The History of Spider Plants

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are part of the lily family. Native to South and West Africa, they were introduced to Europe at some point during the 18th century, likely by the naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg, who traveled to the area to collect plant specimens for his botanical studies. Additionally, ships regularly made stops at Cape Town during long voyages between China and Europe; passengers are thought to have picked up spider plants as souvenirs, furthering the species' introduction to Europe. In fact, spider plants became very popular during Victorian times and were often referred to as "ribbon plants” at the time due to their variegated leaves. The name “spider plant” comes from the way the plants reproduce by creating offsets that dangle from the ends of flower stems like spiders. (An alternative name, “airplane plant,” came about because some observers thought the dangling offsets resembled propellers.) Spider plants were often displayed in hanging baskets or on pedestals in Victorian homes. Today, they have once again become popular as houseplants and are often kept in pots or hanging planters to brighten up indoor spaces.