Plants with velvet leaves’ origins are traced back to 2000 B.C. in China being used as fiber. The velvet leaves are named after their characteristic of being lengthy, soft, and covered in short hairs.

Plants with Velvet Leaves

The leaf plant does not exceed seven feet in height because they are shrub-like. The velvet leaf can also be referred to as the velvet weed, buttonweed, China-jute, and Indian mallow.

To know more about these plants read this article. 

A List of Plants With Velvet Leaves To Add to Your Home and Garden

There are various species of plants with velvet leaves which can be indoor plants and some that are for outdoor purposes such as in the garden. To learn more about the types of plants with velvet leaves and their uses and care tips, follow the tables below.

1. Philodendron micans

Philodendron Micans

Benefits
  • Acts as an indoor air freshener
  • Helps reduce stress levels
  • Traps dust with its hairy long leaves
Uses
  • Used for medical purposes
  • Used for decorations
  • Acts as a sound barrier
Distinguishing characteristics

 
  • Has vine-like characteristic
  • Produces green-white flowers
Care
  • Needs a pole or anything to support it as it grows upwards
  • Maintain the temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Requires 50 percent humidity

Philodendron micans is also referred to as the velvet leaf philodendron. The popularity of this plant has made it scarce locally, so to find it you need to search online. The plant is cheap and long-lasting even with little care. The velvet leaf philodendron makes a huge difference in your households or gardens.

2. Alocasia Black Velvet

Alocasia Black Velvet

Benefits
  • Cheap maintenance
  • Easy to grow
Uses
  • Used for ornamental purposes
  • Leaves are edible
  • Used for medicinal purposes such as anti-cancer
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Has a unique pattern on the leaves drawn by the silver veins
  • Has dark foliage
  • The leaves are arrow-shaped 
Care
  • Light requirements are about three to four hours of indirect sun
  • Requires water once a week
  • Grows in a pot size of four inches

These originate from the South East. Too much water in the plant pot will lead to the rotting of the plant roots. It is mostly grown for its leaves that have many uses. The black velvet is also called the Little Queen Alocasia or Black Velvet Elephant Ear.

3. Purple Passion 

Purple Passion

Benefits

 
  • Reduces anxiety
  • Helps with sleeping disorders
  • Reduces stress, allowing the mind to relax 
Uses
  • Used to cure diseases such as neoplasm
  • Edible leaves
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Purplish color on the leaves
  • Orange flowers which form in the winter
Care
  • Temperature between 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Needs too much indirect sun
  • Needs a humid environment of between 40 to 60 percent

The purple passion is also known as Gynura aurantiaca, which comes from a Greek name that is a combination of female and tail. The plant is commonly known as the velvet plant and is native to southeastern Asia.

4. Calathea Jungle Velvet  

Calathea Jungle Velvet

Benefits
  • Helps resolve dry skin issues
  • Improves productivity
Uses
  • Leaves used as food wraps
  • Used for thatching roofs
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Ability to close leaves at night
  • A unique green pattern which has deep purple undersides
Care
  • Requires medium light
  • Needs little fertilizer
  • Use a water meter to water the jungle velvet because it needs moderate amounts

The velvet plant is commonly known as the prayer plant. It was named the prayer plant due to its ability to close its leaves at night making it look like it’s praying. There are many species of the Calathea velvet plant. Calathea warscewiczii originates from South and Central America.

5. Philodendron gigas

Philodendron Gigas

Benefits
  • Adaptive
  • Easy to look after 
  • Good to use in public spaces because it is scent-free 
Uses
  • Removes formaldehyde from the air 
  • Used for decoration and ornaments
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Giant, as the name suggests
  • Shiny copper leaves for new leaves
Care
  • Needs well-draining soil
  • It doesn’t like direct sunlight
  • Needs a temperature between 55-88 degrees Fahrenheit

Philodendron gigas is a giant vine-like plant that is native to Panama. This is one of the outdoor plants with velvet leaves. The plant was discovered in 1997 and that is when its popularity grew. It thrives best in most humid areas so it is advisable to keep it within such spaces.

6. Velvet Leaf

Velvet Leaf

Benefits
  • Edible seeds
  • Its oil is used to heal inflammations
  • People use it to treat dysentery
Uses
  • Makes fiber
  • Used to make ropes
  • Used to make boats
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Is a weed-like plant
  • Has round leaves
  • The stem has soft hairs
Care
  • Requires well-drained soil
  • Requires a lot of direct sunlight and a little shade

The velvet leaf was originally introduced for fiber uses but its edible parts made it flop as a commercial fiber plant. It is now being used as a food crop to produce noodles, flour, and spices. 

The velvet leaf was discovered in China 3000 years ago and this plant grows up to three to eight feet tall. The plant belongs to a class B noxious weed class and it is normally grown on farms, unlike the rest of the plants with velvety leaves, which are common flowers.

7. African Violets

African Violets

  Benefits
  • Cheap because they are easy to find
  • They are not toxic to pets and children
  • They bloom all year round giving your house a very beautiful and warm look
Uses
  • Helps release adrenaline from the body
  • Increases the flow of oxygen to the brain
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Different flower colors
  • Round shaped leaves
  Care
  • Not suited to cold temperatures
  • The plant needs to be exposed to indirect light for at least 18 hours to bloom
  • Do not use chlorinated water for watering

The beautiful velvet is found in Eastern Africa. This is a cheap plant because it is readily available and requires low maintenance. The plant needs pruning and propagation here and there and the beauty part of the plant is it blooms all year round. You should consider having one for your bedroom.

Conclusion

The article here gave an overview of some of the plants with velvet leaf types, a little background information, uses, benefits and care nuggets. Below are some of the major insights you need to remember about the plants with velvet leaves and their common problems.

  • The green velvets require a lot of indirect light for at least 17 hours.
  • Most of the velvety plants need well-drained soil.
  • Due to their distinct features and families, some are vine-like, and some are weed-like.
  • Temperature and humidity needs vary from plant to plant.
  • Some of the plants suffer from pests and root rot due to too much watering, and they might die from a lack of sunlight.

Consider this a guide and make your first attempt at bringing your house the comfort you always dreamt of.

References

  • https://www.britannica.com/plant/purple-passion-fruit
  • https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/velvetleaf-abutilon-theophrasti/
  • https://www.britannica.com/plant/velvetleaf
  • https://www.canr.msu.edu/weeds/extension/velvetleaf
  • https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/velvetleaf-abutilon-theophrasti
5/5 - (5 votes)
Evergreen Seeds
Latest posts by Evergreen Seeds (see all)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR