vintage vines

Indoor plants and cultivated gardens have a long history, going back to ancient times. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the rst recorded cultivated gardens created for not only sustenance, but for beauty and enjoyment. Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to please his wife Amyitis in roughly 600 B.C., they are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Indoor plants and cultivations were reserved primarily for the wealthy who possessed the coin and heating capacity to create a survivable environment. The 17th century development of the greenhouse saw a growing interest in indoor planting. Houseplants rst went mainstream during the Victorian era of the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Here’s a look at the vintage vines from the past century.

Victorian Era

As all things of this era, the most popular houseplants were lush and extravagant. Victorian homes were graced with large, leafy ferns like the maidenhair and Boston ferns. Ivies, and speci cally English ivy, were also very popular. Victorians were obsessed with oriography and created the “language of owers,” a symbolic de nition for each ower. Beautifully illustrated books were produced which are now very collectible. Be careful, there are a lot of reproductions that are equally beautiful but not antique. The pottery of the era re ects this obsession with orals, as well as the Art Nouveau movement. Potters like Roseville, McCoy and Weller were supplying homes all over the country with stunning planters and vases, for their inhabitants to display their indoor green thumb.

Art Deco

In the ‘20s and ‘30s, interest turned to more exotic hothouse blooming plants with a strong architectural shape. Cala lilies were extremely popular and showed up in architecture and design regularly. It was now possible to keep both them and orchids alive inside through the modern conveniences of electricity, heat and humidity control in homes. Roseville and McCoy continued to be leaders in home pottery, joined by names like Haeger and Gladding McBean.

Midcentury

Post WWII, design started turning linear and sleek, and with it came plants that are themselves natural feats of design. One of the most iconic plants of the era was the monstera plant. Its huge, split leaves showed up in fabrics, wallpaper and ceramics.

“Mother-In-Laws Tongue,” aka snake plant, which is, of course, spikey, was also popular. Indoor palm and cus trees were ubiquitous corner dwellers. Imports started to erode the American pottery market, and the ‘50s and ‘60s saw the closure of many. Haeger held strong, joined by smaller potters like Gonder and Catalina. Midcentury was the peak of pottery production in California.

Now

Succulents rule and have for several years.

“Succulents have become one of the most popular house plants. They are easy going and there is a vast variety of shapes and sizes. They have become a staple in décor, gi giving and the horticultural business,” says Jamie Miller, NDSU Horticulture and Forestry Club (HFC) President. Jamie joins her fellow HFC members at the Fargo Antiques and Repurposed Market for plant sales and sees what’s rst to sell – the succulents. They’ll be back at the FARM sometime in May. Watch the FARM website or Facebook page for more details.

Looking for some vintage pottery to nish your vintage vine décor? Many of the vendors stock antique to modern and repurposed pottery for use indoors or out. Stop by and get your spring gardening started!