Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the most useful and highly ornamental indoor plants. Actually not exactly that, but some of its variegated leaves varieties, of which the most common and recognizable of all is Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’.
And then, someone perhaps wonder, why the following article is dedicated to Chlorophytum comosum Neat and not to Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’?
The answer that the whole editorial team of ‘Kalliergeia’ could give is categorical:
Come on!
Spider Plant Origin
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Brief Description
Scientific name
Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques
Common name(s)
Spider Plant, Airplane Plant, St. Bernard’s Lily, Spider Ivy, Ribbon Plant, Hen and Chickens
General characteristics
Type of foliage: Evergreen
Form: Herbasceous perenial
Texture: Fine
Height: 0.40-0.50 m (1.3-1.6 ft)
Height indoors: 0.40-0.50 m (1.3-1.6 ft)
Diameter: 0.40-0.50 m (1.3-1.6 ft)
Growth rate: Fast
Growth rate Indoors: Moderate
Flowering period (Tropics): Sporadically through the year
Flowering period indoors: Sporadically through the year
Fruiting period: Sporadically through the year
Shapes and colours
Leaves shape: Linear
Foliage colour: Green
Foliage colour in autumn: Green
Flowers: Stellate
Flowers colour: White
Fruit: Capsule
Plantation
Soil type: Well-drained, sand, loam, clay
Exposure: Half-shade
Soil pH: 5.5-7.5
Watering: Low
Hardiness: -3.9 °C (25 °F – USDA Hardiness zone 9b)
Uses
Mass planting, urban planting, pots and containers indoor and outdoor
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Etymology
Etymology of the genus name: The name of the genus Chlorophytum is a compound Neo-Latin word that comes from Ancient Greek ‘χλωρός‘ (pale green) and ‘φυτόν‘ (plant). Both have an Indo-European root, the first being *ǵʰelh₃-, which means ‘the green of new growth‘ and the second is *bʰuH-, which means ‘to appear, become, rise up‘.
Etymology of the species name: The name of the species comosum has a literally ornamental hue: it is the Neo-Latin version of the Ancient Greek word ‘κόμη‘ which means ‘the hair‘. And of course it is easy understandable that such a name excellently attributes the Spider Plant’s ‘tuft’ distinctive habit.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Origin, Distribution & Life span
Origin: Central and South Africa are the cradle of Spider Plant. More precisely, the tropical and subtropical zone of the continent, which includes from west Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon and to the east almost all countries from Ethiopia to South Africa. It occurs in a variety of environments ranging from sea level up to 1000 m and on sedimentary or volcanic soils, which are derived from granite, dolerite, shale and sandstone. In its natural niches the average annual rainfall is between 500 and 2000 mm.
Distribution: Spider Plant is highly adaptable to environments suitable for its development. It has been fully naturalised in Ecuador, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Korean Peninsula, and Western and Eastern Australia. Especially in Australia it has even been classified as invasive – weed.
Life Span: The Spider Plant, thanks to the regeneration capability offered by its stolons, could be described as an immortal plant – Highlander. A Highlander who lives for about 25 years, however, under conditions of growing in a pot is recommended to renew it every 3 to 5 years.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Morphological Elements
Spider Plant is an evergreen, perennial plant with tuberous roots and tuft appearance. At height and diameter it does not exceed 50 cm, but it can be spread on the ground and cover a considerable area. Its foliage is of medium density, and has a fine texture. As a pot or indoor plant may have an attractive appearance of hanging form.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Botanical Description
Roots:
Spider Plant has a dense root system consisting of thickened elongated white fleshy tubers and fine roots. The tubers have a conical shape at both ends, their length being between 5 and 10 cm (2-4 in) and their diameter between 0.5 and 1 cm (0.2-0.4 in).
Stolons:
They are the characteristic shoots of Spider Plant that grow sideways. From each nobe of the stolon, the spiderettes form leaves and roots. With spiderettes the plant spreads vegetatively and it is a way without difficulty to propagate the Spider Plant.
Leaves:
Rise directly from the rhizome to form a rosette. They are simple, without petiole, linear-lanceolate, of alternate arrangement and have a deep green color. The lamina is flat, with parallel ribs, entire or slightly undulate margined, leading to a pointed tip. The dimensions of the leaves vary in length between 20 and 45 cm (7.8-17.7 in) and in the width between 0.6 and 2.5 cm (0.23-0.98 in).
Flowers:
The flowers are monoecious (hermaphrodite) and complete their biological cycle within a few hours. They are brought 1 to 6 together on a paniculate inflorescence, the axis of which is initially erect, but in full growth curves, forming an arc of 30 to 75 cm (11-30 in) in length. Where the inflorescence touches the ground leafy plantlets and roots are produced. Each individual flower has a star-like shape, diameter of 1.8 to 2 cm (0.7-0.8 in) and consists of 3 elongated sepals and 3 petals 0.6 to 1 cm (0.23-0.4 in) long. Stamens are 6, with fine filament of 0.3 to 0.5 cm (0.11-0.2 in) in length, with an anther of 0.3 to 0.35 cm (0.11-0.14 in) long. The style is short and smooth with a tiny and capitate stigma.
Fruit:
The fruit is a three-cell capsule containing 9 to 45 smooth and flat black seeds.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Climate and Soil
Temperature: Spider Plant can not withstand the frost. The minimum temperatures, which are also the lowest strength limit, range between -1.1 and -3.9 °C. At temperatures between 0 and -3.9 °C (32-25 °F), its overground part is completely destroyed, but in the spring the plant regrows. With high temperatures it does not encounter any problems, while the most suitable temperatures for its development are those between 18 and 32 °C (64.4-89.6 °F).
Soil and pH: Spider Plant grows in almost all soil types provided they drain well. Indeed fully installed plants show remarkably high drought tolerance.
In terms of pH, it grows over a wide range of values, ranging from 5.5 to 7.5, but thrives on slightly acidic soils with values ranging from 6 to 6.5.
Exposure: Spider Plants can be planted or placed in half-shaded sites. However, when grown as indoor plants it is recommended to always place them in extremely bright places – especially the highly decorative variegated leaves varieties.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Plant Protection
Spider Plant does not face serious problems from pests and diseases. However, it does not fall short of other plants on parasites, because it may be immortal, but it is not invulnerable.
Pests: The most common pests include Mealybugs, Scales, Mites, and Thrips – especially Banded Greenhouse Thrips (Hercinothrips femoralis). By using the appropriate insecticides and acaricides the treatment is satisfactory.
Diseases: Fungal Leaf Spots (Alternaria sp., Cercospora sp., Fusarium sp.and Phyllosticta spp.) and Fungal Root (Pythium splendens, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii) may affect the plant. By using the appropriate fungicides their treatment is satisfactory.
On the other hand, of the bacterial pathogens, Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas cichorii are the most common diseases of the plant, which are extremely difficult to control.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Toxicity
No part of Spider Plant is toxic to humans or pets.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Varieties & Cultivars
Spider Plant is one of the most popular ornamental plants with worldwide demand. This results in the creation of dozens of varieties, some of the most important of which are listed below.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’: It is the most widespread variety of the plant. Its leaves have green margins and a characteristic white strip in the middle. It is extremely drought-tolerant and moderately salt-tolerant. It grows better in moderate textured sandyloam or loamysand soils as well as sandy.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Reverse Variegatum’: It differs from the previous one in that its leaves are green inside and the margins are white. For the rest, it has similar properties and requirements to that one.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Ocean’: It is of less growth than the typical species. It has narrower leaves with a larger width, stronger green in the middle and white margins.
Chlorophytum comosum ‘Lemon’: Extremely interesting variety with attractive hues green leaves. It has similar characteristics and requirements to those of the typical species.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - Use
Ethnobotany: It is used in various traditional medical systems around the world. In Chinese Traditional Medicine, the tubular roots are given for the treatment of bronchitis, burns, and for bone fractures.
Use as an indoor plant: Spider Plant is also an excellent choice for interior design of both home and professional spaces. Additionally, over decorative it also has functional value, because it cleans the indoor air from the dangerous toxic substances formaldehyde, xylene and toluene. For air filtration to be effective, 1 plant per 10 m2 (100 ft) is needed.
Use in garden and landscape: In areas suitable for its growth, it can be planted both on the ground and in pots but always at half-shade exposures.
Thus, it could be said that Spider Plant is being exploited:
- As a ground cover plant
- In plantings to protect the soil from erosion
- In mass planting of gardens or parks
- As anintensive or extensive green roofs plant
- In combination with other plants, such as Bush lilies (Clivia miniata), Cape jasmines (Gardenia jasminoides), Dwarf Umbrella Trees (Schefflera arboricola ‘Variegata’) and Roses of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – Description and Uses
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) - References
Spider Plant’s References of the African origin are presented by the the great Jamaican singer & musician Burning Spear with its song Slavery Days.
- Braria, A., Ahmad, S., & S L, H. (2014). Chlorophytum Comosum (Thunberg) Jacques: A Review. International Research Journal of Pharmacy, 5(7), 546-549.
- Griffith, L. P. (1998). Tropical foliage plants: A grower’s guide. Batavia, IL: Ball Pub.
- Wolverton, B. C. (2008). How to grow fresh air: 50 houseplants that purify your home or office. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
- Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques: Encyclopedia of Life
- Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): National Gardening Association Plants Database
- Chlorophytum comosum: NC State University Extension
- Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques: The Plant List
Τυπωθήτω | PrintFriendlyBurning Spear – ‘Slavery Days’
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