“IT’S probably the heat,” Long Xi typed into the WeChat group as her coworkers shared photos of their wilting plants.

“Are tropical plants really that sensitive to temperature?” a colleague named Li Ang quickly responded, followed by another, “I thought they thrived in heat!”

“Some do,” Long replied, “but others have specific needs.”

Lively discussions like this fill the WeChat group that Long, who has a background in landscape design, started earlier this year. Her colleagues, now avid tropical plant enthusiasts under her influence, frequently seek her advice, sharing photos of their new plants and exchanging tips on care. What began as a casual chat group has blossomed into a forum dedicated to nurturing tropical greenery.

The tropical plant craze

A couple years ago, the popularity of tropical plants overtook succulents, which had dominated plant-loving circles in China since 2010, becoming the most sought-after plants among young people in the country.

“Does it still ring a bell when I mention a video featuring a big leaf that went viral on the internet last August?” asked Long, a mother of two who works for a commercial real estate company in Futian District.

In that viral video, a man waiting to board a plane to Shanghai held a 1.2-meter-long leaf that captured the attention of fellow travelers. During a subsequent interview, the man disclosed that the leaf, which was a gift from a friend, belonged to an Anthurium scherzerianum (火鹤王花烛). Commonly known as the flamingo flower, Anthurium is one of the most popular tropical plants.

Originating from a small region in Colombia, a mature Anthurium, which usually has four or five leaves, can sell for between 50,000 yuan (US$7,246) and 100,000 yuan. “My friend noticed my admiration for it, so he cut one leaf from his flamingo flower plant and gave it to me as a gift,” the man revealed.

“How I wish I had a leaf like that or a friend like that,” Long joked, echoing the sentiments of numerous tropical plant enthusiasts on the internet who left similar comments on the video.

Some of the most common tropical plants are Monstera deliciosa (龟背竹), Alocasia (海芋), Philodendron melanochrysum (蔓绿绒), and Anthurium (花烛) — all are ornamental foliage plants that tend to be relatively expensive.

Posting photos of tropical plants on social media has become a trend in Shenzhen. If one has a corner adorned with a shelf full of tropical plants or a spacious balcony filled with tropical greenery, they are considered enviable.

Tropical plant lover Zhuozhuo, who began growing her own about two years ago, said, “For tropical plant aficionados, a picture of a rare Anthurium with leaves decorated in shades of yellow and white spots is an effective icebreaker for socializing.”

During lively plant auction livestreams on popular social media platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu, many viewers do not hesitate to place an order as soon as they spot a plant they like, even if a single plant costs several thousand yuan.

Long said that she has spent several thousand yuan on a few tropical plants this year, including the Monstera deliciosa. “Look at how beautiful they are,” she said, showcasing photos of her plants on her mobile phone.

Long has an impressive collection of about 20 species at home, featuring a Klein plant, a peace lily, and several specimens from the Araceae family, which enhance a corner of her living room and balcony. “I’m now in the process of decorating my office cubicle with plants.”

Despite the excitement of these acquisitions, Long said that she has managed to maintain her composure during the livestreams. She recalled witnessing a reddish-brown Alocasia black velvet plant with a single leaf sell for a staggering 18,900 yuan within 30 seconds of being auctioned.

Another hybrid velvet plant, with a starting bid of 3,000 yuan, underwent intense bidding for over seven minutes, culminating in a final sale price of 4,680 yuan after 57 rounds of bidding.

However, with the rise in popularity of tropical plants, many expensive varieties that were imported from overseas are now being cultivated domestically, leading to a considerable drop in prices, according to Long.

“In the past, a single Alocasia ‘White Diamond’ could cost several thousand yuan, but now I can take one home for just a few hundred yuan. This is great news for everyday enthusiasts,” said Zhuozhuo.

Seeking solace in

plant care

Shenzhen, renowned nationwide for its extensive green initiatives, enjoys a natural advantage for cultivating tropical plants since it is located in a subtropical region. Those who are familiar with tropical plants are sure to notice several species from the Monstera and Caladium genera, as well as bird of paradise plants, thriving in public spaces across Shenzhen.

A netizen once said on Xiaohongshu, “As a tropical plant enthusiast from northern China, I really want to go out with scissors every day! There are countless large Monstera plants here!”

When asked why people spend several hundred yuan on a small plant that can be found abundantly in Shenzhen’s public areas, Zhuozhuo said, “Simply because I want to create my own green space in my apartment. The green belts belong to the public, and my indoor green space is uniquely mine. Caring for the tropical plants I’ve nurtured feels like tending to my children. We share an emotional bond.”

Having already cultivated more than 80 tropical plants in the limited space of her home, Zhuozhuo said there is no room for more. “I plan to relocate to a place with a backyard in a more suburban neighborhood so I have more space to grow my plants.”

Zhuozhuo would like a setting akin to that of Xiao Tian, who lives in a rented house with a backyard in the Cuizhu Subdistrict in northeastern Luohu District.

Xiao, who started growing tropical plants in December 2023, once had 300 pots with different varieties of Alocasia and other types of tropical plants.

“Initially, I was thinking about growing low-maintenance plants in my garden, but I was immediately captivated by the beauty of Alocasia plants, and it quickly spiraled out of control.”

Describing the experience of tending to his lush and vibrant garden, Xiao said, “The joy of nurturing and witnessing the growth of leaves is therapeutic.” This soothing effect helped him overcome the setbacks his B&B business experienced due to the pandemic.

For Huang Yao, observing new leaves unfurl and little buds gradually develop embodies the concept of endless life. “Especially during times of intense work pressure, just looking at these plants reminds me that life isn’t so daunting,” said Huang, the owner of an architecture studio. Huang grows several varieties of colorful leaf taro bulbs from Thailand, which are proudly displayed on a shelf in his studio.