Aroids (Araceae)

Also known as the 'Arum' family, members are more commonly known as Aroids. This family comprises of more than 100 genera and about 3700 species of plants. Araceae are flowering plants that produce an inflorescence called a spadix which bears the flowers and fruit of the plant. The spadix is typically accompanied by a spathe or leaf-like bract, these can look very similar to a unfurled leaf, wrapped tightly or loosely around the spadix or can be a vibrant, eye-catching display which attracts both pollinators and plant enthusiasts.

Araceae are all monocotyledons, meaning they have a single embryonic leaf, instead of two, which emerges once a seed is germinated. Many Araceae are desired for the foliage alone, not the flowers, some have the ability to grow single leaves that are metres long or wide and are prized for their monstrous size while others display beautiful textures and colours of their leaves that flowers are insignificant in comparison. Whatever the desire, Araceae is the fifth most diverse plant family on earth and are one of the most common houseplants today as many are naturally found growing on the forest floor and have adapted to grow in lower light conditions and come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, growth habits and colours.

Many aroids can be grown in similar conditions to each other and are a great option for shaded, mixed garden beds and indoor plants. Some are more tolerant than others but with a large percentage of them being epiphytes or hemi-epiphytes, they generally have a preference for airy, free draining substrates and thrive in higher humidity environments with no direct sunlight exposure.