How to Identify Leaves of House Plants

The leaves of the croton are a blaze of yellows, reds and greens.

A collection of thriving, healthy houseplants can enhance any decor. Not only do houseplants brighten dim corners, enliven windowsills and add drama and interest to hallways, they also help to clean and purify the air in your home or office. From ferns to palms to succulents, there is a wide variety of houseplants that can be grown indoors with minimal difficulty or expense. Whether you are trying to educate yourself in advance as you prepare for a walk through an indoor conservatory or formal arboretum or are simply curious as to the name of that interesting-looking houseplant your grandmother has owned for years, there are some simple observational techniques you can use to identify the leaves of common houseplants.

Instructions

1. Identify the leaves of the philodendron---also called the sweetheart plant and parlor ivy---by noting the heart-shaped, shiny leaves, usually 2 to 4 inches long. If the leaves---which can be either solid green or streaked with white---feel thin and flat to the touch, this is another indication that the plant could be a philodendron.

2. Recognize the leaves of the aloe vera plant by running your finger along the edges of the fleshy, spiny, spear-shaped leaves. You will feel a row of sharp teeth. If the leaves are fleshy, almost pulpy, to the touch, this is another sign that the plant could be an aloe vera. Break one of the pale-green leaves in half to see the clear, sticky gel that is prized for its healing and anti-inflammatory qualities. The juice made from aloe vera gel contains a host of antioxidants and vitamins.

3. Identify the foliage of the Christmas cactus by looking for leaves that are flat, squarish and toothy on the edges and connected end-to-end like links in a chain. If the plant features brightly colored blossoms in December, it is more likely that the plant is a Christmas cactus. These tropical cacti are actually epiphytes, or air plants; in the wild they can be found living in the forks of tree limbs.

4. Recognize croton leaves by their spectacular hues of rich gold, buttery yellow, emerald green, orange, scarlet and crimson. Touch the leaves; they should feel somewhat stiff and leathery. The shapes and sizes of the leaves vary from flat and wide to ruffled and narrow, but the rainbow of colors is proof positive that the leaf you are looking at is from a croton plant.

5. Spot the spider plant, also called the ribbon plant, by observing that the gracefully drooping leaves are long, narrow and pointed on the end. Some varieties of spider plants feature leaves with a distinctive stripe of white running up the center. Another clue that you are looking at a spider plant is the presence of miniature plants, or plantlets, hanging from the parent plant.

6. Spot the snake plant---also known as Mother-in-Law's Tongue---by observing the long, narrow, erect leaves that are pointed at the ends. If the deep green leaves are patterned with irregular bands of deeper green running crosswise, this is another sign that the plant is a snake plant, as is the presence of banana-yellow borders. The length of the leaves---often up to 4 and 5 feet long---is a giveaway that the plant is a snake plant.

7. Distinguish African violet leaves by their grayish-green color, purplish undersides, rounded shape and fuzzy texture. The presence of purple flowers with bright yellow centers is a clear indication that the plant leaf is from an African violet.

8. Identify the jade plant---also known as the Chinese rubber plant and the dollar plant---by noting that each pair of shiny, jade-green, teardrop-shaped leaves is positioned exactly opposite each other on the stem. Feel the leaves; they will have the thick and fleshy texture common to succulents.

References

• Guide to Houseplants: House Plants Encyclopedia A to Z
• Houseplant Growing: Popular Houseplants and Their Preferred Growing Conditions
• Crotons: Croton Plant Information