The Hidden Histories of Houseplants - by Maddie Bailey & Alice Bailey (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Hidden Histories of House Plants explores the world's most common house plants, and their journeys to our homes This book isn't just a dry exploration of historical cultivation; the narrative explores the plants' places in social history, art, politics, fashion and culture, showcasing the most fascinating elements of each plant's story, be it William Morris' palm obsession that continues to be replicated in the 21st century by the likes of Ikea, or how common indoor ferns first made their way to Europe in glass jars for botanical studies, and why these terrariums are now on display in almost everyone's homes. Accompanied by stunning illustrations, each text takes the reader on a journey through time, history and culture, told by the most universally binding objects in our homes from London to Beijing - house plants.

Book Synopsis

The Hidden Histories of Houseplants explores 20 of the world's most common houseplants.

This book isn't just a dry exploration of historical cultivation; the narrative explores the plants' places in social history, science and culture, showcasing the most fascinating elements of each plant's story, be it the exploration as to why Monstera deliciosa have holes in their leaves, whether houseplants have the ability to count, or why Calathea leaves open during the day and close up at night.

Accompanied by stunning illustrations, each text takes the reader on a journey through time, history and culture, told by the most universally binding objects in our homes from London to Beijing - houseplants.

About the Author

Alice and Maddie Bailey quite literally hail from a London plant and flower dynasty - their grandfather was a Dutch flower merchant and nursery owner, and their mother the celebrated horticulturalist and author Fran Bailey - Maddie and Alice Bailey head up Forest London, a cult plant and homewares shop with two sites in South London, along with a flower shop. With a lifelong and in-depth knowledge of houseplants, the sisters sell anything from the Insta-ubiquitous monstera to the kinds of cacti that the ever-growing plant-nerd community hunt high and low for.

Their first book, The Green Indoors, was published by Hardie Grant in May 2021.