Epiphytic plants are one of the easiest plants to grow because they usually don’t need soil. Their varying size, shapes and colors will make them a unique ornamental plant in your home or garden.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the 30 best epiphytic plants you can grow. Read on to know their unique features, growing needs and how they’ll fit your gardening needs.
1. Air Plant (Tillandsia ionantha)
Scientific Name | Tillandsia ionantha |
Common Name | Air Plant |
Family | Bromeliaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade Dappled Shade |
Soil | None |
Height | 6 inches to 1 foot |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Indoor Hanging Plant |
Air plants are the best example of an epiphytic plant. It doesn’t have roots or need soil because it absorbs moisture from its leaves and nutrients from the air.
Air plants are indigenous to Mexico and Central America. As an air purifier, it can remove toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from the air.
This is also an excellent choice for minimalist planters who want a natural air purifier in their home but don’t want to worry about soil dirt getting on the floor.
Air plants prefer indirect sunlight and humid environments. You can water them by misting them for 20 to 30 minutes weekly.
2. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera russelliana)
Scientific Name | Schlumbergera russelliana |
Common Name | Christmas Cactus Easter Cactus Shrimp Cactus Thanksgiving Cactus |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight |
Soil | Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 6 to 12 inches |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Ornamental Plant |
The Christmas cactus is a unique epiphytic plant native to the rainforests of Brazil and known for blooming its tubular bright pink flowers just in time for Christmas.
Although a cactus, it doesn’t have sharp spines but instead has flat and segmented stems. The Christmas cactus flowers are edible and commonly used as a garnish or to add a pop of color to salads.
Ironically, the Christmas cactus is not frost-tolerant, even if it’s known to bloom during wintertime. It thrives outdoors, with access to dappled sunlight and warm temperatures.
3. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
Scientific Name | Syngonium podophyllum |
Common Name | African Evergreen American Evergreen Arrow-Head Vine Arrowhead Vine Green Gold Naphthysis Nephthytis Trileaf Wonder |
Family | Araceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Partial Shade |
Soil | Cactus mix with perlite or vermiculite |
Height | 3 to 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Fast |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Ornamental Plant |
As its name suggests, the arrowhead plant is known for its arrow-shaped leaves with yellow, white and light green variegations. It’s indigenous to the rainforests of South America.
The arrowhead plant has become a popular houseplant not only because of its attractive foliage but also because it’s low-maintenance. Although not edible, the plant is not toxic to pets, so it’s safe at home.
This plant is best grown in moist soil with light. You can place the arrowhead plant to add greenery on windowsills, near bookshelves or office tables.
4. Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Scientific Name | Phalaenopsis |
Common Name | Moon Orchid Moon Orchids Moth Orchid Moth Orchids Phalaenopsis Orchid Phalaenopsis Orchids |
Family | Orchidaceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Deep Shade |
Soil | Bark mixture with sphagnum moss |
Height | 2 to 4 inches |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Ornamental Plant |
They might look like the proboscis (nose) of a moth, but they’re moth orchids. Moth orchids usually have white, pink or purple-petalled flowers with long slender lips like the face of moths.
Moth orchids are native to the trees and rocks of tropical rainforests in Australia and Southeast Asia. They make great ornamental plants indoors and outdoors as their flowers are non-toxic to pets.
Moth orchids need dappled sunlight, deep shade, and moist soil for optimal growth. Unfortunately, they’re not frost-tolerant, so bring them indoors when you live in cold climates or during winter.
5. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Scientific Name | Monstera deliciosa |
Common Name | Ceriman Cutleaf Philodendron Hurricane Plant Mexican Breadfruit Mother-in-Law Split-leaf Philodendron Swiss Cheese Plant |
Family | Araceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Partial Shade |
Soil | High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 4 to 8 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Ornamental Plant |
Monstera is a popular epiphytic plant sought after for its leaves with holes called fenestrations. These holes help it spread heat and moisture throughout the plant.
This unique plant is indigenous to Central and South America. Its leaves are also edible and are ingredients in refreshing drinks and fruit salads.
Monstera plants need only dappled sunlight or deep shade and moist soil. Make sure not to overwater it because it’s prone to root rot which will kill the plant.
6. Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum)
Scientific Name | Epiphyllum oxypetalum |
Common Name | Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus Jungle Cactus Lady of the Night Night-blooming Cactus Night-blooming Caereus Orchid Cactus Queen of the Night |
Family | Cactaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 8 to 10 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Ornamental Plant |
Queen of the Night is an epiphytic plant with a unique behavior where its flowers bloom at night and are wild in the morning, hence its name. Its flowers emit a sweet scent you can smell from a distance.
This plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Mexico and Central America, so it needs a lot of sunlight and moisture to live. The Queen of the Night is also a natural medicine to relieve pain and respiratory problems.
The Queen of the Night can grow between 8 to 10 feet, making an excellent container and ornamental plant indoors and outdoors. It’s also a good companion plant as its intoxicating scent attracts pollinators in your garden.
7. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Scientific Name | Epipremnum aureum |
Common Name | Devil’s Ivy Devil’s Vine Golden Pothos Ivy Arum Marble Queen Pothos Taro Vine |
Family | Araceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Deep Shade Partial Shade |
Soil | Loam (Silt) Shallow Rocky Good Drainage Occasionally Dry |
Height | 6 to 8 inches |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Ornamental Plant Hanging Basket Plant |
The Pothos plant is native to Southeast Asia and is known for its heart-shaped leaves with white, yellow, and cream variegations.
Its large waxy attractive foliage and low-maintenance requirements make it a popular houseplant, especially for those living in warm climates. It’s also a great natural air purifier as it can remove toxins.
Pothos must only be watered once a week and access only to dappled sunlight or deep shade. It’s a fast-growing plant that can reach up to eight inches long, making it a great hanging basket plant.
8. Queen’s Tears (Billbergia nutans)
Scientific Name | Billbergia nutans |
Common Name | Queen’s Tears Friendship Plant Hardy Queen’s Tears Hardy Friendship Plant Hanging Bromeliad |
Family | Bromeliaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade Dappled Sunlight |
Soil | Gardening soil with perlite or tree bark mixture |
Height | 20 inches |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor |
The Queen’s Tears plant got its name from the drops of nectar that it produces when touched or moved. This plant was first discovered in the tropical rainforests of Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
The Queen’s Tears plant has long strap-like, slightly serrated leaves that arch outward, resembling a fountain. Its flowers come in green, yellow, pink and purple, surrounded by red or pink bracts and emit a sweet scent.
It is a slow-growing plant that can grow up to 20 inches and needs only dappled sunlight and moist soil. You can quickly propagate this plant by dividing its rhizomes, tubers or bulbs if you want more of them.
9. Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)
Scientific Name | Hoya carnosa |
Common Name | Honey Plant Porcelain Flower Wax Plant |
Family | Asclepiadaceae |
Light | Partial Shade |
Soil | High Organic Matter Good Drainage |
Height | 2 to 4 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent |
As its name suggests, the wax plant has thick, shiny oval-shaped leaves with yellow or cream-colored variegations. It’s indigenous to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
In the spring, the wax plant also blooms white, pink or purple flowers, which can spread its sweet scent in your garden. It’s also a good air purifier, removing toxins from the air.
The wax plant is small, slow-growing, reaching only up to 4 feet. It prefers partial shade, warm climates and moist soil.
10. Urn Plant (Aechmea)
Scientific Name | Aechmea |
Common Name | Aechmea Silver Vase Plant Urn Plant Vase Plant |
Family | Bromeliaceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Partial Shade |
Soil | Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Occasionally Dry |
Height | 1 to 3 feet |
Growth Rate | Slow |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor |
The urn plant is easily recognizable for its cup-like structure at its base, which collects all the water and nutrients it needs to survive. It’s indigenous to the tropical and humid environments in South America.
The urn plant has thick sword-shaped leaves with a gray underside, while it blooms pink or purple flowers every three months.
As an epiphytic plant, make sure you keep the urn-shaped leaves filled with water because this is where it gets all the moisture and nutrients it needs. It also thrives on dappled sunlight, warm temperatures and moist soil.
11. Evergreen Wisteria (Callerya reticulata)
Scientific Name | Callerya reticulata |
Common Name | Evergreen Wisteria |
Family | Fabaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | LoamMoist |
Height | 12 to 15 feet |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
Evergreen wisterias are popular ornamental plants native to Taiwan, China and Vietnam. Since they’re evergreen, they retain foliage throughout the year, unlike other wisteria varieties.
During spring and summer, they bloom pea-like flowers with bluish-purple and yellow centers. These flowers are also edible that can be used in stir-fries and salads, while their leaves can be used to brew tea.
Evergreen wisteria plants are drought-tolerant and can reach up to 15 feet to get the nutrients and moisture they can absorb from the rain and the air.
12. Pepper Vine (Ampelopsis megalophylla)
Scientific Name | Ampelopsis megalophylla |
Common Name | Large-leaved parthenocissus Pepper Vine Spikenard ampelopsis |
Family | Vitaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 13 to 16 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Groundcover Vertical Wall Plant |
The pepper vine plant has huge leaves, as long as 50 centimeters, which come in dark green during summer but turn red, orange or yellow in the fall. It’s a famous ornamental plant native to China.
In the spring, the pepper vine produces small white flowers that turn into edible berries. As a woody vine, this plant can be used as a ground cover or a vertical plant on walls and fences.
The pepper vine prefers full sun or partial shade and moist soil. It can also grow up to 16 feet, making it a great climbing plant outdoors.
13. Clematis (Clematis armandii)
Scientific Name | Clematis armandii |
Common Name | Armand Clematis Evergreen Clematis |
Family | Ranunculaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 15 to 30 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Shade Scent |
Clematis is an evergreen plant native to China. It’s known for its dark green, heart-shaped leaves and clusters of white and pink flowers that bloom during spring.
The fragrant flowers of the clematis plant can be used as a potpourri, while its leaves are popularly used for brewing tea. It prefers well-drained, moist soil and full sun.
It’s a woody vine that grows on the ground or other plants. Since it grows up to 30 feet, you can train it to grow on an arch in your garden, use it as a shade plant or for erosion control.
14. Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Scientific Name | Lathyrus latifolius |
Common Name | Everlasting Pea Perennial Pea Perennial Sweet Pea Sweet Pea |
Family | Fabaceae |
Light | Full Sun |
Soil | Good Drainage |
Height | 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Shade |
The sweet pea plant has winged stems and a trailing habit that supports the plant’s weight and height up to 6 feet tall. This plant is native to Europe but has now been naturalized in various places worldwide.
Sweet pea flowers are commonly used as cut flowers with their pea-shaped size and variety of colors such as blue, purple, pink or white. Unfortunately, keep its seeds away from children and animals because they’re poisonous.
This plant prefers full sun and well-drained, moist soil for optimum growth.
15. Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Scientific Name | Trachelospermum jasminoides |
Common Name | Confederate Jasmine Star Jasmine |
Family | Apocynaceae |
Light | Partial Shade |
Soil | Loam (Silt) Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 8 to 20 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Scent Shade |
The star jasmine plant is unique for its fragrant, star-shaped flowers that fill the air with its sweet scent during the spring and summer. It’s indigenous to eastern and southern Asia.
Star jasmines usually grow on the ground or on other plants, reaching up to 20 feet long. It thrives in partial shade and in well-drained soil.
You can train the star jasmine plant to climb an arbor, trellis, wall or fence. It’s also an excellent plant to provide more shade and privacy in your home.
16. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Scientific Name | Hedera helix |
Common Name | Algerian Ivy Baltic Ivy Branching Ivy California Ivy Common Ivy English Ivy Glacier Ivy Hahn’s Self-Branching English Ivy Needlepoint Ivy Sweetheart Ivy |
Family | Araliaceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Deep Shade Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Shallow Rocky Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 20 to 80 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | High |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Vertical Plant Shade |
The English ivy plant has aerial rootlets that enable it to cling to surfaces and climb over walls, fences and trellises. It’s a popular garden plant native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa.
The English ivy has a dark green, heart-shaped plant that beautifully contrasts the clusters of small white flowers that it blooms every spring season.
This plant is a popular choice for vertical green walls and fences, and for adding privacy and shade to homes and gardens.
17. Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala)
Scientific Name | Hydrangea anomala |
Common Name | Climbing Hydrangea Japanese Climbing Hydrangea |
Family | Hydrangeaceae |
Light | Dappled Sunlight Deep Shade Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 30 to 60 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Vertical Plant Shade |
Hydrangea plants are unique because their flowers change color depending on the soil’s pH level. For instance, if the soil is acidic, the flowers turn blue, while if it’s alkaline, it turns pink.
Hydrangea is a native woody shrub native to East Asia, such as China, Korea and Japan. It has dark green, lobed leaves and blooms white, pink or blue flowers in the summer.
This shrub grows in the ground up to 8 feet tall. You can train it to climb a trellis, arbor, wall or fence and give your home additional shade and privacy.
18. Climbing Rose (Rosa setigera)
Scientific Name | Rosa setigera |
Common Name | Climbing Prairie Rose Climbing Rose Climbing Wild Rose Prairie Rose |
Family | Rosaceae |
Light | Full Sun |
Soil | Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 3 to 15 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent |
The climbing rose plant has long and arching stems reaching up to 15 feet. Its branches are filled with thorns that help the plant attach itself to any support structure.
The climbing rose is a native plant from eastern North America. It’s now widely cultivated for its dark green, serrated and fragrant leaves for perfume, potpourri, and pink and red flowers that bloom during spring and summer.
This fast-growing woody vine grows in the ground and needs moist, well-drained soil and full sun for optimal growth.
19. Honeysuckle (Diervilla sessilifolia)
Scientific Name | Diervilla sessilifolia |
Common Name | Bush Honeysuckle Smooth Southern Bush-honeysuckle Southern Bush Honeysuckle |
Family | Caprifoliaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay Loam (Silt) Shallow Rocky Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 3 to 5 feet |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
The honeysuckle plant stands out for its stalkless leaves, which give it a compact appearance from afar. It’s a woody shrub indigenous to the eastern United States.
The honeysuckle plant has dark green, oval-shaped leaves and can grow up to 5 feet tall and wide. On the other hand, it produces yellow blooms in the summer.
It’s a popular garden plant that typically grows in the ground. You can use it as a ground cover or a border for your garden’s walkways.
20. Bluebell Creeper (Sollya heterophylla)
Scientific Name | Sollya heterophylla |
Common Name | Bluebell Creeper Australian Bluebell |
Family | Pittosporaceae |
Light | Partial Shade Dappled Shade |
Soil | Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 6 feet |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Scent Shade |
The Bluebell Creeper is a woody vine native to western Australia. It’s known for its blue, bell-shaped blooms that appear to nod during the spring and summer seasons.
The leaves of this plant are dark green and lanceolate in shape, while its blue flowers emit a sweet fragrant scent that attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
The Bluebell Creeper can reach up to 6 feet long. You can use its vine features as a ground cover or train it to cover walls, fences, arbors or trellises.
21. True Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
Scientific Name | Jasminum officinale |
Common Name | Common Jasmine Poet’s Jasmine True Jasmine |
Family | Oleaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 10 to 15 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
True jasmines are woody vines native to South Asia and the Middle East. It produces fragrant white flowers, popular ingredients for perfumes, potpourri, and aromatherapy.
Its dark green, ovate leaves can be used to make jasmine vinegar, while its white flowers can be used to make jasmine syrup or teas.
The true jasmine plant usually grows in the ground and can reach up to 15 feet tall. You can train this plant to climb over an arbor, trellis, wall or fence and provide shade and privacy in your home.
22. Potato Vines (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Scientific Name | Dioscorea bulbifera |
Common Name | Air Potato Air Potato Vine Air Yam Bitter Yam |
Family | Dioscoreaceae |
Light | Full Sun |
Soil | Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 19 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | High |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
For starters, potato vines don’t produce potatoes but produce a different type of yam. Still, these vines are native to the tropical regions of South America, Africa and Asia.
Potato vines are widely cultivated for their edible tubers, which can be roasted, fried, or boiled. It can also be a natural medicine for constipation, diarrhea and fever.
Potato vine plants usually grow in the ground and can reach up to 20 feet, so you can use them to create a living fence or to add a privacy screen in your home or garden.
23. Chocolate Vine (Akebia quinata)
Scientific Name | Akebia quinata |
Common Name | Chocolate Vine Five Leaf Akebia Five-leaf Chocolate Vine Raisin Vine |
Family | Lardizabalaceae |
Light | Full Sun Deep Shade Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 15 to 20 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | High |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent |
Can you grow chocolate flowers? We’ve got the chocolate vine for that.
The chocolate vine plant is a woody vine native to East Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China. It’s a popular ornamental plant, unique for its chocolate-scented and chocolate-tasting flowers.
The chocolate vine is also a traditional Chinese medicine for treating diarrhea, coughs and colds. This plant typically grows in the ground and requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
24. Morning Glory (Convolvulus arvensis)
Scientific Name | Convolvulus arvensis |
Common Name | Devil’s guts Field Bindweed Field morning-glory Morning Glory Small Bindweed Wild Morning-glory |
Family | Convolvulaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Moist Occasionally Dry Very Dry |
Height | 3 to 6 inches |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | High |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
Morning Glory plants are known for their trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in the morning and close in the evening.
It’s an indigenous ornamental plant from Europe, Africa and Asia. Its flowers are a natural medicine for treating headaches, insomnia and anxiety.
This herbaceous annual plant typically grows on the ground and prefers full sun and soil rich in organic matter.
25. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Scientific Name | Rudbeckia fulgida |
Common Name | Black-eyed Susan Orange Coneflower |
Family | Asteraceae |
Light | Full Sun |
Soil | Clay Shallow Rocky Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 2 to 3 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
The Black-eyed Susan is a popular ornamental plant indigenous to eastern and south North America. It has distinct daisy-like flowers with a dark brown center called the “eye.”
The flowers come in various colors, including yellow, orange, and red; that’s why it’s grown as ornamental plants in gardens, cut flowers. It’s also a natural medicine to treat wounds, inflammation and fever.
The Black-eyed Susan is a herbaceous perennial plant commonly growing in the ground. It prefers access to full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil.
26. Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata)
Scientific Name | Passiflora incarnata |
Common Name | Apricot Vine Maypop Passion Flower Passion Vine |
Family | Passifloraceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay High Organic Matter Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 10 to 30 feet |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Shade |
The passion flower is said to resemble the Passion of Christ. Its flowers have petals that symbolize the five wounds of Christ, while the three sepals represent the three nails used to crucify him.
This plant is native to eastern North America and is used as a traditional medicine for treating anxiety, insomnia, and headaches. Others brew its leaves into a tea for a soothing and sedative effect, while its flowers are used to make potpourri and perfumes.
The passion flower plant is a woody vine that grows in the ground. It requires full sun or partial shade and moist, loamy soil rich in organic matter.
27. Trumpet Vine (Campsis grandiflora)
Scientific Name | Campsis grandiflora |
Common Name | Chinese Trumpet Creeper Trumpet Creeper Trumpet Vine |
Family | Bignoniaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | Clay Loam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 13 to 30 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Shade |
The trumpet vine is native to eastern Asia and made famous by its trumpet-shaped flowers in different colors, such as red, orange, and yellow.
It’s commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens or as a houseplant. It can also be trained to climb on a support structure and create a living fence or privacy screen.
The trumpet vine is a woody plant that grows in the ground and thrives under full sun and moist, well-drained soil.
28. Anthurium (Anthurium scherzerianum)
Scientific Name | Anthurium scherzerianum |
Common Name | Flamingo Flower Flamingo Lily Fleabane Oilcloth Flower Painter’s Pallet Pigtail Plant Tail Flower |
Family | Araceae |
Light | Partial Shade |
Soil | Loam Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 12 to 28 inches |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent |
Anthuriums are brightly colored plants native to Costa Rica. They have heart-shaped leaves and long red spadix, a modified flower surrounded by colorful leaves.
They make excellent ornamental plants and houseplants, even for floral arrangements. Anthurium flowers are widely cultivated for the variety of fragrances they emit, which attracts pollinators.
Anthuriums are terrestrial plants that grow on the ground. They grow best on partial shade or indirect light and moist, well-drained loamy soil.
29. Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia)
Scientific Name | Begonia |
Common Name | Angel wing begonia Begonia Belgian Begonias Dragon Wings Begonia Rex Begonia Rex Begonias Tuberous Begonias |
Family | Begoniaceae |
Light | Deep Shade Partial Shade |
Soil | High Organic Matter Good Drainage Moist Occasionally Dry |
Height | 1 to 2 feet |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Maintenance | Medium |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
Angel Wing Begonias have huge, heart-shaped leaves with white or pink variegations. When you touch their leaves, they feel like soft velvet cloth.
This type of begonia is indigenous to Brazil. Today, it’s grown as an ornamental plant, houseplant and a common fixture in flower arrangements.
As a terrestrial plant, the Angel Wing Begonia grows on the ground and thrives on deep or partial shade and moist, well-drained loam soil.
30. Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
Scientific Name | Jasminum nudiflorum |
Common Name | Winter-flowered Jasmine Winter Jasmine |
Family | Oleaceae |
Light | Full Sun Partial Shade |
Soil | ClayLoam (Silt) Sand Good Drainage Moist |
Height | 10 to 15 feet |
Growth Rate | Rapid |
Maintenance | Low |
Best Climbing Plant For | Garden Indoor Scent Shade |
Winter Jasmines are native to Japan and China. They bloom in winter and produce small yellow flowers emitting sweet, honey-like aromas.
Winter Jasmine is grown as an ornamental plant, houseplant or used in floral arrangements. You can also use it to cover walls and fences or as a ground cover.
This woody vine grows in the ground and prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained loamy soil.
FAQs on Epiphytic Plants
A plant is an epiphyte when it grows on another plant without harming them and derives nutrients from the air, rain or other external debris that comes near them.
Ferns are not epiphytes because they get their nutrients from the soil, unlike epiphytes which derive their nutrients from moisture and air.
Epiphytes help support biodiversity by providing food and shelter to wildlife. It also helps conserve water and prevent erosion in forests and gardens.
Epiphytic roots anchor the plant to the host tree. These roots are covered by velamen, a thick spongy tissue that helps the plant absorb nutrients from air and moisture.