Cheralyn Darcey - The Language of Houseplants

A Rockpool book
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Australia

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ISBN: 9781925924398

First published in 2020
Copyright text Cheralyn Darcey 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Edited by Katie Evans
Design by Jessica Le, Rockpool Publishing
Typsetting by Sara Lindberg, Rockpool Publishing

We may think we are nurturing our garden,
but of course its our garden that is really nurturing us.

Jenny uglow

For my sister Jane Darcey,
apart from being a best friend and wonderful sister,
you are one of the loveliest humans I know!

THANK YOU

This book of houseplants, like all my work is close to my heart. It took me years to research and years to write, and I deeply appreciate the support and encouragement of those who made it possible.

It is with much joy that I thank my family, friends and the supportive team at Rockpool Publishing who were there when it mattered most and helped my dream to become a reality.

Immeasurable thanks and love to every one of you who I have met online and in person and with whom I share my passion for nature, gardening and the botanical world.

I have adored our conversations and blossoming friendships over the years, and I greatly appreciate the wonderful support you have given my work.

Thanks to those of you who are holding this book now by doing so, you are helping me to continue my work with the botanical world now and into the future. I hope this book brings each one of you the bouquet of love, happiness and insight that you are looking for.

Thank you all for keeping me growing.
Bunches of love,
Cheralyn
www.cheralyndarcey.com

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

LIVING WITH PLANTS AND THEIR ENERGY

T here is no such thing as a houseplant. The botanical specimens of lush green foliage that we have invited inside to share our spaces are simply plants that are found in the wild the cave entrance- and cliff dwellers, the rainforest understory- and the filtered shade lovers living in somewhat similar conditions as those in our lounge rooms and offices, shopping malls and hotels.

While we may be drawn to living with houseplants because they are beautiful and decorative, they each hold therapeutic energetic qualities that can be shared with us. Plants purify the air, support us emotionally, lift our moods, calm our minds, inspire productivity and help us heal, by just being there. Every plant can achieve all of these things, yet each type will garner particular and specific strengths. Through the study of traditional uses, botanical history and various plant modalities, I offer this collection of plants and their meanings in order to give you a starting point for your own explorations.

The Language of Plants has been a decades-long undertaking of mine and aims to explore not only the basis of why we are drawn to certain plants, but how we can better harness this natural energy for a more focused approach to improving our lives. This book details 44 popular houseplants that I am currently living with and explains the meanings of the plant names, the plants qualities and botanical histories, so that you may better understand your own indoor plants, why you are drawn to them, and perhaps find others that you can invite into your space (based on the energies they possess to enhance your own life).

So, if you are feeling blue, for example, there could a succulent just for you, to brighten your day with joyful bursts of energy as it sits happily on your coffee table. Perhaps a calmer atmosphere in your office would be so very welcome, and here in this book you will find just the right potted plant or fern to support and to soothe those in your workspace. The overall good-vibe energy that plants contain and share is undeniable, but I invite you to come a little deeper into their world and listen carefully to exactly what each is saying and sharing.

Just like you, plants need physical care: water, food and someplace to live that they like. But they also need to be connected to those around them. Love your houseplants, learn about them and understand them, and I promise you they will love you back, their energy will be stronger, and you and everyone around you will benefit. With each entry in this book I have shared ways to care for your plants, along with my tips for a happy and healthy plant, to help you grow a thriving bond.

Bunches of happiness,
Cheralyn

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

T he Language of Houseplants is your guide to the meanings of the plant names and how to care for a popular cross-section of houseplants. The book also provides information to help you select the perfect plants for you and understand how these plants can benefit you specifically.

If you have a plant and want to understand its meanings, I would suggest you look it up in the section titled A Collection of Houseplants. There, along with beautiful vintage illustrations of each houseplant, I have given you the main keyword that best describes the plant and the energy it will share, followed by the common name (the one that has the widest use) and then the botanical name. E.g.:

SPIRITUALITY

AFRICAN VIOLET

Saintpaulia spp.

Next, Ive included a few more meanings that are ascribed to the plant. You can use these meanings to help you enhance your space and fill it with the plants energy, to share the meaning if gifting the plant to another, or to imbue a celebration or event with the sentiment attached to these meanings. After this, Ive included suggestions on how and where the plant could best be used and shared. E.g.: