Authors: Maddie and Alice Bailey
A monstera’s holes, a calathea’s moving leaves and a fern’s preference for humidity may seem like ordinary botanical quirks, but “The Hidden Histories of Houseplants” makes a persuasive case that there is a much bigger story behind houseplants.
Written by sisters Maddie and Alice Bailey and published by Hardie Grant Books’ imprint Quadrille Publishing, the 2021 work explores the histories of 20 of the world’s most familiar houseplants.
As a plant parent with over 50 houseplants of my own, I found this book to be the perfect bedtime read, something to wind down with at the end of the day. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it carries the appeal of a botanical reference work without making it feel like one.
It is not a conventional plant-care book that will tell you when to water your Pilea peperomioides without causing leaf drops, nor is it simply a catalogue of botanical facts.
