Meet the 5 Trendiest Houseplants of Summer 2020
A season of social distancing and staycations, summer 2020 has been deemed the best time to adopt more plant babies. Because if you have to spend more time at home, you might as well turn your house into a lush oasis, right? It seems many have the same idea. Victory Gardens made a serious comeback this spring, prompting a spike in online sales of vegetable seeds. Now, indoor houseplants are quickly selling out at online sources like The Sill, Bloomscape, and The Bouqs Co. While some easy-to-care-for houseplants like snake plants and pothos will always be in demand, there are some fresh favorites gaining in popular this season. These are the "celeb status" plants that keep popping up on Instagram, making appearances on TikTok, and prettifying the pages of decor magazines. Introducing, the five must-have houseplants of summer 2020.
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String of Pearls
Lush, trailing plants that cascade over the edge of a shelf, mantle, or hanging planter are having a moment right now. One of the most popular trailing varieties of summer is the string of pearls plant. Aptly named, this attention-grabbing succulent resembles a strand of green pearls.
Not only does the plant add personality to a space, but you can play with placement. Suspend one as a natural curtain in front of a window or let it trail over the edge of a side table. Order this small succulent duo from The Sill ($45, thesill.com), and as the plant matures, it will grow 2- to 3-foot-long tendrils.
Already own a string of pearls? Add other trailing succulents to your collection, such as the string of fish hooks or string of dolphins (yes, these are real plant names!).
Olive Tree
Archways, plaster walls, and earthy terracotta hues signaled the return of Mediterranean-style home decor in 2020. Along with it came the popularity of olive trees and olive branches.
Unfortunately, southern Italy is currently battling an olive tree disease, but some online plant shops, like Terrain, are selling live olive trees and fresh olive branches sourced from growers in the U.S. You can also opt for a faux olive tree if you want to keep this trendy plant around forever.
Monstera
With its large, tropical leaves that have earned this plant the nickname "Swiss Cheese Plant," monstera deliciosa continues to be one of the stars of social media. Check out any home decor blog or interior design influencer's Instagram, and you'll likely spot these sculptural leaves lurking in the background.
Luckily, you don't have to be a plant pro to keep a monstera alive. Bloomscape just recommends placing your monstera ($150, bloomscape.com) in bright indirect sun and watering it about once a week.
Calathea
With vibrant green and purple leaves that look as though they've been hand-painted, it's no wonder the calathea rattlesnake ($62, thesill.com) is on the top of many plant enthusiasts' wishlists.
One of the coolest features of the calathea is that you can observe its circadian rhythm. The leaves rise and fall from day to night as they catch the sun's rays. An added bonus: this plant is also pet-friendly!
Coffee Plant
Like many trends, Trader Joe's is behind the coffee plant's rise to stardom. The popular grocery store started selling coffee plants for $8 each recently—and the rest is history. Part of this plant's allure is that it combines two favorites: houseplants and coffee. Yes, you can in fact grow your own coffee beans from a coffee plant. Just don't wait around for it—it will take 1 to 3 years for your plant to reach maturity. Plus, you would need about 30 coffee plants to harvest enough beans to sustain your morning cup of Joe habit.
Technicalities aside, growing your own coffee beans is an appealing idea, and while you wait, the plant will look vibrant and leafy on your kitchen counter. Head to your nearest Trader Joe's while these are still in stock.
