My Fascination with Chlorophytum: The Spider Plant and its Kin
As a plant enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to the unique beauty and resilience of Chlorophytum, commonly known as spider plants. These evergreen perennials, with their cascading foliage and charming “spiderettes,” have a special place in my heart. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia, Chlorophytum boasts nearly 200 species, each with its own distinct characteristics.
A Diverse Genus
While the common spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum, is a familiar sight in many homes, the genus offers a surprising variety of forms. From the variegated leaves of Chlorophytum laxum to the striking orange-red petioles of Chlorophytum amaniense ‘Fire Flash,’ there’s a Chlorophytum to suit every taste. Some lesser-known species, like Chlorophytum borivilianum, even have medicinal properties and are used in traditional medicine.
Here are:
- Chlorophytum acutum (C.H.Wright) Nordal
- Chlorophytum affine Baker
- Chlorophytum africanum (Baker) Baker
- Chlorophytum alismifolium Baker
- Chlorophytum alpinum Benth. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum altum Engl. & K.Krause
- Chlorophytum anceps (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum andongense Baker
- Chlorophytum angulicaule (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum angustiracemosum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum angustissimum (Poelln.) Nordal
- Chlorophytum ankarense H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum appendiculatum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum applanatum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum arcuatoramosum R.B.Drumm.
- Chlorophytum aridum Oberm.
- Chlorophytum arundinaceum Baker
- Chlorophytum asperum J.C.Manning
- Chlorophytum assamicum D.Borah & A.P.Das
- Chlorophytum basitrichum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum baturense K.Krause
- Chlorophytum belgaumense Chandore, Malpure, Adsul & S.R.Yadav
- Chlorophytum benguellense (Baker) Meerts
- Chlorophytum benuense Engl. & K.Krause
- Chlorophytum bharuchae Ansari, Sundararagh. & Hemadri
- Chlorophytum bifolium Dammer
- Chlorophytum blepharophyllum Schweinf. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum borivilianum Santapau & R.R.Fern. Plant FAQs: Borivilianum Spider Plant – Chlorophytum Borivilianum
- Chlorophytum bowkeri Baker
- Chlorophytum brachystachyum Baker
- Chlorophytum bracteatum Hua
- Chlorophytum brevipedunculatum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum breviscapum Dalzell
- Chlorophytum bulbinifolium Hoell & Nordal
- Chlorophytum burundiense Meerts
- Chlorophytum calyptrocarpum (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum cameronii (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum camporum Engl. & K.Krause
- Chlorophytum capense (L.) Voss
- Chlorophytum caudatibracteatum Engl. & K.Krause
- Chlorophytum caulescens (Baker) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum chelindaense Kativu & Nordal
- Chlorophytum chevalieri Poelln.
- Chlorophytum chinense Bureau & Franch.
- Chlorophytum chloranthum Baker
- Chlorophytum clarae Bjorå & Nordal
- Chlorophytum collinum (Poelln.) Nordal
- Chlorophytum colubrinum (Baker) Engl.
- Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques Plant FAQs: Spider Plant – Chlorophytum Comosum
- Chlorophytum cooperi (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum cordifolium De Wild.
- Chlorophytum crassinerve (Baker) Oberm.
- Chlorophytum cremnophilum van Jaarsv.
- Chlorophytum crispum (Thunb.) Baker
- Chlorophytum cyperaceum (Kies) Nordal
- Chlorophytum dalzielii (Hutch. ex Hepper) Nordal
- Chlorophytum debile Baker
- Chlorophytum decaryanum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum decipiens Baker
- Chlorophytum delicatulum Osborne, Vollesen & Bjorå
- Chlorophytum dianellifolium (Baker) H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum distichum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum diwanjii Mujaffar, A.P.Tiwari & Chandore
- Chlorophytum dolichocarpum Tamura
- Chlorophytum ducis-aprutii Chiov.
- Chlorophytum fasciculatum (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum fernandesii (Poelln.) Meerts
- Chlorophytum filifolium Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum filipendulum Baker
- Chlorophytum fischeri (Baker) Baker
- Chlorophytum gallabatense Schweinf. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum galpinii (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum geayanum (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum geophilum Peter ex Poelln.
- Chlorophytum glaucoides Blatt.
- Chlorophytum glaucum Dalzell
- Chlorophytum goetzei Engl.
- Chlorophytum gothanense Malpure & S.R.Yadav
- Chlorophytum gracile Baker
- Chlorophytum graminifolium (Willd.) Kunth
- Chlorophytum graniticola Kativu
- Chlorophytum graniticum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum graptophyllum (Baker) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum haygarthii J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans
- Chlorophytum herrmannii Nordal & Sebsebe
- Chlorophytum heynei Baker
- Chlorophytum hiranense Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum hirsutum A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
- Chlorophytum holstii Engl.
- Chlorophytum humbertianum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum humifusum Cufod.
- Chlorophytum hypoxiforme (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum hysteranthum Kativu
- Chlorophytum immaculatum (Hepper) Nordal
- Chlorophytum inconspicuum (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum indicum (Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Dress
- Chlorophytum inornatum Ker Gawl.
- Chlorophytum intermedium Craib
- Chlorophytum kolhapurense Sardesai, S.P.Gaikwad & S.R.Yadav
- Chlorophytum krauseanum (Dinter) Kativu
- Chlorophytum krookianum Zahlbr.
- Chlorophytum lancifolium Welw. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum laxum R.Br. Plant FAQs: Chlorophytum Laxum
- Chlorophytum leptoneurum (C.H.Wright) Poelln.
- Chlorophytum lewisae Oberm.
- Chlorophytum limosum (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum littorale Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum longifolium Schweinf. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum longiscapum Dammer
- Chlorophytum longissimum Ridl.
- Chlorophytum macrophyllum (A.Rich.) Asch.
- Chlorophytum macrorrhizum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum macrosporum Baker
- Chlorophytum madagascariense Baker
- Chlorophytum malabaricum Baker
- Chlorophytum malayense Ridl.
- Chlorophytum mamillatum Elden & Nordal
- Chlorophytum modestum Baker
- Chlorophytum molle (Baker) Meerts
- Chlorophytum monophyllum Oberm.
- Chlorophytum namaquense Schltr. ex Poelln.
- Chlorophytum namorokense H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum nepalense (Lindl.) Baker
- Chlorophytum nervosum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum nidulans (Baker) Brenan
- Chlorophytum nimmonii Dalzell
- Chlorophytum nubicum (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum nyasae (Rendle) Kativu
- Chlorophytum nzii A.Chev. ex Hepper
- Chlorophytum occultum A.D.Poulsen & Nordal
- Chlorophytum orchidastrum Lindl.
- Chlorophytum orchideum (Welw. ex Baker) Meerts
- Chlorophytum palghatense K.M.P.Kumar & Adsul
- Chlorophytum parkeri (Baker) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum parvulum Chiov.
- Chlorophytum paucinervatum (Poelln.) Nordal
- Chlorophytum pauciphyllum Oberm.
- Chlorophytum pauper Poelln.
- Chlorophytum pendulum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum peralbum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum perfoliatum Kativu
- Chlorophytum petraeum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum petrophilum K.Krause
- Chlorophytum pilosicarinatum (Poelln.) Meerts
- Chlorophytum polystachys Baker
- Chlorophytum pseudocaule Tesfaye & Nordal
- Chlorophytum pterocarpum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum pubiflorum Baker
- Chlorophytum pusillum Schweinf. ex Baker
- Chlorophytum pygmaeum (Weim.) Kativu
- Chlorophytum radula (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum ramosissimum Nordal & Thulin
- Chlorophytum rangei (Engl. & K.Krause) Nordal
- Chlorophytum recurvifolium (Baker) C.Archer & Kativu
- Chlorophytum reflexibracteatum Poelln.
- Chlorophytum rhizopendulum Bjorå & Hemp
- Chlorophytum rigidum Kunth
- Chlorophytum ruahense Engl.
- Chlorophytum rubribracteatum (De Wild.) Kativu
- Chlorophytum rutenbergianum Vatke
- Chlorophytum saundersiae (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum scabrum Baker
- Chlorophytum senegalense (Baker) Hepper
- Chlorophytum serpens Sebsebe & Nordal
- Chlorophytum sharmae Adsul, Lekhak & S.R.Yadav
- Chlorophytum sikkimense P.Rai
- Chlorophytum simplex Craib
- Chlorophytum sofiense (H.Perrier) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum somaliense Baker
- Chlorophytum sparsiflorum Baker
- Chlorophytum sphacelatum (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum sphagnicola Meerts
- Chlorophytum staudtii Nordal
- Chlorophytum stenopetalum Baker
- Chlorophytum stolzii (K.Krause) Weim.
- Chlorophytum subligulatum H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum subpetiolatum (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum suffruticosum Baker
- Chlorophytum superpositum (Baker) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum sylvestre Bardot-Vaucoulon
- Chlorophytum tenerrimum Peter ex Poelln.
- Chlorophytum tetraphyllum (L.f.) Baker
- Chlorophytum tillariense S.R.Yadav & Chandore
- Chlorophytum tordense Chiov.
- Chlorophytum transvaalense (Baker) Kativu
- Chlorophytum trichophlebium (Baker) Nordal
- Chlorophytum triflorum (Aiton) Kunth
- Chlorophytum tripedale (Baker) H.Perrier
- Chlorophytum tuberosum (Roxb.) Baker
- Chlorophytum ustulatum (Welw. ex Baker) Meerts
- Chlorophytum velutinum Kativu
- Chlorophytum vespertinum Vollesen
- Chlorophytum vestitum Baker
- Chlorophytum viridescens Engl.
- Chlorophytum viscosum Kunth
- Chlorophytum waibelii K.Krause
- Chlorophytum warneckei (Engl.) Marais & Reilly
- Chlorophytum zambiense Bjorå & Nordal
- Chlorophytum zavattarii (Cufod.) Nordal
- Chlorophytum zingiberastrum Nordal & A.D.Poulsen
Easygoing Companions
One of the reasons I adore Chlorophytum is its adaptability. These plants are incredibly low-maintenance, thriving in a variety of conditions. Whether placed in bright, indirect light or a shadier corner, they seem to take it all in stride. Their resilience makes them perfect for both seasoned plant parents and those just starting their green journey.
Air-Purifying Prowess
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Chlorophytum plants are known for their air-purifying qualities. Studies have shown that they can effectively remove harmful pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene from indoor environments. This makes them not only a beautiful addition to any space but also a beneficial one.
Propagation: Sharing the Joy
The ease with which Chlorophytum can be propagated is another aspect I appreciate. The “spiderettes,” or plantlets, that dangle from mature plants can be easily rooted to create new individuals. This allows for effortless expansion of my plant collection and provides a sustainable way to share the joy of Chlorophytum with friends and fellow enthusiasts.
A Symbol of Resilience
For me, Chlorophytum represents resilience and adaptability. Its ability to thrive in diverse conditions and readily produce new life serves as an inspiration. In a world that often demands constant adaptation, these plants remind me of the importance of flexibility and perseverance.
A Continuing Journey
My exploration of the Chlorophytum genus is an ongoing journey. I’m constantly amazed by the diversity and resilience of these plants. With each new species I encounter, my appreciation for this remarkable genus deepens. Whether it’s the familiar charm of the common spider plant or the unique allure of a lesser-known variety, Chlorophytum continues to captivate and inspire me.
