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As a book lover and a plant lover, I make it a point to combine these two hobbies as often as possible. Books about houseplants are a guilty pleasure to me. Sure, I’m reading a book to gain knowledge and find out about experts’ experiences with houseplants. But these books also have wonderful photography or elegant illustrations that I enjoy immensely. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever read a boring book about houseplants.
I’ve read all the books I’m recommending below, so you can start with this list if you want to learn more about houseplants from a trusted source.
Part of my 2021 resolution is to read 20 more books about houseplants. I’ll add them to the list as soon as I’m done. But if you have one that you think is worth reading, please email me (through the Contact form on this website) or message me on Instagram. I love getting recommendations from my plant-loving readers.
Books about houseplants
1. The Kew Gardener’s Guide to Growing House Plants by Kay Maguire
What I liked about it: The blend of botanical illustrations and photos of the plants in a home setting. The book combines plant advice with practical DIY projects with step-by-step photos that are easy to follow. My favorite project was the carnivorous vase.
You’ll like it if: You’re interested in tidbits of plant history. Since this book is published by Kew Gardens, a world-renowned botanical science and research center, the book gives a bit of a background about when the plants were collected from the wild, (re-)named and transitioned to houseplant status.
One thing I found out: The string of hearts was discovered by John Medley Wood in South Africa in 1881. The plant was hanging from rocks at 1640 ft (about 500 meters) altitude. He sent the plant to Kew Gardens in 1894 and the gardens named the plant in his honor (Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii)
Notable houseplant featured: Old man cactus (Cephalocereus senilis) – a wooly cactus that looks like an old man’s beard. Its favorite perch spot is sunny windowsills and as the plant ages, the skin thickens and the cactus starts losing its hair.
2. Happy Houseplants by Angela Staehling
What I liked about it: I’ll be honest, this book tempted me for a good two months from behind a bookshop window I would walk past almost every week. And I kept trying to convince myself that I don’t need another book about houseplants. But then I caved in and bought it because I’m a sucker for illustrations. The format (full illustration on a separate page from the text) is really tempting me to take some scissors to the book and frame some of the drawings.
You’ll like it because: The plants are presented alphabetically (from airplant to zebra cactus), so it’s easy to find and reference a plant. Yes, you’d think this would be more common, but I’ve poured over eye-straining indexes at the back of books enough times to tell you that an alphabetical order is not that common.
One thing I found out: This book also contains information about some seasonal plants that aren’t usually included in books about houseplants (grape hyacinths and lily of the valley, for example). I buy them every spring and they make me happy, so I’d say their place is well-deserved in a book about happy houseplants.
Notable featured houseplant: Blue chalksticks (Senecio mandraliscae). I’ll keep an eye out for this one. I love blue houseplants, but I haven’t seen this one for sale anywhere near me.
3. Making More Plants: The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation by Ken Druse
What I liked about it: Druse is one of America’s foremost gardening authorities, and the man was posting plant videos on YouTube way back in 2008. He’s got extensive decades-long knowledge and has been documenting it all in photos for years. There are over 500 photos in this book, so you won’t have trouble following instructions. There’s also a very handy plant propagation guide at the end of the book that lists all the plants (in alphabetical order) and their reproduction methods. This chapter alone makes the book worth buying.
You’ll like it if: You want to become a plant propagation machine. I do recommend this book over Plant Parenting (number 6 on this list) if you’re also gardening outdoors. If you’re mainly interested in houseplant propagation, start with chapter 7 (Cuttings) and chapter 9 (Layering). The book is definitely on the technical side, so if you’re intimidated by a lot of botany terms, go for book #6 on this list (see below).
One thing I found out: It’s hard to pick one piece of information. I have taken pages and pages of notes.
4. What’s Wrong with My Houseplant? by David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth
What I liked about it: In addition to the usual information about a plant (its preferred type of potting medium, watering schedule, temperature and humidity) there’s extra information on how to propagate it. There’s also an extensive chapter on propagation early on in the book.
You’ll like it if: You’re looking for organic eco-friendly solutions to common plant pests. Every plant profile has a list of common problems with a link to solutions. I read the ebook version, so it was quite easy to go from problem to solution just by clicking on the link. For every pest, fungi or bacteria, there are several photo examples showing how the problem looks like on different types of plants. This is a very helpful guide when you’re trying to diagnose what’s off with your houseplants.
One thing I found out: Jade plants (Crassula ovata) can bloom in the winter, but it generally takes ten years for plants to reach this stage. I’ve had my jade plant for five years, so I’m sharpening my patience skills for this event.
Notable featured houseplant: False aralia (Plerandra elegantissima)
5. Greenhouse and Window Plants: A Primer for Amateurs by Charles Collins
What I liked about it: Can I just start with the title? This book was first published in 1895, back when there was no concept of houseplants, so they were just called window plants. And “amateurs” wasn’t a bad word. Hence the subtitle: A primer for amateurs. How genuinely accurate is that? The 2017 republication of this book contains the original black-and-white illustrations, and they are gorgeous. And it was really interesting to see what kind of houseplants were popular in the 1890s and are still popular today: coleus, echeveria, ficus, dracaena, sempervivum, yucca and all types of ferns.
You’ll like it if: you’re into historical plants and gardens. You won’t find in-depth information like you would in a newer book (after all, they didn’t know that much about exotic houseplants back then). But when it comes to plant listicles, this book was ahead of its time. My head is spinning with ideas about writing a murder mystery set in a greenhouse in 1895.
One thing I found out: There’s a chapter that includes a short history of gardening. Even though “home gardening” probably has roots in prehistoric times, the earliest evidence of ornamental horticulture and landscape design comes from Egyptian tomb paintings from around 1500 BC. A well-known example of an ancient ornamental garden was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Notable featured houseplant: Pandanus javanicus (as a houseplant) and Araucaria excelsa (also as a houseplant). I think most modern homes are not as well-equipped as the private greenhouses of rich Victorians, so I don’t know if many of the plants mentioned in this book would survive our a/c lifestyles.
6. Plant Parenting by Leslie F. Halleck
What I liked about it: It is an in-depth guide to all the types of houseplant propagation. I took copious notes on how to propagate houseplants that I can’t easily find in stores and some that I’ve failed at propagating before (hello, African violet!). The book has very clear photos of how to take stem cuttings, how to take tip cuttings, ground and air layering and plant division.
You’ll like it if: You’re a newbie at trying to propagate houseplants. This book will help you avoid all the common mistakes when it comes to making more plants, such as using a sick leaf as a starter. Or am I the only optimist who thought that was going to work?
One thing I found out: The importance of letting succulent leaf cuttings cure for a long time before you air layer them.
Notable featured houseplant: Learning how to propagate cane-like houseplants. I had no idea how to take a cane cutting (for example from a Dracaena) and increase its chances of rooting.
7. Healing Houseplants by Michelle Polk
What I liked about it: I picked up this book thinking that I would read about the benefits of keeping houseplants, in general. Instead, the focus was more on potted herbs. And I really enjoyed this because it gave me a new perspective on herbs – not just as kitchen windowsill staples, but actual houseplants in their own right. There’s a good bibliography at the end of the book that includes all the studies mentioned in the book.
You’ll like it if: You want to learn more about growing healing houseplants (aloe vera, lavender, rosemary, calendula, for example), but also recipes for homemade tinctures. There is one chapter (about 24 pages) dedicated to what we commonly know as houseplants and how they can help improve our mental and physical health. This book does come with a health disclaimer to consult a specialist if you have health concerns, as does my recommendation of the book.
One thing I found out: Research from Uppsala University (Sweden) found that the presence of houseplants in a home or office reduced the stress and fatigue of the people living and working in that environment. It also decreased the amount the sick leave employees took.
Other books about houseplants on my to-read list:
Potted History by Catherine Horwood. I’m really interested in the history of houseplants, and how we’ve come to grow ornamental greenery indoors. This book promises a historical angle to our plant obsession.
The Indestructible Houseplant by Tovah Martin. I’ve put a request for this one through the library. I’ll add it to this list once I’m done with the book.
The Scentual Garden by Ken Druse. I’m planning on incorporating fragrant plants in my garden and get some scented plants indoors too. I’ve already successfully killed indoor gardenias, but hope springs eternal when it comes to my relationship with fussy houseplants.
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