These plants are architectural wonders.
Social media feeds continue to be flooded with homes featuring large exotic plants placed in unexpected and unique containers. The plants are more architectural installations than botanical accents, with tall, twisted branches often left bare, exploding with personality at their tips. Some call this trend “adjacent bonsai,” while others are quick to call it “horticultural decoration,” but no matter how you label it, the look is undeniably chic.
Zilah Drahn has attracted the attention of interior designers and celebrities for her LA business Plants & Spaces, which has quickly become a leading home staging boutique with a focus on luxury houseplants. Here she shares her advice for vibrant vines.
The right factory, the right place
Nora Shafer
Before you rush to the nursery to get the latest “IT” plant, or get hung up on which plants you want to display in your home, Drahn recommends assessing the space where the installation will be installed. Her first action is to “consider the aesthetics of the room, such as the color and the shape of other objects, and try to complement the space without overwhelming it.”
Next, consider the growth patterns of certain plants that thrive in certain conditions and how they will grow within your space. Whether you want to fill a wide, bright corner or create a focal point accent on your entryway mount, knowing how plants grow and shape over time can help you achieve long-term success. Let's get ready for it. Studying a plant's growth habits will help you choose the right plant for your perfect location based on its mature size.
Formula for autumn leaves
Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
The unique branch shape and leaf texture are key to achieving this look. Drahn suggests visiting several indoor and outdoor nurseries to observe various changes in plant growth and leaf variegation before making your final selection. She recommends “looking for the craziest shapes among the branches,” keeping in mind that selective pruning can change the growth and shape of different plants in different ways.
When sourcing plants, be sure to venture outside your neighborhood. Drahn suggests making this an adventure to explore a more diverse inventory. She even suggests looking into wholesale nurseries, which have specific days for retail customers and may have more plants to choose from. Most importantly, she suggests being curious and patient as you take your time and look behind all the other plants for something unusual. Some nurseries may decide that such oddly shaped specimens cannot be sold. So don't be afraid to ask what's hiding behind the scenes. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Don't know where to start? Here are Drahn's selection of plants for those new to botanical styling. Pleomele, Brachychiton rupestris, Dracaena reflexa, Dracaena marginata, and Ficus 'Audrey'.
vivid blood vessels
Jiller Dolan at work
Joshua Pineda
Once you've identified a few plants that are suitable for your space, it's time to think about what to plant them with. When Draan searches for vessels he focuses on two details. First, how the shape of the pot can enhance and emphasize the atmosphere of the plant. What is the climbing or trailing nature of plants? Next, what colors are complementary to the color and shape of the leaves? Most importantly, it is the important statement part.
Handmade and vintage pieces are especially important for these celebrity-worthy installations, but the variety of readily available ceramic, terracotta, and chrome planters can also create surprising effects when it comes to texture and shape. Drahn points out that it has the potential to create an impact. If you find an interesting piece that doesn't have drainage holes, you can drill them yourself using a ceramic bit, or you can plant the plants in nursery pots that you can take out on watering days. In fact, keeping plants inside their original growing pots and hidden inside oddly shaped or oversized containers is a common practice that can improve drainage and keep plants healthier. Containers that may not provide ideal growing conditions include very deep pots that may take too long to drain or dry between waterings. Get creative and fill these oddly sized containers with materials other than soil (such as stacked bricks or overturned plastic pots) before placing your plants inside.
Potted plants + pruning
Nora Shafer
At Plants & Spaces, interior construction comes with personalized soil planning and ongoing care services. Drahn admits that she “doesn't really like the look of saucers,” so she tends to plant directly in the planter, using a lining to prevent water leaks and top dressing to hide the pot. It allows for safe drainage inside. If the work is covered with a stone top, be sure to monitor watering, as it retains moisture longer than bare soil. Similarly, if you are using moss, be sure to lift it when watering to maintain balanced water release, as it tends to get wet and dry over time.
Outside of initial styling, emphasize the plant's shape by pruning away excess branches or removing some of the leaves, but ongoing maintenance is limited to light pruning in spring or summer. Like outdoor plants, indoor plants grow dormant during the winter and grow best when they are pruned during their active growth cycle.