Hot Tip: New Kids on The Block
Houseplants have been around for ages and historically it has trended much like the cycles of prior economic bubbles. Interestingly enough, Apartment Therapy just shared a nice little history on this current millennial way of life, so I’ll let them tell that story.
That being said, I’m definitely still drinking the kool-aid and keeping my eye out for what’s hot in the world of plant babies. First there was the explosive onset of the fiddle leaf fig, then all things monstera… which eventually established its own sub-feed #monsteramonday, and then it was the hot money plant pilea peperomioides hailing from the Far East. I actually remember when I first started making calls on the hunt for the highly sought after pilea plant, which has now made its way to nurseries nationwide. I finally sourced my first pilea clipping from our northern friends in Canada.
And now for my prediction on the next super plant to make waves… the stephania erecta craib! Yes, the name does read a bit provocative and I’m trying to be an adult and not laugh every time I type it out. Sharing a similar leaf profile to the pilea, this plant comes from Thailand. This Caudiciform plant, also known as the fat plant forms a caudex, or a bulbous succulent root. The swollen root is used for water or food storage and allows the plant to survive for long periods of time without water or other nutrients. There’s something about that coconut-like base and organic sprout that reads like a modern living sculpture.
I did a little hunting around and found a few spots that are selling the stephania erecta plant. I purchased my first one here. A few others on Etsy here and here. It’s a little pricey right now, but if you’re one that has to have the hot new plant, could be worth the investment. It’ll definitely ensure your status as one of the cool kids on the block.
Here’s a gallery of the finest stephania erecta I’ve seen. A lot of them have been popping up in Asia and I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of them stateside. Feast your eyes!
