Species and application status of indoor ornamental plants in Guangzhou

Species and applications of indoor plants in commercial departments, hotels, hospitals and office buildings in Guangzhou were investigated. A total 77 species and cultivars of 33 families and 62 genera were recorded, of which 60% were foliage plants, 25% were flower plants, 13% were form plants, and 2% were fruit plants. The ornamental foliage species of Araceae and Agavaceae were more abundant, most of them were exotic. Herbs were the dominate composition, then shrubs and trees, while ferns and vines only accounted for a little proportion. The most frequently common species were Epipremnum aureum, Dracaena braunii, Dracaena arborea, Pachira aquatica, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Anthurium andraeanum, D. arborea ’Victoria’, Philodendron scandens, D. fragrans, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens. The indoor plants were usually cultivated by soil-media containers, but the pot hydroponic cultures were becoming more and more popular in the recent years. Based on the above study, the application status of indoor plants in Guangzhou was analyzed. It was suggested to enhance the study on native ornamental shade-tolerant plants of South China.