The beauty of leaves

There are a number of plants that brighten interiors with their colourfully-patterned, unusual leaves

Most garden plants are cultivated for their beautiful flowers. But many plants are also valued for the beauty of their leaves. In local nurseries one can find plants with an amazing variety of colours and patterns on their leaves. Let us take a look at some indoor varieties that can be used to brighten the interiors of homes and offices.

MARANTA
All varieties of these have very attractive leaves. They should be kept away from direct sunlight, which causes the leaves to shrivel. Make sure that the soil is always moist and the plant is fertilised regularly, particularly in summer.

Marantas are medium-sized plants and can be divided if they become too large. The most commonly available is Maranta leuconeura, also known as fish bone plant because of the pattern on the leaves.

M. leuconeura massangeana has pale green leaves with the main veins picked out in white, while another variety called erythrophylla has dark green leaves with bright red veins and yellowish spots on the spine.

CALATHEA
It is similar in appearance and growth requirements to the Maranta, though the leaves are longer. Calathea insignis has yellowish green leaves with dark green blotches along the midrib, while the underside of the leaves is a deep claret red. Other varieties have beautiful whirls of red, green and white along the margins of the leaves.

FITTONIA
These are small plants with tiny, delicate looking leaves. Fittonias need to be watered well and should never be allowed to dry out. Keep them away from direct sunlight. Fittonia varieties like Bianca Verde and White Anne have a white mosaic pattern on green leaves while Fittonia Janita has beautiful red venetation.