Plants for Every Type of Dad, from Minimalists to Deadheads to CrossFit Fanatics
It's time to turn your favorite dad into a plant dad. This Father's Day match the plant to the parent for the perfect gift.
Deanna Kizis
So you need to buy a gift for dad, but what? A T-shirt that says, “This Isn’t a Dad Bod, It’s a Father Figure”? Pass. An aggressive-looking black pocketknife that’s been personalized on Etsy? Perhaps not. As for a tie, it’s probably safe to say that men like them about as much as women like bras.
It’s time to turn your favorite dad into a plant dad. Having leafy green kids is all rage these days; there are plant dad podcasts, plant dad blogs, and a recent search of the phrase on Instagram turned up 378,539 thousand posts. In other words, plant dads are cool. And dads like to be cool.
Even better, the right plant can pot up a close relationship that’s gotten a little brown around the edges. “I give my father plants, then I call him and say, ‘How are they doing?'” says Emily Joy Rosen, who runs her Etsy plant shop, Joy of Plants, out of Longmont, Colorado. “They’re something to have an ongoing conversation about, and they live on and grow. Besides,” she adds, “How many times are you going to buy your dad a sweater?”
Indeed. But which plant will your father figure appreciate most? With the help of Rosen and Shawna Christian, the Co-owner of Tansy, a black- and female-owned plant store in Burbank, California, Sunset will show you how to match the plant to the parent.
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For the Helicopter Dad: the Rattlesnake Plant
He’s always kept a careful eye, but you need your space. So give him something else to hover over, like the fussy Rattlesnake Prayer Plant. “People love it, and at night its leaves go up like its praying,” says Rosen. “But,” she adds, “if you miss a watering, it’ll faint on you.” Think of the Calathea lancifolia as the perfect plant for a dad who will get excited about creating a microclimate with a humidifier, then checking on it every five minutes.
Rattlesnake Plant, $33.30
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For the CrossFit Dad: Alocasia Polly African Mask
When Dad’s not working out with Battle Ropes, the Alocasia Polly African Mask plant will make him feel like a bada$$. These grand specimens come from Southeast Asia, have prominent veins and thick leaves, and can grow up to four feet tall. “They definitely exude masculinity,” says Christian. But proceed with caution: Alocasia plants are toxic to animals and children.
Alocasia Polly African Mask, $12.99
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For the Grateful Dad: the Purple Passion Velvet Plant
If dad has Cornell 5/8/77 on repeat, Rosen suggests the psychedelic velvet-leaved Purple Passion plant (Gynura aurantiaca). Not only does the name sound like it’s straight out of a Tom Wolfe novel, this black-light-poster of a plant will inspire your pops to just keep truckin’. Keep in mind that to get the best coloring, this member of the Asteraceae family likes bright, indirect light with protection from the afternoon sun.
Purple Passion Plant, $19.80
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For the Minimalist Dad: the Moonshine Plant
For minimalists, it’s not simply about living with less, it’s also about living better. The Moonshine Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is elegant and sculptural—perfect for placing against a starkly blank wall. The minimal among us will also appreciate that this popular plant isn’t messy or needy; it doesn’t drop leaves, and survives in both low and bright light conditions. And, adds Christian, “You only have to water them four to six times a year.”
Moonshine Plant, $34.99
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For the Surfer Dad: a String of Dolphins
The Senecio peregrinus resembles our other favorite mammal that loves to catch waves. With leaves that literally look like pods of leaping dolphins, it’s a hybrid of the Candle plant and the popular String of Pearls, which means is easy to care for and propagate. It’s the perfect plant for any father who doesn’t like to be caught inside.
String of Dolphins Plant, $9.99
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And for the Collector Dad: the Monstera Albo
Collectors love things that are almost impossible to acquire, but they also love the hunt. For this dad, only the rare Monstera Albo will do. The price for this coveted plant runs into the thousands, however, so why not turn Father’s Day into an adventure and get your dad a raffle ticket (or three) for a good cause? Tansy is raffling a Monstera Albo to support Pride LA’s education program. For information on how to enter, go to Tansy’s Instagram @shoptansyla. Good luck, and Happy Father’s Day.