Chlorophytum, Airplane Plant, Variegated Spider Plant 'Variegatum'

Chlorophytumcomosum

Genus
Chlorophytum (kloh-roh-FY-tum)
Species
comosum (kom-OH-sum)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Light Shade
Foliage
Grown for foliage
Evergreen
Good Fall Color
Height
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Spacing
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
White/Near White
Bloom Time
Late Winter/Early Spring
Other Details
Category
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing the rootball
Plant is viviparous
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Jones, Alabama

Montgomery, Alabama

Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)

Scottsdale, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Lamar, Arkansas

August, California

Canoga Park, California

Canyon Country, California

Clovis, California

Coalinga, California

Fallbrook, California(5 reports)

Huntington Beach, California

Long Beach, California(2 reports)

Merced, California

Norwalk, California

Oak View, California

Oakland, California

Oakley, California

Pomona, California

Rancho Cucamonga, California

San Diego, California

Venice, California

Villa Park, California

Visalia, California

Vista, California(9 reports)

Arvada, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado

Grand Junction, Colorado

Hamden, Connecticut

Norwich, Connecticut

Bartow, Florida

Brooksville, Florida

Clearwater, Florida

Daytona Beach, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Myers, Florida

Islamorada, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida(4 reports)

Key Largo, Florida

Keystone Heights, Florida

Kissimmee, Florida

Lake Panasoffkee, Florida

Lecanto, Florida(2 reports)

Melbourne, Florida

North Port, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Oviedo, Florida

Pensacola, Florida(2 reports)

Port Richey, Florida

Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Saint Cloud, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sanford, Florida

Seffner, Florida

Spring Hill, Florida

Stuart, Florida

Tampa, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida(2 reports)

Braselton, Georgia

Hawkinsville, Georgia

Lilburn, Georgia

Valdosta, Georgia

Waleska, Georgia

Honomu, Hawaii

Chillicothe, Illinois

Itasca, Illinois

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Mount Sterling, Kentucky

Prospect, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Deridder, Louisiana

Gonzales, Louisiana

Zachary, Louisiana

Richmond, Maine

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Leakesville, Mississippi

Madison, Mississippi

Independence, Missouri

Alden, New York

New York City, New York

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Rowland, North Carolina

Hilliard, Ohio

Newalla, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Portland, Oregon(7 reports)

Saint Marys, Pennsylvania

Columbia, South Carolina

Conway, South Carolina

Lancaster, South Carolina

North Augusta, South Carolina

Johnson City, Tennessee

Lenoir City, Tennessee

Alvin, Texas

Arlington, Texas

Austin, Texas(2 reports)

Baytown, Texas

Beaumont, Texas

Brazoria, Texas

Brownsville, Texas

Corpus Christi, Texas

Corsicana, Texas

Dallas, Texas

Dickinson, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas(2 reports)

Hereford, Texas

Houston, Texas(3 reports)

Katy, Texas

Midlothian, Texas

Nome, Texas

North Richland Hills, Texas

Pearland, Texas

Portland, Texas

Richardson, Texas

Rowlett, Texas

San Antonio, Texas(3 reports)

Spicewood, Texas

Sulphur Springs, Texas

Wimberley, Texas

Saint George, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Kalama, Washington

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

21
positives
3
neutrals
1
negative
Sort By:
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D
Grand Portage, MN (Zone 4a) | March 2015 | positive

Totally love the Spider plants I have. They are excellent air purifiers and are great with sending out baby shoots. They actually thriv...Read More

A
St. David, AZ (Zone 8a) | November 2011 | positive

I've been experimenting with growing this plant outside in NYC. It was 15 degrees last winter but it came back. The roots seem to be pretty hardy.

M
Stockton, CA (Zone 9a) | August 2010 | neutral

ok, so i have about 6 of these guys i had in a dish type pot that just didnt seem to be growing at all. stayed out on the exposed deck du...Read More

P
Belleair, FL (Zone 9b) | May 2010 | positive

I have always just called mine "spider plants" because I never knew the variety, however, from the photos of this variety, this is what w...Read More

E
E
Austin, TX | May 2008 | positive

I got one little spin-off of this probably 10 years ago from a friend, and I now use it as an accent plant outside in pots and borders va...Read More

T
Hilliard, OH (Zone 6b) | August 2007 | positive

this plant is quite hardy, mine went through an unexpected cold spell in spring, the lowest temp was 21 F, it even stayed green! not only...Read More

O
Oak View, CA | July 2007 | positive

I first encountered this plant at my aunt and uncle's house in Long Beach, California. My aunt called it an 'airplane plant'. These pla...Read More

L
Southern, LA (Zone 8b) | November 2006 | positive

Grows great here in Louisiana. Very easy to care for, not expensive either. Multiplies easily!

A
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | May 2006 | positive

I'm in So. California where it gets up to 115 degrees in the summer. I have this in the shade outside where it gets plenty of light and g...Read More

S
Brockton, MA (Zone 6a) | October 2005 | positive

A great plant for the beginner or anyone who wants something easy, that multiplies fast and looks good in hanging baskets or cascading of...Read More

K
Alden, NY (Zone 5b) | August 2005 | positive

This plant is so easy to grow, it was one of my first plants when I was 10 years old. Will stand neglect, bounces right back when you ge...Read More

O
O
Saint George, UT (Zone 8b) | November 2004 | positive

I was surprised to find out that this plant is hardy in zone 8b. It dies back in winter but it comes back!!

Omar

W
San Diego, CA (Zone 10a) | June 2004 | negative

Here in San Diego this plant grows in the ground like a weed and can take over a large area in short order. Nevertheless it is curiously...Read More

W
Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) | June 2004 | positive

I never really was crazy for this plant. You see them everywhere, so they were "old hat" and "boring" to me. Then I found some on sale ...Read More

O
Lamar, AR (Zone 7a) | June 2004 | positive

As a child my mother had these growing in containers, the "airplane" babies streaming over the side. She gave me my own airplane plant w...Read More

B
Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9b) | December 2003 | positive

I have 4 varieties of this plant. Do not know the names - just call them "plain green" (streamers grow very long), variegated, reverse (s...Read More

S
Old Town, FL | December 2003 | positive

I have kept my spider houseplants going since the late 1980's. I currently am growing them in colored, glazed, ceramic "strawberry" pots...Read More

D
New Orleans, LA (Zone 9a) | December 2003 | positive

This plant is claimed to have remarkable abilities for removing indoor air pollutants.

I've seen it used here as a shade t...Read More

N
N
Dallas, TX (Zone 8b) | July 2003 | positive

i have two beds full of the spider plant in the shade. no pruning, or dead heading, a great self propagating plant.

E
Montgomery, AL (Zone 8a) | June 2003 | positive

I have had success with this plant as a house plant even though air is rather dry in my home with heating system I have. Also have some i...Read More

C
C
Zurich, ON (Zone 5b) | June 2003 | positive

I have always had great luck growing spider plants in Ontario, Canada. Just remember to water them and they thrive really well, also bri...Read More

E
Seffner, FL | June 2003 | positive

I have a Spider Plant grouping outside near my hot tub. In zone 9a, it has no problems. We rarely see frost so nothing gets in the way ...Read More

W
Pensacola, FL | October 2002 | positive

A beautiful carefree plant as far as my experience goes, in fact, if you leave it alone beyond watering it you will find that you have cl...Read More

S
Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) | August 2002 | neutral

A healthy, mature spider plant can form a clump 3 ft tall and across, with wiry stems cascading out as much as 5 ft. This plant does not ...Read More

M
M
Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) | September 2001 | neutral

This is a clump forming perennial that is usually grown as a house plant in hanging baskets.I keep mine outside for the summer and bring ...Read More

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