These 6 Summer-Flowering Houseplants Bring Orangery-Chic to Every Room, No Conservatory Needed
Create a relaxed and lush look by incorporating tropical plants fit for an orangery.
A glass conservatory is an elegant addition to any home, but it’s not practical for most of us. The good news is you don’t need one to create a similar vibe: lush, elegant, rich, and maybe a little Mediterranean.
All you need are the right houseplants. From glossy foliage to exotic flowers, these summer-blooming beauties will help you create a relaxed conservatory feel in your everyday spaces.
Keep reading to see which are the perfect plants to create the vibe, and the necessary care for each one.
1. Peace Lily
When it comes to easy houseplant care, it’s hard to do better than a peace lily. But its forgiving nature is not the only reason peace lily is a popular houseplant. It has beautiful, large, deep green leaves that are complemented by elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in summer.
You can find large peace lilies to tower over smaller plants, but also compact varieties perfect for plant stands and tabletops. Peace lilies are very forgiving, but they grow best with consistently moist soil and bright, indirect light. Let your peace lily get a little pot-bound, which it prefers, and don’t overfeed it. Find the perfect peace lily from Lively Root.
2. Calamondin Orange Tree
If there’s one type of plant that instantly creates the feeling of a sun-drenched European conservatory, it’s citrus. Calamondin orange (Citrus x microcarpa) is a perfect choice for your orangery. It’s small and compact and grows well in a large container. This orange has glossy, evergreen leaves, fragrant white flowers, and miniature fruits that stay on the branches for months.
Your calamondin orange needs bright, direct light, so place it by a south-facing window. There, it can act as a screen for your other plants that prefer indirect or dappled light. The soil in its container should drain very well and be slightly acidic, and remember that it’s better to under-water than over-water this tree. You can find a Calamondin orange tree on sale at Fast Growing Trees.
3. Cape Primrose
Cape primrose is a large genus of small flowering plants. The most well-known type is African violet, a timeless and popular houseplant. Native to warm, moist regions of the globe, cape primrose plants thrive in a conservatory-like environment and offer an abundance of colorful flowers, not just in summer but year-round.
African violets are pretty, but don’t limit yourself. Look for other types of cape primrose, including the many hybrids for a variety of sizes, leaf shapes, and flower colors. Give your plants bright but indirect light and keep the soil moist but not soggy or waterlogged. Use a flower-boosting fertilizer, this one from Miracle-Gro which can be found at Amazon, to encourage abundant blooms all year. Find a cape primrose hanging basket from Hirt's Gardens through Walmart.
4. Hibiscus
For the ultimate tropical feel in your makeshift conservatory, choose one or more hibiscus plants. This is a large group of varied plants, from perennials to shrubs to small trees. The flowers, which bloom in summer, are large and come in nearly every color.
Whichever type you pick, your hibiscus will thrive in a spot with full sun. Like a citrus tree, you place it by a bright window and let it filter light for other plants. Keep the soil in the pot consistently moist and use a bloom-boosting fertilizer throughout the summer. Hibiscus flowers only last a day or two, but with adequate nutrients, the plant will keep producing new flowers for months. Find a 'French Cabaret' red hibiscus shrub at the Home Depot.
5. Chenille Plant
Chenille means caterpillar in French, which perfectly describes this plant’s unique flowers. They’re long, fuzzy, red, and definitely resemble caterpillars. Native to the South Pacific, this is an excellent houseplant that can potentially grow six feet (1.8 m) tall. As a potted plant, it’s likely to stay smaller.
Chenille plant is fun, playful, and tropical, and adds both color and texture to contrast with other plants. It grows best in bright, direct light and with consistently moist soil that drains well. Use fertilizer regularly to support fast growth and plenty of year-round flowers. Place your chenille plant on a table or plant stand to allow its dramatic flowers to cascade. Find a cute and unique chenille plant from GardenGalsPlants nursery on Etsy.
6. Bird of Paradise
This is one of the most dramatic flowers you can find. The name describes the multicolored blooms that look like birds in flight. The striking flowers are set against the dark, glossy leaves that can be as big as 18 inches (46 cm). This combination will give any room a high-end, tropical conservatory feel.
Growing a bird of paradise for its gorgeous foliage isn’t difficult. Coaxing it to bloom indoors is a little trickier, but well worth the effort. The plant needs warmth, humidity, consistently moist but well-drained soil, and regular feeding during the growing season.
Your bird of paradise should mostly enjoy full, direct sunlight to encourage blooms; however, the leaves might suffer. The best balance is to provide some shade, for instance, from a sheer curtain you can pull across the window, during the brightest afternoon hours. Find a brilliant orange bird of paradise plant from Fast Growing Trees.
Creating an airy and elegant conservatory look is possible in any indoor space with the right conditions and carefully chosen plants. Use these and other striking tropical houseplants to create the perfect look and atmosphere.
