Looking for a plant that flowers for months and makes the perfect winter gift? Cyclamen persicum is your go-to for cool-season colour and easy care.

Caladiums are grown for their beautiful leaves which appear in the warmer months from corms. The older and fuller in the pot or garden the better the leaf colour.

You want a plant that flowers most of the year, easy to look after, doesn’t mind being a little on dry side and survives in the shade? I have the perfect plants for you - Streptocarpus

Perfect Indoor Plant, this plant is an understory plant of the rainforest and basically requires very little light (hence its common name 'Dungeon Plant') and very low water. Which is probably why it was so popular.

Aglaonema, what’s not to love? Spectacular Foliage Colours, Fabulous Indoors Plant, Grows well outside in Full Shade but can tolerate a little sun, Great for Pots or Gardens, Tolerates Dry Conditions

No special instructions apart from, don’t over love/water them.

Now I am sure there are many people out there with their own methods of keeping African violets alive but I’m working with the theory “Treat ‘em mean keep ‘em Green”.

The best thing about Dieffenbachias is that they look good on a table looking down onto their foliage but they also look great up high looking up into their foliage. They are so versatile and I love using them around the home.

Tillandsias have evolved into a remarkable genus adapting to a wide range of conditions with the amazing ability of being able to capture all water and nutrients via small scales on the leaf surface rather than through roots. So while Tillandsias grow ‘in the air’ they still need some basic requirements.

Alocasias are fast becoming a must have indoor plant. You will need a bright or really well lit area in your home for these babies. They tend to turn their leaves to face the light, so not great for dark areas.

Most anthuriums we see today are a form of Anthurium ambianum. This form can handle the cool (though it hates the frost) and low-light conditions. In warmer areas, these grow well outside in the full shade or you can grow them indoors.

I love Philodendron Micans as they have lovely deep green almost black velvety, heart-shaped leaves that are iridescent. On the backside is a deep beautiful red colour. t. It loves hanging down from the top of a bookshelf and being forgotten about but I’m also training one up a coir fibre pole as it’s perfect for skinny places in home where I need height without bulk.

Rhaphidophora decursiva. In it’s native environment it climbs up things like trees and rocks using its aerial roots to grip to the trunks or surfaces of rocks. In a pot inside I suggest you get a chunky iron bark stake or a nice trellis for it to climb up. We had a stake at home and ours has twinned itself around it, to form a thick green pole.

Muehlenbeckia platyclada comes from the tropical regions of New Guinea and Solman Islands. In its natural habitat it can handle sun but needs lots of moisture and humidity. I have found an exceptionally well lit indoor spot is perfect for this plant.

Rhipsalis are an interesting plant as it’s belongs to the cacti genus but don’t really behave how we would expect a cactus to behave. They hate full sun, the much prefer a warm shady spot and they like a little moisture around them. In their natural habitat you would find them in the tree canopy. So I find growing them inside, in a small pot in which they can ultimately hang down the sides is perfect.

Monstera adansonii and Monstera adansonii ‘Monkey Mask’, Both of these adansonii’s have dark green leaves’ that have small holes inside the leaf literally looking like a piece of Swiss cheese.

Ficus elastica is in my eyes a brilliant indoor plant and for me no where near as temperamental as the fiddle leaf. It’s one that was showing it’s worth when house plants were cool in the 70s.

Like all ficus, these bad boys are grown to make a statement. Huge glossy leaves make this plant look fake or too perfect.

Aeschynanthus marmoratus had a dark green oval shaped leaf with these amazing veins of maroon. What’s even better is the bottom of the leaf is slightly cooler than the top. It’s like it was made to hang in a basket.

Monstera Siltepecana is one of the 50 named and lucky for you, is at Trevallan right now. It has beautiful green leaves with silver patches and prominent veins. It will climb if given the chance but as it’s branches are really soft it works wonderfully as a trailing plant too.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, the sign at Trevallan Lifestyle Centre reads no care, no fuss house plant.

Peperomia argyreia usually only grow to about 20cms high and about 40cms wide. The have lush deep green leaves that are slightly fleshy. The leaves have silver curved stripes and sit atop red stems. I find in the right light the leaves sparkle. Tiny green flower spikes appear in summer.

Saxifraga stolonifera .... commonly known as Strawberry Begonia even though It’s not relative of either one. This little guy isn’t widely cultivated but it’s slowly been making its way into our hearts as a cute indoor plant or a great ground cover for shady areas. It has even been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

Maiden Hairs. I adore them. I adore the common ones and the real frilly leaf ones. I adore the ones that get red new growth and the ones that don’t. I adore the fat leaf ones and the skinny leaf ones. I just love them.

Dracaena trifasciata is one of my most recommended indoor plants.

It seems to survive the most unsuitable growing conditions, abuse and neglect. Basically, you have to work really hard to kill these Dracaenas. (I must be honest here and mention I have killed one, but it was purely from too much accidental love!)

Nothing kick starts you like the vibrant shades of the Kalanchoe. These hardy plants are perfect for giving your garden some TLC during winter.

Kokedama is a style of Japanese bonsai made by taking a plant out of its pot and into a ball held together with a unique soil mixture, moss and string.