Copyright: ukhouseplants

The Cut Flower & Houseplant industry is a growing market worth over £2.2B in the U.K., and $1.7 billion in the U.S, each year. Two-thirds of indoor species sold within the last twelve months originate from tropical locations around the world; this isn't surprising as over one BILLION exotic Orchids (Phalaenopsis) were sold within this period! The second most popular houseplant category, is, of course, Cacti. In essence, all but one of the 1749 species originate from the Americas, with Rhipsalis baccifera (Mistletoe Cactus) breaking this trend in the central tropics of Africa. Have a read through the list to see where your houseplant originates from - click on its link for more information regarding care requirements, common issues and its history!

Rainforest, Monsoon & Tropical Temperate Climates

North America

• Adiantum - Maidenhair Ferns
• Brassia
• Callisia
• Chamaedorea - Parlour Palms
• Dieffenbachia - Dumb Canes
• Maranta
• Nephrolepsis - Boston Ferns
• Oncidium
• Syngonium
• Tradescantia - Wondering Jew or Inch Plant

Central America

• Adiantum capillus-veneris - Maidenhair Ferns
• Begonia
• Brassia
• Bromeliads - Aechmea, Air Plants, Billbergia, Bromelia, Cryptanthus, Helicodea, Tillandsia, & Vrisea.
• Calathea - Living or Prayer Plants
  
• Callisia
• Chamaedorea - Parlour Palms
• Clusia
• Ctentanthe
• Dieffenbachia - Dumb Canes
• Epiphyllum
• Goeppertia
• Heliconia - False Bird of Paradise
• Hylocereus - Pitahaya
• Maranta
• Nephrolepsis - Boston Ferns
• Oncidium
• Orchid Cacti
• Philodendron
• Pinguicula - Butterworts
• Primrose
• Pachira
• Peperomia
• Phlebodium - Blue Star Ferns
• Rhipsalis
• Spathiphyllum - Peace Lilies
• Syngonium
• Tradescantia - Wondering Jew or Inch Plant

South America

• Anthurium - Flamingo Plants
• Begonia
• Bougainvillea
• Brassia
• Bromeliads - Aechmea, Air Plants, Billbergia, Bromelia, Cryptanthus, Helicodea, Tillandsia, & Vrisea.
• Calathea - Living or Prayer Plants
  
• Callisia
• Cattleya
• Clusia
• Ctentanthe
• Dieffenbachia - Dumb Canes
• Fittonia - Nerve Plants
• Goeppertia
• Gloxinia
• Hatiora
• Heliconia - False Bird of Paradise
• Maranta
• Miltonia
• Monstera
• Nephrolepsis - Boston Ferns
• Oncidium
• Pachira
• Philodendron
• Pinguicula - Butterworts
• Peperomia
• Phlebodium - Blue Star Ferns
• Platycerium - Staghorn Ferns
• Rhipsalis
• Schlumbergera - Christmas, Easter, Holiday, Thanksgiving or Zygo Cactus
• Spathiphyllum - Peace Lilies
• Syngonium
• Tradescantia - Wondering Jew or Inch Plant

Africa 

• Begonia
• Coffea  (Coffee)
• Dracaena  (& Madagascar)
• Dypsis lutescens - Butterfly or Areca Palm  (Madagascar)
• Ficus lyrata - Fiddle-Leaf Fig
• Kalanchoe  (& Madagascar)
• Musa Cavendish Bananas  (Canary Islands)
• Platycerium - Staghorn Ferns
• Primrose
• Rhipsalis baccifera
• Rhaphidophora
• Stephanotis  (Madagascar)

South Asia

• Citrus - Lemons, Limes, Oranges, etc. (Monsoon Forests)
• Coffea  (Coffee)
• Cymbidium
• Dendrobium
• Epipremnum -  Devil's Ivy or Pothos
• Paphiopedilum - Slipper Orchids 
• Phalaenopsis - Moth Orchids
• Nepenthes - Monkey Traps

East Asia

• Aglaonema - Chinese Evergreens
• Aspidistra - Cast Iron Plants
  
• Caryota - Fishtail Palms
• Coffea  (Coffee)
• Cissus
• Cycas - Sago Palms & Cycads
• Dendrobium
• Fatsia japonica
• Ludisia - Jewel Orchids
• Nepenthes - Monkey Traps
• Phalaenopsis - Moth Orchids
• Pilea peperomioides
• Radermachera
• Rhapis - Lady Palms

South-East Asia

• Aeschynanthus - Lipstick Plants
• Alocasia - Elephant Ears
• Asplenium - Bird's Nest Ferns
  
• Begonia
• Caladium
• Caryota - Fishtail Palms
• Cissus
• Colocasia
• Curcuma - Siam Tulip
• Cymbidium
• Dendrobium
• Epidendron
• Epipremnum - Devil's Ivy or Pothos
• Hoya
• Weeping Fig  & Ficus alii
• Mimosa pudica - Sensitive or Touch-Me-Not Plant
• Nepenthes - Monkey Traps
• Paphiopedilum - Slipper Orchids
• Phalaenopsis - Moth Orchids
• Platycerium - Staghorn Ferns
• Plectranthus - Coleus
• Radermachera
• Rhaphidophora
• Rhapis - Lady Palms
• Schefflera
• Spathiphyllum - Peace Lilies

Australasia

• Alocasia - Elephant Ears
• Asplenium - Bird's Nest Ferns
• Caladium
• Cissus
• Colocasia
• Cordyline
• Croton
• Davallia - Rabbit Foot Fern
• Dichondra
• Howea - Kentia & Sentry Palms
• Hoya
• Meuhlenbeckia - Maidenhair Vines
• Norfolk Island Pines
• Plerandra  (Dizygotheca)
• Platycerium - Staghorn Ferns
• Rhaphidophora

Read More - The History of Houseplant Taxonomy

Arid & Alpine Tundra

North America

• Agaves
• Beaucarnia - Ponytail Palms
• Desert Cacti
• Echeviera
• Euphorbia
• Euphorbia trigona
• Poinsettia
• Sedum
• Yucca

South America

• Agaves
• Desert Cacti
• Echeviera
• Hippeastrum 
• Oxalis
• Sedum

Arabian Peninsula

• Aloe
  
• Aloe vera

Southern Africa

• Aloe
  
• Ceropegia
• Chlorophytum - Spider Plants
• Clivia - Natal Lily
• Crassula  (Money or Jade Plants)
• Dracaena
• Gasteria
• Gerbera
• Haworthia
• Ledebouria - Silver Squill
• Saintpaulia - African Violets 
• Sansevieria
• Sedum
• Streptocarpus - Cape Primrose
• Strelitzia - Bird of Paradise 
• Zamioculcas - ZZ Plants
• Zantedeschia

Mediterranean Climates

Europe

• Cyclamen
• Geranium
• Hedera - English or Common Ivy
• Sempervivum
• Soleirolia - Baby Tears or Helexine

Temperate Broadleaf

North America

• Campanula
• Hydrangea
• Sarracenia - Pitcher Plants
• Tolmiea menziesii - Piggy-Back Plant  

Europe

• Campanula
• Chrysanthemums
• Jasmine
• Sarracenia - Pitcher Plants

Asia

• Chrysanthemums
• Ficus
• Hydrangea
• Jasmine
• Roses

If you need further advice with indoor gardening, never hesitate to send us an message or leave a comment in the section below. This could be about your own specific plant, transplantation into a bigger pot, pests or diseases, terrarium ideas, & more!