Taming the Potted Beast

October 17, 2022
Apartment Therapy contributor Williams (Killer Plants) unearths “the little-known, peculiar history of the houseplant” in this entertaining outing. Her delightful narrative takes readers from the mythical hanging gardens of Babylon in 605 BCE to the present day, when rare houseplants sell for thousands of dollars and “plantfluencers” post glamorous pictures of fiddle-leaf figs on Instagram. After Christopher Columbus fueled botanical exports by kick-starting triangular trade routes, plants and crops such as tobacco, corn, and cocoa moved between Europe, the Americas, and Africa, and rare plants became synonymous with wealth. However, houseplants weren’t always frivolous or for pleasure—many historical anecdotes show having a green thumb was practical, as when medicinal herbs took precedence in the Middle Ages and when the U.S. government encouraged people to grow “victory gardens” during WWII. In addition to the charming history, Williams offers plenty of tips for would-be growers: there are DIY projects for building a terrarium and blooming bulbs indoors; ethical plant buying tips (asking sellers where their plants originate is a good idea, and it’s best to use extra caution when buying a “rare” plant); plant profiles; and houseplant care 101. This is as informative as it is fun. Agent: Laura Mazer, Wendy Sherman Assoc.