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Asparagaceae FAMILY

Chlorophytum comosum

Chlorophytum comosum

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Perennial
Growth—

Chlorophytum species require a frost free climate, and can succeed from the subtropical zone to the tropics, in moist to humid climates[1]. Although this species does not tolerate frost, it can be grown in areas with winter temperatures down to a few degrees below zero, where it will be killed to the ground but will usually quickly revive with the return of warmer temperatures. Plants prefer a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,500mm, but can tolerate 500 - 3,000mm[2]. Species in this genus seem to be adapted to a wide range of conditions in cultivation, though they are generally found in soils rich in organic matter and can succeed in full sun or in shade[1, 3]. This species grows best where the soil pH is within the range 5 - 7, but can tolerate 4.5 - 7.5[2]. Very commonly grown as a house plant and also outdoors as an ornamental in subtropical and tropical climates, the plant has been known to become established in the wild and is considered to be invasive in some places[2].

Propagation

Seed - Division of rhizomes[4]. Division of young plantlets that develop on the flowering stem[4] Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chlorophytum+comosum>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  2. [2]Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk — http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html ↩︎A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands.
  3. [3]New Crops FactSheets — Purdue University · http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html ↩︎A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops.
  4. [4]Philippine Medicinal Plants — http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html ↩︎A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
  5. [5]Flora of Tropical East Africa — Beentje H.J. · Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. · 2002 · http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814 ↩︎Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.