Rare and Unusual Houseplants Guide | Mulhall's
January 23 // Houseplants

5 Exciting Houseplants to Grab When You Can

Looking for something extraordinary to add to your growing houseplant collection? Maybe an unusual variety that none of your friends have yet? We get it. We love hunting down those hard-to-find beauties too – the ones that turn a routine shopping trip into a treasure-finding adventure. Here we share a few of our most exciting new arrivals, and we invite you to stop by our Greenhouse to grab one while they last.

Philodendron micans

This pretty vine combines fascinating foliage with easy-going personality for a houseplant that everyone can enjoy. The pointed heart-shaped leaves emerge bright chartreuse with pink tones and gradually mature to a velvety purple-green. Trained to a trellis or gracefully tumbling over an edge, P. micans is always gorgeous.

bright, indirect light // water when the top inch or so is dry

Alocasia ‘Frydek’

When you see ‘Frydek,’ you’ll easily recognize where it gets its common name ‘green velvet.’ The large, arrow-shaped leaves are luxuriously rich and textured – it’s hard not to reach out and pet them, actually. And those contrasting white veins against the deep green background are stunning too.

bright light – even some direct light // water when the top inch or so is dry

Jewel Orchid

Just because orchid is in the name doesn’t mean that blooms are what you’re after with this little beauty. Although the dainty white flowers are pretty, it’s the deep maroonish-green leaves with that complementary pinstripe pattern that make jewel orchid hard to keep on the tables in the Greenhouse.

bright, indirect light // water when the top inch or so is dry

Calathea musaica

There’s interesting foliage patterns, and then there’s Calathea musaica. The species name is related to the word mosaic, which is apparent when you see the tiled pattern – all straight sides and right angles – that’s so unusual in nature. It’s the one we’ve all been talking about since it first arrived in the Greenhouse.

bright, indirect light – no direct light // water when the top inch or so is dry

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma

This beautiful guy may look like monstera’s baby brother, but don’t accuse him of riding those famous coat tails – he’s very much his own genus and species, thank you very much. But, despite different genealogies, R. tetrasperma does share several characteristics with monstera – like a wandering heart, a propensity for climbing, and that amazing fenestrated foliage. Everybody’s looking for him too, so if you’re interested at all, don’t hesitate to grab it when you see it.

bright, indirect light // water when the top inch or so is dry

Add a Gem to Your Collection

These hard-to-find treasures might be a little elusive, but that just makes owning one even more special. The great thing is, they’re here now, so it’s the perfect time to head to the Greenhouse and snag an unusual addition for your collection.