According to research by OnePoll, almost half of Brits (46%) purchased a houseplant in 2023, and on average, we buy two plants per person every year.
Houseplants have exploded in popularity in recent years, and it seems to be younger people who are driving the growth of what has become a thriving industry.
Many British towns – and notably university ones – will now feature a specialist independent shop dedicated to pot plants and all the paraphernalia that goes with them – from decorative pot covers and hangers to watering and feeding equipment.
And according to the specialist online magazine Horticulture, enthusiasts have been known to spend thousands of pounds on rare plant cultivars. Often, this is when they have some genetic defect that gives rise to interesting traits like variegated foliage.
According to research by OnePoll, almost half of Brits (46%) purchased a houseplant in 2023, and on average, we buy two plants per person every year. When it comes to 18-24 year-olds, though, they are the biggest spenders on plants, and will buy an average of four a year.
The research suggests that many houseplant lovers got into the hobby during lockdowns, and discovered that caring for indoor plants improved their sense of wellbeing.
There’s even research by the Flower Council of Holland to suggest that plants can have health benefits both at home and in the workplace, with some varieties being especially beneficial at improving air quality and calming jangled nerves.
Houseplant sales in UK garden centres are also on the rise, having increased by a massive 50% since 2019.
Among the most frequently searched-for plants, according to online search engine data, Aloe Vera comes right at the top of the pots, with other sought-after varieties including Philodendron, Ivy, Athurium and Peace Lilies. Buyers are also intrigued by low-maintenance Air plants which, as the name suggests, will grow on anything. And enjoying an unexpected comeback are graceful Spider Plants, which many older people may remember as a classic pot plant of the 1970s.