Spider plant varieties and leaf patterns

Spider plant varieties and leaf patterns

1. 01

   Plant names and labels

   Chlorophytum comosum is the accepted species name. Variegatum, Vittatum, and Bonnie are named horticultural forms within that species, not separate species.

   The practical groups are plain green forms, marginal-variegated Variegatum types, central-stripe or arching Vittatum types, and compact curly Bonnie types. There are also smaller, curly, all-green, and reversed-variegation forms.

2. 02

   How the varieties differ

   ‘Variegatum’ has white marginal stripes, ‘Vittatum’ has central creamy-white stripes and arching leaves, and ‘Bonnie’ is compact and curly with a creamy central stripe. Other named forms include Hawaiian, Milky Way, Picturatum, and White Stripe.

3. 03

   Care differences

   The form changes the container and display decision: arching or trailing Vittatum needs different clearance from compact curly Bonnie, while marginal versus central variegation changes identification. Give every form the same bright, indirect light indoors, out of direct sun. There is no separate watering or feeding schedule by cultivar.