight cluster of unopened pink buds on a cane stem.

Polka dot begoniaBegonia maculataSilver spotted wings above red undersides, on tall cane stems. Bright indirect light, water at the rim, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 110

Hand coloured lithograph of a polka dot plant in flower, an upright stem of oval leaves veined in pink carrying a slender spike of small two lipped mauve flowers.

Polka dot plantHypoestes phyllostachyaLeaves splashed in pink, white or red, a plant that needs pinching to stay bushy, and one the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 111

A photograph of a ponytail palm in a botanical garden, its swollen grey trunk splitting into several stems that each carry a fountain of long arching strap leaves.

Ponytail palmBeaucarnea recurvataA swollen water storing trunk under a fountain of thin leaves. Not a palm, nearly impossible to kill by neglect, and safe for cats and dogs.Light full sunWater sparingPets safe No. 112

A hand coloured plate of a pot marigold in flower, showing the branching leafy stem with soft spoon shaped leaves, two open orange yellow daisy heads and the fibrous root, with the florets and curved seeds studied separately.

Pot marigoldCalendula officinalisPot marigold: sowing months for both hemispheres, the very little it asks for, and why it is one of the few bedding flowers the ASPCA calls safe.Light full sunWater weeklyPets safe No. 113

A black and white engraving of a potato plant showing a leafy stem with large pinnate leaves, nodding star shaped flowers, round green berries and a single tuber below.

PotatoSolanum tuberosumHow to grow potato, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 114

A plate of Epipremnum aureum under its old name Pothos aureus, showing the variegated climbing stem.

PothosEpipremnum aureumPothos care made simple, with a seasonal watering interval, the light it really needs to keep its variegation, and quick fixes for yellow or limp leaves.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 115

A photograph of Maranta leuconeura showing the broad oval leaves, dark green with pale herringbone veining, spreading in a low mass with a few small white flowers among them.

Prayer plantMaranta leuconeuraPrayer plant care with the humidity and water it wants, why the leaves fold up at night, what browns the edges, and how to root a cutting in water.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 116

A hand coloured plate of purple coneflower in full flower, three heads of drooping rose pink ray florets around a domed orange brown cone, carried on stiff stems above broad ovate leaves with sunken veins.

Purple coneflowerEchinacea purpureaPurple coneflower: sowing and planting months for both hemispheres, the drainage it insists on in winter, and why the seed heads are worth leaving up.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 117

A photograph of purple heart in flower, its sprawling stems carrying deep purple lance shaped leaves and two three petalled pink flowers with bright yellow stamens.

Purple heartTradescantia pallidaDeep violet stems and leaves that hold their colour only in strong light. Fast, easy, rooted from any piece, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 118

A hand coloured engraving of a purple shamrock in flower, a low clump of long stalked leaves each of three broad triangular leaflets beneath a slender stem of pale lilac blooms.

Purple shamrockOxalis triangularisPurple shamrock care with the light its triangular leaves want, why they fold up at night, and what to do when the whole plant dies back.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 119

A photograph of a pygmy date palm, its short shaggy trunks topped by a dense crown of finely divided arching fronds.

Pygmy date palmPhoenix roebeleniiA small true palm with fine arching fronds and a stout trunk. Bright light, steady water, and safe for cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe

R

12 entries

Photograph of a fern with arching triangular fronds cut into fine lacy segments, spreading from a creeping rhizome against darker glossy leaves behind.

Rabbit's foot fernDavallia fejeensisFurry creeping rhizomes that climb out over the pot rim, lacy fronds above, and one of the ferns the ASPCA lists as safe.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 121

A woodcut of Raphanus sativus within a decorative border, showing the long tapering root below a tuft of lobed leaves and two small flowers.

RadishRaphanus sativusHow to grow radish, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 122

A hand coloured engraving of Rubus idaeus showing a prickly cane with coarsely toothed leaves and a cluster of ripe red and unripe yellow raspberries.

RaspberryRubus idaeusRaspberries: when to plant the canes in each hemisphere, the difference between the summer and autumn crops, and which canes to cut after fruiting.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 123

A photograph of a rattlesnake plant growing in leaf litter, its upright wavy edged lance shaped leaves marked along the midrib with dark oval blotches.

Rattlesnake plantGoeppertia lancifoliaWavy narrow leaves marked like a snake, deep purple underneath, and safe for cats and dogs. Shade, soft water and steady moisture.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 124

A hand coloured plate of a rex begonia in flower, showing one large puckered heart shaped leaf banded in silver over dark green, bristly red stalks rising from the rhizome and a spray of pale pink flowers held above the foliage.

Rex begoniaBegonia rexRex begonia care for the leaves rather than the flowers, with the humidity it wants, why the edges crisp, and how to root a single leaf.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 125

A hand coloured plate of rhubarb, showing thick pale leaf stalks carrying large broad crinkled leaves and a branched head of small cream flowers, with single florets drawn enlarged beside it.

RhubarbRheum rhabarbarumRhubarb: when to plant the crowns in each hemisphere, when the first sticks can be pulled, and why the leaves must never go anywhere near a kitchen.Light full sunWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 126

A hand coloured plate of the ribbon fern, its long narrow fronds split into strap-shaped leaflets with a pale band along each midrib and finely toothed tips, rising on slender stalks from a scaly crown.

Ribbon fernPteris creticaNarrow ribbon fronds, often striped in silver, on a small tolerant fern for a shaded shelf. Safe for cats and dogs.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 127

A photograph of a ripple peperomia, a low mound of deeply corrugated heart shaped leaves in dark red and green with two slender cream flower spikes standing above them.

Ripple peperomiaPeperomia caperataDeeply corrugated heart shaped leaves in dark green or wine red, a small pot, very little water, and safe for cats and dogs.Light medium lightWater moderatePets safe No. 128

A hand coloured engraving of rocket in flower, an upright branching stem of pale cream flowers with dark veins standing above deeply pinnately lobed leaves, drawn beside a second shoot lifted to show its slender taproot and a few detached seed pods.

RocketEruca vesicariaHow to grow rocket, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light part shadeWater oftenPets not known No. 129

A hand coloured stipple engraving of a garden rose in flower, one full crimson bloom open above two tight buds on an arching prickled stem set with pinnate leaves of toothed oval leaflets.

RoseRosa hybridsRoses in the ground: the bare root planting months for each hemisphere, how much water a new bush wants, and how to read black spot.Light full sunWater weeklyPets safe No. 130

A hand coloured plate of rosemary showing the needle leaves and the pale blue flowers.

RosemarySalvia rosmarinusRosemary care in a pot or the ground, with the drainage it insists on, when to prune without killing it, and how to root a cutting in autumn.Light full sunWater moderatePets safe No. 131

A hand coloured plate of Ficus elastica showing a leafy branch with the fruit and flower parts beside it.

Rubber plantFicus elasticaRubber plant care with the light and watering it wants, why the lower leaves drop, and how to cut a leggy stem back so it branches.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe

S

20 entries

A hand coloured engraving of garden sage, a low woody shrub with grey-green oval leaves of pebbled texture, in flower with a spike of hooded violet blooms and a single flower opened out below.

SageSalvia officinalisHow to grow sage, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater moderatePets safe No. 133

A hand coloured plate of satin pothos, three heart-shaped leaves marbled with silver on a slender climbing stem, shown in leaf only with no flowers.

Satin pothosScindapsus pictusSatin pothos care for a shelf or a pole, with the light that keeps the silver spots, how often to water, and how to root a cutting.Light medium lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 134

A hand coloured plate of scarlet sage in full flower, upright spikes of tubular scarlet blooms set in scarlet bracts above pointed toothed leaves, with two single flowers drawn enlarged beside the stem.

Scarlet sageSalvia splendensScarlet sage: sowing months for both hemispheres, the heat and light it needs to colour up, and how to keep it flowering into the autumn.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 135

A hand coloured plate of scarlet star in flower, a rosette of long arching strap shaped leaves spreading from a swollen base bound to a slab of bark, with a flat scarlet star of bracts and small white flowers at its centre.

Scarlet starGuzmania lingulataA rosette with a scarlet bract that lasts for months, watered into its own central cup, and safe for cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 136

Hand coloured lithograph of a rosette of long stiff sword-shaped leaves banded in dark and pale green, rising from a short creeping rootstock with a slender spike of white flowers at the centre.

Snake plantDracaena trifasciataSnake plant care with the long soak-and-dry watering interval it prefers, the light it tolerates, and what a soft or wrinkled leaf is telling you.Light low lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 137

Hand coloured engraving of a leafy shrub stem in flower, its narrow strap-shaped leaves crowded and bent back along the cane beside a loose spray of small white flowers and two round red fruits.

Song of IndiaDracaena reflexaShort cream edged leaves crowded along leaning canes. A slow, tolerant dracaena for a bright room, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 138

A line drawing of Chlorophytum comosum in a hanging basket, its arching strap leaves above long wiry runners that carry small rosettes of plantlets.

Spider plantChlorophytum comosumSpider plant care with the watering rhythm it prefers, why the tips go brown, and how to root the plantlets it hangs from every stem.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 139

A hand coloured plate of spinach showing upright leafy shoots with broad arrow shaped leaves, a stem carrying clusters of small green flowers, and enlarged details of the flower and the seed.

SpinachSpinacia oleraceaHow to grow spinach, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light part shadeWater oftenPets not known No. 140

A photograph of a staghorn fern clumped at the foot of a tree trunk, its arching strap-shaped fronds forking into antler-like lobes above a rounded brown shield frond that clasps the bark.

Staghorn fernPlatycerium bifurcatumStaghorn fern care on a board or in a basket, with how to water a plant that has no soil and why the flat brown shield is not dying.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets safe No. 141

A watercolour plate of a garden strawberry in fruit, a thick stem bowing under ripe red berries with green calyces, one berry cut across to show its pale flesh, alongside unripe green fruit and grey green leaflets.

StrawberryFragaria x ananassaHow to grow strawberry, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 142

A hand coloured plate of Saxifraga stolonifera showing rounded leaves veined in white on red hairy stalks, thread like runners carrying a young plantlet, and a spray of white flowers with two long lower petals.

Strawberry begoniaSaxifraga stoloniferaRound silver veined leaves that send out red runners with new plants on the end. Cool, shaded, easy, and it makes its own replacements.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 143

A hand coloured plate of string of hearts in flower, showing slender trailing stems strung with small heart shaped leaves marbled in silver, round tubers along the stems and narrow pink flowers opening to a dark tip.

String of heartsCeropegia woodiiMarbled heart shaped leaves in pairs on thread thin trailing stems, growing from small tubers, and one of the easiest trailers there is.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets not known No. 144

A photograph of a string of pearls, its slender trailing stems threaded with round bead like leaves and spilling across bare soil, with no flowers open.

String of pearlsCurio rowleyanusString of pearls care that stops the beads shrivelling, with the light and watering it needs, why strands go bare, and how to fill a thin pot fast.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe No. 145

A photograph of a clump of stromanthe with upright lance shaped leaves, glossy green with a pale midrib above and deep wine red beneath, not in flower.

StromantheStromanthe sanguineaCream, green and deep pink above, solid magenta below, and it folds itself up every night. Shade, humidity and soft water.Light medium lightWater weeklyPets not known No. 146

Hand coloured plate of a stout sunflower stem in flower, carrying two broad golden ray heads and a pair of tight buds above large heart shaped leaves.

SunflowerHelianthus annuusSunflowers: sowing months for both hemispheres, how much water a tall one drinks in a week, and how to keep the stem from snapping in wind.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 147

Wood engraving of a sweet pea in flower, slender stems with curling tendrils and narrow pointed leaves carrying several broad winged blooms.

Sweet peaLathyrus odoratusSweet peas: the autumn and spring sowing months for both hemispheres, why they want a deep root run, and how picking every day keeps them coming.Light full sunWater oftenPets not known No. 148

A photograph of a sweetheart hoya on a windowsill, its thick heart shaped leaves set in pairs along long arching stems rising from a small pot, with no flowers.

Sweetheart hoyaHoya kerriiA single thick heart shaped leaf in a pot, sold every February, that will never grow unless it came with a piece of stem attached.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets not known No. 149

A hand coloured plate of Beta vulgaris in flower, showing broad wavy leaves at the foot of tall slender flower spikes, with the small green florets and the seed studied separately around them.

Swiss chardBeta vulgaris subsp. ciclaHow to grow swiss chard, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater weeklyPets not known No. 150

An engraving of Monstera deliciosa showing the split and holed leaves on a climbing stem.

Swiss cheese plantMonstera deliciosaHow to care for a Monstera deliciosa indoors, with a watering interval that changes with the season and the light, plus its usual ailments and their fixes.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 151

A hand coloured lithograph of a Swiss cheese vine in flower, a large cream spathe furled open around a knobbled spadix with one thick perforated leaf standing behind it.

Swiss cheese vineMonstera adansoniiThe trailing monstera, with holes in every leaf from the start. Bright indirect light, a moss pole or a shelf edge, and a drink when the top dries.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe

T

7 entries

A hand coloured plate of common thyme showing a low woody sprig with many fine branches, tiny narrow leaves and clusters of pale mauve flowers at the shoot tips, with three enlarged flower details beneath.

ThymeThymus vulgarisHow to grow thyme, when to sow it in each hemisphere, what it needs from light and water, and what usually goes wrong.Light full sunWater moderatePets safe No. 153

Hand coloured lithograph of a slender single-caned shrub topped by a spreading crown of lance-shaped leaves in rose and green, a drooping pink flower panicle beside the stem and two small flower studies at the right.

Ti plantCordyline fruticosaStrap leaves in pink, red and cream on a slim cane. Bright light keeps the colour, and it is toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 154

A photograph of a tomato plant carrying a truss of green fruit.

TomatoSolanum lycopersicumTomato growing from sowing to picking, with when to start seed in each hemisphere, how much water a fruiting plant needs, and what splits the fruit.Light full sunWater oftenPets unsafe No. 155

Photograph of a low trailing succulent in flower, its slim cylindrical leaves creeping through surrounding greenery with two magenta-pink daisy-like blooms open at the centre.

Trailing ice plantDelosperma cooperiTrailing ice plant: planting months for both hemispheres, how seldom it wants water, and where it will and will not survive the winter.Light full sunWater moderatePets not known No. 156

A hand painted manuscript illustration of a tree aeonium, a bare branching woody stem carrying a rosette of leaves at the tip of every branch, with the roots shown at the base and no flowers.

Tree aeoniumAeonium arboreumFlat rosettes like green or near black roses on bare branching stems. A winter grower that sleeps through the summer, which surprises people.Light full sunWater rarelyPets not known No. 157

A wood engraving of Philodendron bipinnatifidum showing a spreading clump of deeply cut leaves, each divided into narrow lobes, on stout stalks rising from a short stem.

Tree philodendronPhilodendron bipinnatifidumA philodendron that grows out rather than up, with deeply cut leaves a metre across. Bright indirect light, room to spread and very little else.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 158

A hand coloured plate of four garden tulips in flower, each a single cup shaped bloom on an upright stem above broad grey green strap shaped leaves, feathered and striped in yellow, white, crimson and red.

TulipTulipa gesnerianaTulips: when to plant the bulbs in each hemisphere, why late planting helps, and what tulip fire looks like on a leaf before it spreads.Light full sunWater rarelyPets unsafe

U

1 entry

A photograph of a dwarf umbrella tree growing as a spreading shrub in the open, its glossy leaves splayed into fingers of oval leaflets and its branch tips loaded with sprays of small orange fruit.

Umbrella plantSchefflera arboricolaGlossy leaflets spread like the spokes of an umbrella, a fast easy tree for a bright corner, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe

W

3 entries

A hand coloured plate of a single watermelon peperomia leaf, broad and heart shaped and not in flower, its dark green blade banded with silver between the veins that radiate from the stalk.

Watermelon peperomiaPeperomia argyreiaStriped round leaves on red stalks, a small plant for a shelf, and one of the few the ASPCA lists as safe for both cats and dogs.Light medium lightWater moderatePets safe No. 161

A hand coloured plate of Hoya carnosa showing the thick leaves and a cluster of star shaped flowers.

Wax plantHoya carnosaWax plant care that brings it into flower, with the light it needs, why you must never cut the old flower stalks off, and how long it takes to bloom.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets safe No. 162

A plate of Ficus benjamina showing a fruiting branch with small paired figs.

Weeping figFicus benjaminaWeeping fig care that stops the leaf drop, with the one position it wants, why it sheds after every move, and how to prune a leggy tree.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets unsafe

Y

1 entry

A black and white line engraving of a tree yucca showing a stout branching trunk topped with rosettes of strap shaped leaves, beside a large detail of the dense drooping flower panicle rising from stiff pointed foliage.

YuccaYucca giganteaYucca care indoors, with the sun and the long watering interval it wants, why the lower leaves brown, and how to cut a tall cane back and root the top.Light full sunWater moderatePets unsafe

Z

3 entries

A hand coloured plate of a zebra alocasia showing tall stalks banded in dark green and cream carrying arrow shaped leaves, with the whole plant drawn again small in a pot at the side and no flowers.

Zebra alocasiaAlocasia zebrinaArrow leaves held on striped stems that are the point of the plant. Bright indirect light, warmth, and toxic to cats and dogs.Light bright indirect lightWater weeklyPets unsafe No. 165

An engraving of haworthias in outline, showing a clump of stiff tapering leaves sending up a slender branched flower spike, a single leaf ridged with rows of raised white dots, and two rosettes drawn larger beside them.

Zebra haworthiaHaworthia fasciataA small stiff rosette banded in white, happy on a windowsill for years, and one of the succulents the ASPCA lists as safe.Light bright indirect lightWater moderatePets safe No. 166

A hand coloured plate of Zamioculcas zamiifolia showing the glossy leaflets and the pale spathe.

ZZ plantZamioculcas zamiifoliaZZ plant care for dark rooms and forgetful owners, with the long watering interval it wants, what yellow leaves mean, and how to split a crowded pot.Light low lightWater sparingPets unsafe