Tropical in origin , Homalomena plants are revered for their leafage and make kempt , attractive houseplant . burnished collateral light and a tender , moist , well - debilitate filth allow these plant to become plushy thump . Although there are many wild species , few are used ornamentally , often the result of breeding that create motley with exceeding folio shapes and colour .
Nomenclature
Homalomena is the botanical genus name assigned to more than 100 metal money of tropical plant in the aroid family , Araceae . Sometimes it is used as the hard - to - pronounce common name , but certain species may be commonly dubbed " queen of bosom " or " shield plant life , " often based on the universal shape and color of the leaves .
Nativity
Nearly 135 specie of Homalomena are native to the frost - gratuitous rain forest understories of southern Asia eastward to Melanesia . In Central America and northern South America there are an extra 12 mintage .
Growing Requirements
Generally , all mintage of Homalomena need collateral , filtered light , similar to the shaded conditions on a woodland floor . Soil should be fat but well - drain and be sandy with gobs of humus constituent matter . Potting grease intermixture may be peat - ground , but not too dim in grain .
Soil should remain constantly damp to moist , but never waterlogged or soggy to the touching . Dry soils will cause leaf to yellow and diminish , creating a plant with few leaves that are widely spaced . Low humidness will induce foliage edge to brown .
Although evergreen plant when temperature are warm enough to avert frost , foliage can rot or yellow in cool conditions , especially in wintertime if temperatures drop below 40 grade F.
Ornamental Features
Certain species and loan-blend have foliage that are heart - shaped with legato and glossy finishes . Others have more arrowhead - similar leaves that have modest hair’s-breadth . Regardless , the leaf is a primary ornamental feature , remaining evergreen plant if temperature never drop much below 40 stage F. The finger - like flowers , the spadix , are palisade by a cloak - like spathe and may be attractive . The flower of Homalomena rubescens is whitened and blood red .
Selections
Of all the wild species of Homalomena , few are used ornamentally or available for houseplants . Hybrid selections are most unwashed , as they were pick out for exceptional plant form , attractive foliage or few , but colorful efflorescence . Emerald gem has dark green and glossy leaves that are heart - shaped . Purple brand foliation is gullible and silver recognize with purplish burgundy leaf undersurface . Selby leave are light green with spot and bound of dark green . A powdered gray sheen is find on the green leaves of pewter dreaming . lemon tree freshness leaves are more oval - shaped , but an alluring bright greenish yellow .
