The fanlike leaves of the licuala palm attract attention in any setting. A bromeliad and neathebella palm are among the plants growing in the Harts' indoor entry garden. No longer merely greenish, vegetative matter to offset white walls and beige sofas, indoor plants have been rediscovered as bold design elements of striking beauty. Silk just doesn't do it for me. Live plants give an area a finished look.
Rooms seem to come alive.
Your parents' Boston ferns and spider plants have been demoted in the indoor pecking order by stately palms and dwarf banana trees with paddle-like leaves. As ceilings rise in new home developments, so has the demand for statuesque floor plants such as palms that can stretch 20 feet or more under some ceilings. Orchids, bromeliads, yuccas, dracaenas and bamboos are also among the plants in demand for today's interiors. Sprouting from decorative pots, an indoor garden can be situated in an entryway, atrium, sun room or indoor spaces illuminated by skylights or artificial light. But even a plant stand or table near a window can display an array of plants pleasing to the eye.