Picture this: the Victorian era everyone sported its top hats and frilled skirts, when a new kind of trend was taking the world by storm: not a new fashion but a new form of art and this time it was nature! As I tend my philodendrons, I can’t help but feel a great deal of botanical luck.
The home was transformed into the forest of houses and philodendrons started ruling the roost. We were the exuberant plant collectors, eager to uncover the most outrageous discovery. It didn’t take long for philodendrons which have dramatic and lustrous leaves to adorn the parlours and the conservatory.
Botany and Collection in the Victorian Era
It is no secret that the Victorian period was an era filled with passion towards botany and tattooing. It was the world of plants that brought one happiness. Sporting this culture, the philodendron was the representative of plant passion. How can we forget the thrill when looking for a new species for the first time, consider the scenario of having a new model of the latest iPhone before anyone had it.
Exotic Plants during the Victorian Period
Due to their unusual origins, they had a strange look. The Victorians appreciated these plants because they represented refinement and bonded them with foreign countries. To own a philodendron was to own a part of a tropical island in your living room.
I recall reading about Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, that iconic botanist, who always seemed to create a trend out of these plants. His pain-staking classification and designation of philodendrons turned them from jungle oddities into high demand. He was the perfect trendsetter of his era.
Like most Victorian plant parents, the more of these attractive climbers we acquired the more our homes were filled with greenery to the point that our homes became indoor rain forests. Every new leaf displayed growth, and every guest was fixed on our beautiful plants.
Current Plant Trends
Houseplant craze of the 20th century
Philodendrons became hardy houseplants that didn’t need much attention. By the 1950’s philodendrons had found their way into every house across the globe. These plants were like trustworthy pals — dependable and very low-maintenance.
Post War Trends of Indoor Plant Cultivation
Philodendrons continue to hold epic proportions in the hearts of modern day plant lovers. Let’s not forget the fact that they are pleasing to the eye, require little maintenance while adding a touch of organic charm to the space. The plants themselves are like the best pets possible for both seasoned plant parents or enthusiastic novices: they are easy to care for but give great satisfaction.
Modern Popularity
20th-Century Houseplant Boom
By the mid -20 century, philodendrons had entered homes worldwide. They were hardy and not fussy, so they quickly became a favorite among indoor gardeners. Think of them as reliable friends who are always there when you need them but do not ask for much attention.
Recent Trends in Indoor Gardening
Until today, philodendrons remain a favorite among the plant enthusiasts. Not to mention all the beauty they offer, they are easy to care for and bring a piece of nature into any space. Whether you’re an old pro at parentage or a newbie, these plants are like the perfect pet: low maintenance, high reward.
Philodendrons are more than pretty faces; they symbolized our tie to the exotics and the unknown. They would whisper tales of far-off rainforests and adventures yet to be had, but they made our homes healthier, more vibrant places to live.
Tip your hat to those Victorian lovers of the plant world as you nurture your philodendrons another day. The Victorian movement laid the road for these plants to adorn our gardens and homes so beautifully today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Botany and collecting of plants became trendy during the Victorian era, and the various types of flora really intrigued people. Philodendrons’ unusual origins and appearance caught the eye of the Victorian brain and represented elegance and proximity to foreign lands.
He was an early 19th-century botanist who provided most of the classification and nomenclature for philodendrons. In 1829, Schott was the first to formally describe the genus Philodendron, which marked a high point in their subsequent development among collectors and horticulturists.
Before the middle of the century, philodendrons became ubiquitous in human habitats. Given its robust and resilient nature, most houses in the world were fitted with an indoor gardener or even just ornamental functions by plant enthusiasts who, despite their respect for aesthetics, did not care much for the troubles of nature and boasted a very high adaptation.
