Plants at Home

From around 1850 people increasingly kept plants in the home as a decorative complement to their domestic interiors. This led to the development of green oases in palatial city homes and the building of conservatories especially for plants. Tastes and fashions changed with time when it came to the choice of plants. At the start of the 19th century, indigenous varieties such as ferns were in vogue, but palm trees became more popular as the century progressed. Around 1900, cactuses made their first appearance in homes. The popularity of plants led in turn to the production of accessories such as pots and tables to present botanical collections at their best.