Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum'

'Variegateum' is a variegated cultivar of the spider plant houseplant which is in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family and is native to South Africa. This cultivar has green leaves with white margins. It produces small white star-shaped flowers from which plantlets form that dangle from stems that can be up to 2 feet long. This occurs when the days start getting shorter in the fall.

This easy-care plant can be grown indoors in pots or hanging baskets in bright indirect light and average humidity. It needs moist well-drained soil during the growing season and cut back on water during the winter. Do not over-fertilize this plant as that will cut back on plantlet formation. It can also be grown outdoors in a shady location as an annual.

The plantlets that form on the hanging stems will form aerial roots as they mature and can be removed to plant in a growing medium to form new plants The fleshy tuberous roots will eventually fill the pot to bursting and the plant will need to be divided.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to root rot if waterlogged, whiteflies, spider mites, scales and aphids. Too little water or humidity will cause browning of the leaf tips. Direct sun will scald the leaves.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

More information on Chlorophytum comosum.