My top three underrated houseplants

(From left) Coleus, parlour palm and florist’s gloxinia.

The last time I talked about underrated houseplants was in June 2020 (On The Ledge episode 144): since then, one of the species I mentioned, Pilea 'Moon Valley', has hit the big time: you can get them everywhere now. A one-in-three hit rate isn't bad, I guess. 

Nearly three years on, it felt right to put the spotlight on three more plants. These species, while not rare, classed as 'unicorns' or sold for silly money, deserve more of a shout on the houseplant scene. The plants are pictured above, left to right. 

1. Coleus (Coleus scutellarioides)

You'll sometimes see coleus sold in bedding packs in the garden centre, but for some inexplicable reason, people don't often grow them as houseplants in the UK. They are far more popular in North America, where a wider range of cultivars are available in wonderful patterns and colours such as 'Fishnet Stockings' and 'Campfire'. THey are the perfect low-risk purchase: you can grow a load of plants from seed and the foliage is as gorgeous as many a more pricey species: any spares can be chucked in a container outside if you have the space as summer bedding. Coleus tend to be shortlived indoors, but it's easy to take cuttings and make more. The best UK source is Dibleys for plug plants, while Just Seed has the best range of varieties to raise from seed. More on coleus in On The Ledge episode 62. 

2. Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) 

Parlour palms are the quiet stalwarts of the palm world. They may lack the prestige of a Kentia or the elegance of an areca, but they will sit in often dismal light conditions for months or even years and still look great. I guess I have a soft spot for this species as it's one of the first houseplants I owned as a child. It's sold as a cheap-as-chips houseplant across the globe, usually as a bunch of a dozen or more seedlings in a single pot. In its native Mexico and Central America, it is a single-stemmed plant, so for long term success as a houseplant, separate out the plants to a maximum of three or four per pot to reduce overcrowding. In Guatemala, the parlour palm is one of three Chamaedorea species collected for xate. 

3. Florist's gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)

This unabashedly OTT houseplant is overdue a revival - surely the perfect antidote to the general gloom of 2023? The flowers are stupidly bright, and come in a sickening range of shades. They're easy to grow from seed, or take the short cut and buy a tuber (I have a visceral need for 'Tigrina Blue' right now). Like Caldiums, this species exhibits seasonal dormancy, so you get a fresh set of leaves and blooms to enjoy every year. If you're not quite ready to embrace florist's gloxinia, their more subdued relative Sinningia leucotricha will probably be more to your liking. More on Sinningias in On The Ledge episode 225.

This blogpost was taken from The Plant Ledger, my twice monthly email newsletter about the UK houseplant scene. Subscribe here and get my free in-depth guide to fungus gnats.