Not even that long ago, that old spider plant would have been seen by interior designers as unforgivably retro. But now, those retro houseplants from the 1960s and 1970s are totally back in fashion. If you love the antique charm of a retro interior with a twist of the past then it's time to go back to those green sixties and take inspiration from these eight retro houseplants.
8 Retro Houseplants That Will Look Great in Your Home
Look through any modern home magazine or site today and most of the time you'll see one or two carefully placed flower arrangements or potted plants in a room. And sometimes, none at all. But scan through some photos from the 60s and 70s interior decorating magazines, and you will be amazed by the amount of vegetation that filled homes and public spaces back then. Whether it had something to do with environmental awareness or if it was a residual effect of the hippie culture, plants were loved far and wide. Time to bring the green-loving sixties back with these retro houseplants from Evanthia!
Calathea Orbifolia
Calathea Orbifolia is a beautiful houseplant highly sought after due to the exquisite beauty of its large, round leaves and its air-purifying qualities. This beautiful foliage is subtly striped with pale silver-green markings, with the undersides of the leaf also being a pale silver-green. All Calathea have strong air-purifying properties. This means that the plant not only produces extra oxygen but also filters harmful substances from the air. You can learn more about Calathea Orbifolia in the article 'The Highly Sought-After Houseplant Calathea Orbifolia'.
Pilea Peperomioides
With stunning green round leaves and a plentiful collection of long stems, pileas are a real show-stopper. This low-growing plant is relatively easy to care for houseplant and is a must-have for any indoor jungle. Check out the #pileapeperomioide for so much Insta inspo.
The Pilea Peperomioides is great fun to look after. What’s even better is that it’s a plant perfectly safe for your pets. This plant is a member of the stinging nettle family (don’t worry – it won’t sting you!) and is super easy to look after. This remarkable little plant is a true beauty. Its rounded dark green leaves are perfectly shaped to add a bit of interest to your indoor jungle.
Monstera Adansonii
The Monstera Adansonii or Monstera Monkey Leaf is a variety of Swiss cheese plants with classic irregular holes in their leaves. This mini Monstera is a must-have for any indoor jungle. Perfect for a tall shelf as they love to trail gently over their pot as they grow. If trained to climb they will also climb if guided along a support. Those deep green leaves just keep growing with their irregular holes and slightly crinkly leaves.
Calathea Rufibarba
The Calathea Rufibarba is a native plant of the Amazon rainforests in Brazil. Unlike most Calathea varieties, this plant is more subtle when it comes to patterns. This plant has long, slender, and wavy leaves that are light green when young. As the leaves mature, they transition into a darker green upper side and maroon to burgundy below. The stems of a Rufibarba are long and slender and are burgundy in color as well.
What makes this plant unique is that the underside of the stems and leaves are covered in hair-like fuzz. This has led many gardeners to give it nicknames such as 'the fuzzy/ furry feather Calathea', 'velvet Calathea', 'furry Calathea', and many more.
Pilea Moon Valley
The Pilea Moon Valley or Pilea Mollis is native to Central and South America. Its common name, Pilea Moon Valley, is inspired by its deeply dimpled leaves – thought to look like the craters and valleys on the moon. The leaves are bushy in nature and are typically a bright yellow-green with dark copper veins. The leaves will grow to 5 cm in length. The plant itself will remain relatively small, never reaching more than 30 cm in height, which makes it suitable for windowsills and tabletops. While it doesn’t need much sunlight to thrive, it does prefer humid environments.
Monstera Deliciosa Tauerii
When looking for retro houseplants, don't forget about the Monstera Deliciosa Tauerii. This stunning, tropical foliage plant has large, heart-shaped leaves with lots of perforations. Tauerii is a dwarf-type Monstera and particularly develops its leaf perforations early. This plant tends to set earlier than other Monsteras. Monstera deliciosa is native to South and Central America, where it grows as an evergreen perennial vine in tropical rainforests. They use their aerial roots and climbing habit to make their way up along surrounding trees, through the canopy to reach the daylight. c is well-suited as a decorative houseplant and lets you bring those green sixties right back into your home.
Calathea Medallion
Calathea Medallion - aka Calathea Veitchiana - is arguably one of the most beautiful low-light plants. They are pretty popular with plant enthusiasts because of their large, medallion-like leaves: a brilliant green pattern on top, and a deep burgundy underneath. Their leaves fold up slightly in the evening, as if in prayer – causing them to be mistaken for Prayer Plants at times.
Pilea Silver Tree
Pilea Spruceana 'Silver Tree' is the perfect retro houseplant. A relative of the more well-known Pilea Peperomioides, this plant has a bit of a different growth habit wanting to creep more than to grow upwards. Silver Tree pilea has intriguing purple-brown leaves streaked with metallic silver in the center. This is an easy-to-grow house plant with colorful foliage. Best in an east-facing window for medium light intensity. For best results, keep humidity constantly high and temperatures average.
