Foliage Friday: Nephthytis

This is really a plant that anyone can grow.  It's one of the few house plants I keep around -- the only one that actually seems worth the trouble.

Nephthytis

Nephthytis, sometimes called Arrowhead Philodendron, is a member of the family of plants that includes caladiums, peace lilies, elephant ears, dieffenbachia, and, for you Houstonions, the Corpse Flower, lately of HMNS fame.  This little evergreen is a perfect housepet of a plant.  It doesn't grow too fast (so it can stay in that cute little pot you bought).  It won't tolerate a freeze, but it won't complain about brief chilly nights.  It grows well, even in the rather dim light of a kitchen window.  It's easy to root cuttings and, though it multiplies slowly, is one of the few houseplants that actually grows.  Usually I'm happy if my houseplants merely refrain from dying.

My kitchen window gets too hot during the summer months, so I put this plant outside on the back porch.  When the weather turns cold again (hurry! hurry! hurry!) I'll bring it back inside.  Usually it gets big enough to divide every year.  No flower, but no trouble either!