Unusual House Plants

Unusual house plants remind us of the diversity of nature.      

Just think...these remarkable plants originate from the far reaches of the globe and can reside with us in our homes.

Transplanted from foreign lands, unusual house plants call upon our sense of wonder. But their greater appeal lies in our ability to cultivate them.

This is just a handful of the odd, interesting, most peculiar plants I've come across that can be grown indoors.

Get to Know These Cool, Unusual House Plants

Photo © Maya Malkova

Coral Bead Plant

This New Zealand native grows in a thick mat of intertwining stems with leaves that resemble Baby's Tears. In early summer small, white flowers appear followed by orange-red berries that completely cover the foliage.

I don't have experience with this one. From what I've read, Coral Bead Plant can be fussy about temperature and water, often making it a temporary house plant.

Living Stones

An amazing likeness to small stones makes this succulent blend in to its native South African landscape. Lithops species give us a lot of varieties from which to choose, in a range of colors and patterns. Bright yellow daisy-like flowers appear once a year in mature plants.

Its curious habits make Living Stones a fascinating house plant to grow year-round.

Photo © Aof Aloha

Air Plants

Air Plants are the rootless wonders of the plant world.

Members of the bromeliad family, they grow lodged in the branches of trees in the South American rain forests, taking in moisture and nutrients through their leaves.

Their unusual nature allows a lot of creative possibilities as to where to grow them. They are shown here suspended by wire as hanging plants.

Photo © Wirestock

Paddle Plant

Large, flat leaves gives this odd-looking succulent plant its common name. This South African native belongs to the diverse Kalanchoe family of succulents.

Paddle Plant thrives in bright light, and its greenish-gray leaves will become red-tinged when exposed to full sun. Decorative year-round, this handsome houseplant adds a lot of character to a sunny room.

Juncus 

Put some sizzle in a sunny window with Juncus plant. You'll be captivated with its curly-Q stems.

Native to marshy areas in its homeland of Japan, this is one plant you can't overwater. Give it plenty of water and direct sunlight and you'll enjoy this unusual house plant for a long time.

Photo © Chernetskaya

Coffee Plant

This is the plant that produces the world's most popular breakfast beverage.

Can you grow Coffee Plant in your home? You bet. But if you're expecting it to make your morning cup of joe you may be disappointed. When grown indoors, Coffee arabica may produce a few beans, that when roasted and ground equals a few spoonfuls of coffee. It makes a nice house plant, though.

Eventually this shrub will grow up to 3 feet tall. You can prune it back for a bushy, compact plant, if you want. Mature plants may bloom indoors, with clusters of delightfully fragrant white flowers.