You can probably recognize a cactus without looking twice. But is it a marine? Or a trachyandra? The Good House Keeping website has collected fifteen curious and strange, but (very) beautiful plants that you have probably never heard of. The best part is that they can all be grown indoors and require very basic care. Check out:
1. Senecio peregrinus
The Japanese are becoming obsessed with these adorable little succulents, which look like tiny dolphins leaping through the air. – therefore they are also called Dolphin Succulents. The older the succulent, the more the leaves look like dolphins! Cute, isn’t it?
2. Marimo
Another plant that the Japanese love – some even take care of them as if they were pets. Its scientific name is Aegagropila linnaei, a species of filamentous green algae that can be found in lakes in the northern hemisphere. The cool thing is that they grow in a spherical shape with a velvety texture and are grown in water. To care for them, replace the water in the container every two weeks and keep the plant in indirect sunlight.
3. Hoya Kerrii
Also known as the heart plant, due to the shape of its leaves, this plant is native to Southeast Asia. It’s a popular Valentine’s Day gift around the world (for obvious reasons) and is easy to care for, like most succulents.
4. Cactus-sianinha
Although this plant is technically called Selenicereus Anthonyanus, it is better known by its nicknames, such as zigzag cactus or lady of the night. Like most cacti, it is easy to care for and produces pink flowers.
5. Trachyandra
It looks like a plant from another planet, right? But it exists in real life and is native to eastern and southern Africa.
6. Rose-succulent
Technically, these plants are called Greenovia Dodrentalis, but they got their nickname because they look like the classic red flowers you get on Valentine’s Day. However, these succulents are much easier to grow than roses. – all you have to do is water the soil when it’s dry!
7. Crassula Umbella
The nickname for this unique plant is wine glass – for obvious reasons. It grows up to six inches tall when it produces flowers, which turn into small yellow-green buds.
8. Euphorbia Obesa
Native to South Africa, it resembles a ball and is commonly called the baseball plant. It can grow from six to six inches wide and stores water in a reservoir to protect against drought.
9. Euphorbia Caput-Medusae
This succulent is often called the “jellyfish head” as it resembles the serpents of the mythological figure. It is native to Cape Town, South Africa.
10. Platycerium bifurcatum
It is a perfect plant to be grown on the wall, like a vertical garden. Popularly known as deer horn, it is a plant of the fern family, with two distinct types of leaves.
11. Hazelnuts
Its scientific name is Euphorbia tirucalli, but it is also popularly called pau-pelado, crown-of-christ, pencil-tree or fire-sticks, in English, thanks to the reddish color that appears at the ends of the branches, which can grow up to eight meters in height.
12. Haworthia Cooperi
It is a herbaceous and succulent plant, originating in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It grows in clusters of dense rosettes, with light green, translucent leaves that look like small bubbles.
13. Sedum Morganianum
Commonly known as rabo-de-burro, it produces stems that can grow up to 60 centimeters in length, blue-green leaves and pink star-shaped flowers. It is native to southern Mexico and Honduras.
14. Zigzag Grass
scientifically called Juncus Effusus Spiralis, this grass has a fun shape that grows naturally. It tends to spread easily when planted in the ground, so growing it in a pot is the best way to go.
15. Gentiana Urnula
Also known as “starfish,” this succulent plant is low maintenance, making it a great choice for a rock garden.
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