Hidden Histories of House Plants

In this unusual history book, author Alice Bailey sets out to tell the story of 20 of the most popular houseplants and how they came to be so common in indoor spaces. With stunning illustrations, Bailey places each of these houseplants in their historical and cultural context, exploring not only where the plants originally came from in the natural world, but how they were cultivated indoors and made their way into our homes. If you've wondered why Monstera plants have holes in their leaves, or why Calathea leaves open and close every day, or even if you're just looking to better understand the history of your leafy companions, this is the book for you.