This is a popular group of plants that are grown for their ornamental foliage. They are mostly climbing plants that can be grown in homes, greenhouses, and in the far South, outside. Under good conditions, they will bear pretty “flowers” that resemble Calla Lilies. They are found wild in tropical America and the West Indies.

These plants have long aerial roots and come in many shapes and sizes. Most of the plants have rich green leaves but some may be coppery-red underneath or have veins that are red. Some leaves are red when they are young but eventually turn green. Some kinds have heart-shaped leaves, others have long and narrow leaves, some are arrow-shaped, oblong, ovate or deeply lobed. Their size varies from 3 inches to 3 feet in length. The flowers have spathes that come in different shades of purple, pink, red, or greenish-white. The central columns that bear the tiny flowers (spadices) can either be yellow, cream or white.