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Let your imagination roam for a minute.
Imagine you wake up in the morning and the first inhale you take fills your lungs with the sweet jasmine fragrance that has taken over your room overnight. You stretch out your arms and brush your fingers against the velvety soft leaves of the African violet on your nightstand. As you bat your eyelids open, the first things you see are the motley leaves of the croton plant in the corner.
If this reads like a perfect morning scenario, you might be ready for a collection of sensory houseplants.
What are sensory plants?
Sensory plants stimulate one of the five senses. There are countless guides for creating sensory gardens, but the information is not so easy to find when it comes to plants that you can grow indoors. This doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of the pleasures of a sensory garden when you don’t have an outdoor space to call your own.
All of the plants that we’re recommending in this guide can be grown in indoor containers.
1. Plants that stimulate the sense of SMELL
Indoor plants with scented blooms or leaves: lavender, jasmine, hibiscus, scented geraniums, gardenia, primrose, eucalyptus, rosemary, mint, bee balm, verbena, oregano.
Scent preference is very personal, so before you choose a fragrant plant to bring home, make sure you’ve checked with all the members of the household whether they’re comfortable with the smell.
Another thing to consider is that when plants go through a blooming process, there will be different stages of intensity for the fragrance. So while your plant may just have a few buds when you purchase it, once it blooms the smell will intensify.
For a better diffusion of the smell, you can place the plants with scented blooms somewhere with a little bit of airflow – for example, in front of an open window. The plants with scented leaves can be placed somewhere where you’re likely to brush against them in passing – maybe in an entryway – or somewhere within easy reach for that moment of respite when you can rub their leaves to release the scent.
2. Plants that stimulate the sense of TOUCH
For a rich sensory experience, look for plants that have an interesting texture – whether we’re talking soft, fuzzy, velvety, slippery, rubbery, or mossy. You get the gist.
Even though you might find some spiky plants on various lists of sensory plants, these plants are better suited for an outdoor garden. Don’t purchase anything prickly or spiky if you have a small apartment or if you live with kids, pets, or clumsy people.
2. Indoor plants that stimulate the sense of touch:
You’ll find a collection of the following plants at the link above.
Sage – fuzzy
African violets – velvety
Purple passion (Gynura) – velvety
Airplants, especially Tillandsia tetorum – soft and fuzzy
Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa) – fuzzy
Cobweb spiderwort (Trasdencantia sillamontana) – soft and velvety
Foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflora) – soft and tickly
Zamioculcas zamiifolia, (slippery, plastic-like)
Begonia (fuzzy)
Aloe vera (spiky)
Ficus elastica (rubbery)
marimo moss balls (soft and velvety)
3. Plants that stimulate the sense of SIGHT
If you want to add an interesting visual appeal to any room, you can look for one of three things: color, variegation and leaf shape. We’ve already written about colorful houseplants to brighten up your home, but keep in mind that even old-fashioned green foliage, such as the marbled pothos, can beautify your abode with its delightful patterns. Don’t get too fixated on color, but consider shape also. There are some houseplants with interesting leaf shapes (such as the English ivy or monstera deliciosa) that are guaranteed to draw attention.
Colorful houseplants: fittonia, croton, hypoestes (red polka dot plant), Cryptanthus ‘Pink star’, philodendron ‘Pink princess’, anthurium, Euphorbia tirucalli.
Houseplants with interesting leaf shapes:
English ivy,
Hoya kerrii,
Albuca ‘Frizzle sizzle’,
Fishbone cactus,
Crassula umbella
Albuca concordiana
Houseplants with leaf variegation:
tradescantia zebrina,
aglaonema tricolor,
variegated Monstera deliciosa,
variegated schefflera,
variegated philodendron,
dracaena,
calathea lancifolia (rattlesnake plant),
variegated dieffenbachia (dumb cane plant),
variegated peace lily,
maranta (prayer plant),
ficus benjamina,
peperomia argyreia (watermelon peperomia).
4. Plants that stimulate the sense of TASTE
Bay laurel – photo by @sweetpeaknoxville
When it comes to edible plants, you have to do your due diligence. Purchase plants from authorized vendors, always read the labels that come with the plants, and only eat flowers that you’re absolutely sure are fit for human consumption.
If you’re still not sure, consult a reference book on edible flowers and plants. The Edible Flower Garden is a good start for your research into edible plants.
Edible leaves: spearmint, chives, rosemary, basil, lemongrass, coriander, thyme, oregano, bay laurel, cilantro, chervil (French parsley), sage, tarragon, savory.
Edible flowers: nasturtiums, bee balm, calendula, citrus blossoms, jasmine (perfect in tea and sweet dishes).
Edible fruit: citrus plants – orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, kumquat.
5. Plants that stimulate the sense of SOUND
Ponytail Palm – photo by Bloomscape
This is perhaps the trickiest of the senses to pull off indoors, but we love a good challenge. A lot of sensory gardens are filled with grasses and bamboo plants that rustle in the wind. To add variety to the sounds, gardeners also use wind chimes and water features.
It’s hard to replicate outdoor conditions in your living room, but a potted ponytail palm or an Areca palm might do the trick if you place them near an open window with some airflow coming in. A few other loopholes we came up with: hang a small wind chime by the window or place your flower pots in beady macrame hangers that can lightly sway when you open the window.
We hope to have inspired you to pay attention to the sensory properties of houseplants next time you’re out shopping for more additions to your urban jungle.
Disclaimer: Please do your due diligence before buying a houseplant or any other supplies. Some houseplants may be toxic if ingested (especially for pets and children). You can check on the ASPCA website for a list of plants that are poisonous.
