Chlorophytum comosum

Chlorophytum comosum Ocean in the garden of Robin Diehm in Sydney

The so-called spider plant was actually one of the first plants I was ever aware of - it grew out of a teapot in the kitchen of the share house I lived in as a uni student. When the flatmate who owned the plant told me that a new plant could be propagated by detaching and potting up one of the tiny 'pups' that grew out of the plant on long, thin stems, I was completely mesmerised, and I date my love of gardening from that instant. I have always had a plant of it ever since then. The species comes from South Africa and has rosettes of plain green leaves and is not recommended for gardens, but there are forms with yellow-, cream- or white-striped leaves. The flowers are insignificant. Growing it in a hanging basket (as shown above) displays the hanging pups most effectively.

Chlorophytum comosum Bonnie

Chlorophytum comosum Bonnie

It grows very well in dry, shaded areas where other plants struggle. It is regarded as frost tender but where grown under trees, it should survive in most Sydney gardens over winter. It can be grown as an indoor plant. It has no pests or disease problems. Opinions varied as to whether this plant belongs to the Anthericaceae or Liliaceae family but it is currently classified as part of the family Asparagaceae. A cultivar called 'Bonnie' (pictured above) has attractively curling leaves and makes an interesting indoor plant.

Chlorophytum comosum Ocean and Agapanthus line a path in my garden

Chlorophytum comosum Ocean and Agapanthus line a path in my garden

I grow another cultivar of it known as 'Ocean' (ht 30-40 cm), as a weed-suppressing groundcover along a shaded path beneath a large shrub of Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group. 'Ocean' has large, upright foliage with crisp white stripes, which lighten up dark, shaded spots. I have used its many pups to fill in an extremely dry and shaded strip alongside another path, where nothing else would grow. It is definitely not a plant to use in an area where you have special specimens you do not want to be swamped, as it is a very vigorous plant once it gets going - but in a difficult garden spot it provides a very useful solution. I particularly like to see it as a groundcover beneath white-flowered plants, to echo the spider plant's stripes.

It can escape into bushland areas, so be very cautious about growing it, or keep it in a pot. Always remove those long flowering stems when they appear, as the pups take root wherever they touch the ground!