Some of my favorite houseplants are plants that are native to Africa. I’m obsessed with learning more about them and becoming a plant mom to even more plant life that hails from the Motherland.
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It all started with a Snake Plant. I’ve had my Snake Plant for almost 2 or 3 years now, and it has survived the learning curve I had to go through in order to become a thriving plant parent. Once I started researching my houseplants, I learned more about Snake Plants and the many forms that they come in. I also learned that they are from Africa. That led me on a google search identifying each of my plants to see if any of the others were native to Africa, as well.
Being the caretaker for plants that have probably never actually been in Africa, but that originated in Africa, felt all too familiar to me as an African-American woman that is a descendent of kidnapped and enslaved African people in the United States. Even more than feeling connected to the plants, I feel connected to Africa. I hope it doesn’t seem shallow, because it was a happy revelation and adoration that happened when I learned that these plants are from Africa. They bring me joy, and I can’t wait to make room for even more plants that are native to Africa.
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5 houseplants that are native to Africa
Snake plant / Sansevieria / Sansevieria trifasciata (Dracaena trifasciata)
The snake plant, nicknamed “mother in law tongue,” is native to West Africa. I have seen this plant my entire life – nearly every family member of mine has one or more in their home. This is an easy going plant. It can flower in the spring, and if pollinated, it’ll produce babies. If you ever get the chance to repot the snake plant, check out those roots! They’re orange and even have bulbs that help store water – and that means that you don’t have to water it often. This is one of my older plants, and I really adore its chill nature and simple lifestyle.
🌍 Native to West Africa
☀ indirect light
🜃 well-draining, even soilless poting mix
💧 allow soil to dry, don’t overwater
🚫 toxic to humans & pets
Sansevieria Starfish (Sansevieria cylindrica – compact)
This star is native to Central Africa, specifically Angola. The Starfish Sansevieria (sansevieria cylindrica compact) is a variation of the sansevieria cylindrica. Instead of standing straight up, the spears form in a more compact way, if you will. In this way, the spears fan out from a central point, forming what looks like a fan, and in some ways it looks like a starfish! This is my latest plant on my journey to become plant mama to many variations of sansevieria plants.
🌍 Native to Central Africa (Angola)
☀ partial – full sun
🜃 succulent potting mix for soil
💧 water when completely dry
🚫 toxic to humans & pets
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Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The Spider Plant is native to South and West Africa. It took a while for me to learn exactly how to care for my Spider Plant, but it looks so happy now that all of its needs are met! This poor thing has seen some sad days, but with a change in soil, a breathable terra cotta planter, being moved out of direct sun, and getting watered less often, this baby is thriving. I can’t wait until it grows some pups so that I can care for even more Spider Plants.
🌍 Native to South &West Africa
☀ bright indirect light
🜃 general soil, or soilless medium
💧 keep soil moist in spring & summer
🚫 non-toxic; hallucinogenic to cats
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ is indestructible, y’all! This is a plant that can weather the storm of you being a bad plant parent. But I encourage you to do your research and care for it well – it really doesn’t take much. It’s also an absolutely beautiful plant. There are variations in color, as well – one that has green and white foliage and another that has a dark black foliage. The ZZ Plant, scientific name “zamioculas zamiifolia,” is native to East Africa.
🌍 Native to East Africa
☀ avoid direct sunlight, ok with low light
🜃 prefers dry & well-draining soil
💧 water when completely dry, prone to root rot
🚫 toxic to humans and pets if ingested
Related post: Fair Trade with Ten Thousand Villages
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Aloe vera is another plant that everyone in my family had in their homes. It’s a remedy for small cuts and scars because the gel inside of it is soothing. I’ve learned recently that it is great for deep conditioning my curly hair. In recent years, I’ve even drank aloe vera juice. But I didn’t make it on my own, they sell it in stores. It’s important to note that there are different types of aloe vera and it’s important to know which is which before you ingest it. I’ll stick to the pre-made juice for now. While the aloe vera plant is actually native to the southwest Arabian peninsula (directly north of the African continent), it is now naturalized in North Africa, as well.
🌍 Native to North Africa
☀ prefers bright light
🜃 prefers dry & well-draining soil
💧 water when completely dry
🚫 toxic if high amounts ingested
I absolutely love my starter collection of plants that originated in Africa. I plan on adding many more variations of Sansevieria, as well as others as I learn about them and get more space. I’ll be sharing more about my entire plant collection soon. In the mean time, tell me what you’d like to know. More location specific plant roundups? Plants with colorful leaves (more than just green)? Let me know in the comments below!
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