Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Spider plant is an African perennial widely grown as a houseplant in the United States. Its long stems bear small white flowers and young plants that hang over the sides of a pot, while its narrow leaves may be green or striped with white.

Appearance

Growth form: A clump-forming perennial with arching, grass-like leaves and fleshy roots.
Leaves: Leaves may be solid green or striped with white down the middle or along the edges.
Flowers: Small white, star-like flowers appear on long trailing stems.

Look-alikes

bichetii grassChlorophytum laxum

Bichetii grass stays in a compact clump and does not hang young plants on long stems. Spider plant often has long arching stems with small plants at their ends.

Why they get mixed upBoth can have narrow green-and-white leaves.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Indoor pots and hanging baskets
Partly shaded gardens in warm regions
Range: Native to Africa and widely grown indoors in the United States. In warmer U.S. regions it may also grow outdoors in partly shaded places. In Florida, it is no longer recommended for outdoor landscaping because of its potential to spread.
Preferred conditions: Give it bright indirect light and let the potting mix dry slightly between waterings.

Growing it

Care: Hanging baskets show the trailing stems and young plantlets especially well.
Propagation: Plantlets on the trailing stems can root in a new pot; older clumps can also be divided.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: “Vittatum” has a white center stripe, “Variegatum” has white leaf edges, and “Bonnie” has curly striped leaves.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The dangling young plants give spider plant its common name.

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