For houseplant lovers, this year is going to be all about the best tall indoor plants - and there is a new variety set to storm our plant shopping lists.
After several years of long-standing favorites, such as the fiddle leaf fig, featuring in interior designers' social posts, this year the experts at easyplant have hailed Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta the hero plant of 2024 in its Plant Trends Report.
'What I love about the Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta is it adds elegant height to a room but doesn't require a huge amount of space to grow outwards, making it an ideal statement indoor plant for an apartment,' says Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. 'Its compact tufty foliage is distinctive in form, and its waxy leaves are dark and sophisticated. A perfect plant addition to a contemporary, minimalist interior design scheme.'
This low-maintenance houseplant stands slim with compact foliage at the top of its trunks. Its dark green leaves are thick and forest-like and can add a touch of elegance to any space.
Rachel is a gardening editor, flower grower and floral designer. Her journalism career began on Country Living magazine, sparking a love of container gardening and wild planting. After more than a decade writing for and editing a range of consumer, business and special interest titles, Rachel became editor of floral art magazine The Flower Arranger. She then trained and worked as a floral designer and stylist in London for six years, before joining the Homes & Gardens team.
Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta: Quick facts
Like some other dracaena varieties, the Dracaena 'Janet Craig' is native to south-east Africa. Also known as 'perky daughter of Africa' and named after the Derma forest in Tanzania, it is a resilient indoor plant and a reliable option to add to your houseplant collection.
Here are a few quick facts on the indoor plant taking center stage this year:
- Native to: South-east Africa
- Position: Best in bright indirect light but will also adapt to low-light positions
- Size: Up to five feet tall when grown indoors
- Water: Every two weeks on average, when around half the soil is dry
- Temperature: Thrives best in room temperature between 60-85°F
Shop Dracaenas online
A radiant display of red and green elegant leaves. Arrives 40-47 inches tall, including its container.
Compact foliage that drops lower leaves to replace with newer ones. Arrives 40-60 inches tall, including its container.
Graceful lance-shaped glossy leaves. Arrives 40-60 inches tall, including its container.
Other 2024 houseplant trends to watch
The experts at easyplant detailed a few other houseplant trend predictions in their report.
They say there will be a balance of bold and subtle colors and structure, with plants such as rubber trees with large, dark leaves, like this rubber tree from easyplant.
Texture will also be incorporated into indoor gardens in 2024. Many plants with interesting leaf structures are expected to be popular this year, like this rattlesnake calathea from easyplant.
And for a touch of sophistication, the report states minimaluxe - that is, minimalism combined with luxury - will see large, elegant plants being favored, like this black ZZ plant from easyplant.
FAQs
How fast does Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta grow?
Like other dracaena plants, Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta is a slow-grower. You can expect to see it grow around 1-2 feet in height each year, when in optimal conditions. This includes keeping it in bright indirect light, at a warmer room temperature and not watering it too regularly.
Is Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta safe for pets?
Dracaena plants are not safe for pets to ingest. These plants produce saponins which is a chemical toxic to cats and dogs. It could cause vomiting among other symptoms. It's always a good idea to keep toxic indoor plants out of reach of your pets and research thoroughly if a plant is safe for your pets before purchasing it.
Why are my Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta leaves turning brown?
If you notice the tips of your Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta leaves turning brown, it could be an indication that it isn't being watered correctly. When it comes to how to water indoor plants, it's good to understand the ideal moisture levels of that plant.
Dracaenas come from warmer climates and appreciate a consistent level of moisture and humidity. You might find regularly misting the leaves, like with this brass plant mister from Amazon, helps keep humidity levels high and keeps leaves bright. Be careful not to over-water these plants, however, as they don't need as regular watering as some other popular houseplants.
As easyplant's 2024 hero plant, the Dracaena 'Janet Craig' Compacta will attract the interest of houseplant owners looking for a low-maintenance tree to add elegance to any room. If you want more plants that don't require lots of attention to look their best, you might find our pick of easy indoor plants helpful.
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