🪴HOW TO & TIPS
The world's favourite houseplants (a continent-by-continent tour)
A while back I shared a study from HouseFresh that dug through Google search data for the 230 most-Instagrammed plants to crown a favourite in every country. It was such a hit (and sparked so many "wait, that's ours?" replies) that I wanted to do a proper world tour.
This time we're going big-picture: one plant per continent, the whole globe covered. Grab a brew. A couple of these are going to surprise you.
1. 🌎 North America — Monstera deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
We start with the heavyweight champion. The Monstera tops the chart across North America, reigning in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica alike. Those holey leaves evolved to filter light through the rainforest canopy so the whole plant gets a fair share, not just the top. Fun aside: the fruit is actually edible and is said to taste like paradise when ripe, and like bleach when it isn't. I think I'll stick to admiring the leaves.
2. 🌎 South America — Passiflora caerulea (Blue Passion Flower)
Here the Monstera's reign finally breaks. South America crowns the blue passionflower, a climbing showstopper with layered, almost architectural blue petals that look hand-assembled. It's the favourite across Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its name comes from the suffering of Christ, with different parts of the flower said to represent elements of the crucifixion. A houseplant with a backstory that dramatic deserves a spot by the front door, clinging to a trellis like a welcoming committee.
3. 🌍 Europe — Monstera deliciosa
Back to the Monstera, and home turf for a lot of us. It swept across most of Europe, topping the list in ten countries including Switzerland itself (which feels right, given the nickname). Worth knowing: a cluster of Balkan countries broke ranks and went for common ivy (Hedera helix) instead, a brilliant indoor plant that tolerates moderate light and trails beautifully down a shelf. But continent-wide, the holey one wins again.
4. 🌍 Africa — Lantana camara (Lantana)
Africa's runaway favourite, topping the list in a dozen countries on the continent. Lantana's flowers erupt in red, orange, yellow, pink, and white, often on the same cluster. Here's the divisive bit: the scent splits a room clean in half. Some people find it pleasantly fruity, others swear it smells faintly of cat pee. It's also a vigorous grower (to the point of being a weed in some regions), which is really just nature's way of saying it's hard to kill. A win for the rest of us.
5. 🌏 Asia — Monstera deliciosa
I know, the Monstera's back again, but its dominance is genuinely the story here: it's the most popular plant across the Rest of Asia and Oceania, topping the list in eleven countries. The standout exception is Japan, the only country in the entire world to crown the Kalanchoe tomentosa (panda plant), a fuzzy little succulent with silvery, brown-tipped leaves that genuinely needs to live indoors with you to stay warm in cooler climates. Less a houseplant, more a tiny fuzzy roommate.
6. 🌏 Oceania — Monstera deliciosa
Australia, New Zealand, and their neighbours fall under the same Monstera spell, part of that sweeping Asia-Oceania victory. At this point you might be sensing a theme: the Monstera has conquered four continents' worth of windowsills. There's a reason it shows up in nearly every plant shop on earth. It's gorgeous, forgiving, and impossible to ignore.
7. 🧊 Antarctica — the honourable mention
No permanent residents, no windowsills, no houseplants. But researchers at the stations do grow greens hydroponically in sealed grow rooms, partly for fresh food and partly for morale through the long dark winter. So the only "houseplants" on the seventh continent are lettuces and herbs under artificial light, tended by scientists who'd probably kill for a Monstera. Honestly? Relatable.
So there's your tour. What strikes me most is how a plant's "popularity" says as much about climate, culture, and habit as it does about the plant itself. The Monstera may have conquered four continents, but I'd argue Japan's fuzzy chocolate soldier is the one I'd most want to bring home.
Which of these surprised you? And wherever you're reading from, hit reply and tell me what's most popular where you are. I read every one.