Botanico

Plant profile

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques

Photo of Spider Plant
Image: Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons. · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Spider Plant is an indoor plant with long, arching leaves, suitable for pot cultivation. It has an appealing appearance and is easy to maintain.

From Wikipedia

Chlorophytum comosum, usually called spider plant or common spider plant due to its spider-like look, also known as spider ivy, airplane plant, ribbon plant, and hen and chicks, is a species of evergreen perennial flowering plant of the family Asparagaceae. It is native to tropical and Southern Africa but has become naturalized in other parts of the world, including Western Australia and Bangladesh. Chlorophytum comosum is easy to grow as a houseplant because of its resilience, but it can be sensitive to the fluoride in tap water, which commonly gives it "burnt tips". Variegated forms are the most popular.

Chlorophytum comosum — Text CC BY-SA. See the original article.

Open-data facts

Life form
Its biology is perennial, not strictly annual.
Climate
Tropical climate with a dry season: warmth and a clearly defined dry period.
Origin / area
Documented area of origin: W. Trop. Africa to Cameroon, Ethiopia to S. Africa.
Native distribution
Cited native regions: Ivory Coast, Western Tropical Africa, Africa · Liberia, Western Tropical Africa, Africa · Nigeria, Western Tropical Africa, Africa · Sierra Leone, Western Tropical Africa, Africa · Burundi, West-Central Tropical Africa, Africa · Cameroon, West-Central Tropical Africa, Africa · Equatorial Guinea, West-Central Tropical Africa, Africa · Gulf of Guinea Islands, West-Central Tropical Africa, Africa · Ethiopia, Northeast Tropical Africa, Africa · Sudan-South Sudan, Northeast Tropical Africa, Africa · Kenya, Eastern Tropical Africa, Africa · Tanzania, Eastern Tropical Africa, Africa.
Documented uses
Environmental · ornamental

Traits (USDA)

Botanical group
USDA classification: Monocot. In practice, a plant with a single cotyledon.
Duration
It's perennial, so there's no need to re-sow every spring if the climate allows.
Growth habit
Grows like a broadleaf grass, without hard wood in the stems.

Recommended products for Spider Plant

    Ecological interactions

    • Organisms that live on it:

      Scopula nigrinotata, Agroathelia rolfsii, Phyllosticta sp., Globisporangium splendens, Rhizoctonia solani, Cercospora sp., Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria sp.…

    • Associated herbivores:

      Apis mellifera, Allograpta obliqua, Aspidiotus nerii

    Basic care

    Watering
    In heatwaves, water a bit more—without overdoing it.
    Light
    An east or west window with some filter often works well.
    Temperature
    Fits typical home ranges (neither icy nor baking).
    Humidity
    Moderate humidity plus good air movement.

    Pet toxicity

    On common guidance, it is not usually toxic to cats or dogs.

    Cats: no (typical guidance). Dogs: no (typical guidance).

    Sources