It can be generally assumed that any plant with large leaves can be grown into mature specimens if time and conditions are available.

The glossy green leaves of Ficus lyrata are shaped like the body of a violin and have faint yellow veins running through them, but the overall impression is purely green. Not particularly easy to care for, it does better if the roots are allowed to grow through the bottom of the pot and into a container filled with moist peat. It takes many years to reach maturity but a height of 20 ft. is quite possible when plants are growing in large pots. However, by the time plants attain this height they will have almost inevitably lost most of their lower leaves. Conditions required are warm, moist and shaded; the temperature should not fall below 16C. (60″F.).

Philodendron bipinnatifidum are a dark, glossy green in colour. Excellent plants fir situations by a large pool, particularly if it is possible to allow the aerial roots into the water.

It will cost practically nothing for the typist to purchase a tradcscantia in a pot to decorate the nearest window-sill, but it may involve the owner in a considerable outlay if the entire office area is to he landscaped with indoor plants. The window-sill plant is usually the property and responsibility of the person working in the vicinity and need not involve any expense.

The natural downy covering on the leaves of Ficus benghalensis prevent it becoming as popular as it might be; glossy leaves seem to he an important requirement of foliage plants indoors. Where space is adequate and conditions reasonable growth can be quite spectacular, so it is a useful plant if only for this reason.

Plants take on tree proportions with many branches when fully developed, and a height of some 30 ft. in dustbin-sized containers is quite possible.