Every country's most popular houseplant mapped
It’s the affair of the century: the houseplant has wrapped its tendrils around humankind’s heart, and it won’t let go.
The millennials began the affair. They filled their rental possessions with vegetation and took ‘shelfies’ to supplement their Instagram selfies. Then, yearly gardening income in the United States increased by 4.62 percent in 2018, as Gen Z left home and joined the houseplant mania. And just like any other relationship, the pandemic amplified things. In 2020, gain almost doubled to 8.79 percent, with shops overwhelmed by 10 times the daily orders they foresaw.
Along with the COVID pandemic, plant affection went… well, if not viral, then rhizomatic, extending and growing in nations worldwide. An indoor plant is a hobby, a shoulder to cry on, a rosary for our existential anxieties, and an interiors flex on Zoom. So the world purchased houseplants.
But some houseplants get more passion than others. HouseFresh examined Google search data for the 230 most-Instagrammed plant species, using Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to determine which one is the most prevalent in every nation worldwide. And they mapped everyone, lining each territory with its most-searched plant.
Europe
Known for their lush, glossy, dark green leaves, the Monstera deliciosa is the most popular houseplant in Europe. Although native to South America, the “Swiss chees plant” earns its nickname thanks to its leaves, which become perforated and Swiss chees-like when they mature. This super Instagrammable plant adds a pop of color and a contemporary jungle feel to any room. They’re good air purifiers too!
North America
North America are lovers of the Monstera deliciosa too; however, another houseplant ties as the most searched for — the Mimosa pudica. Its name, deriving from Latin, means “shy, bashful or shrinking.” It is a perennial flowering plant that is part of the pea/legume family. It is often grown for its curiosity value as it has a unique response to contact — the leaves fold inward when shaken or touched. This made the Mimosa an ideal candidate for experiments regarding plant habituation and memory.
