Plants

East Window Plants

When growing plants in the office or at home, one of the most important aspects to consider is location. If your plant requires plentiful levels of sunshine all day long, you’ll need to place it in a south-facing window.

If it prefers the shade, a north-facing window is a better option. Plants in west-facing windows need to be able to survive with just half a day of direct sunlight, and plants in east-facing windows similarly receive half a day of sunlight.

As the sun rises in the east, these plants will be bathed in sunlight throughout the morning. Read on to learn more about which flowers, plants, and shrubs thrive in east-facing windows!

Angel Wing Begonias

These Begonia cultivars are hugely prevalent with those searching for plants and shrubs that enjoy east-facing windows.

There are numerous cultivars to choose from, with the favourite being Begonia Maculata. Also known as the Polka-Dot Begonia, this plant thrives in medium light, and is unable to withstand direct sunlight.

This makes them a perfect option for east-facing windows, provided that they’re behind a sheer curtain at night.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)

This plant is extremely particular when it comes to lighting conditions, with an east-facing window being its preferred choice of location. It needs only half a day of light to thrive, mature, and stay the picture of health.

Native to southern Mexico and parts of South America, it is one of the world’s most popular houseplants.

European Fan Palm (Chamaerops Humilis)

This species thrives in only a few hours of direct sunlight per day, which makes them the ideal option for those looking for a houseplant to fill an east-facing location.

They’re also the perfect choice for those looking for slow-growing plants, as well as for those who wish to add a tropical edge to their interior space.

This plant is more versatile than most and can be regularly moved around the home or office with very little impact.

Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa, or Monstera Adansonii)

The on-trend Swiss Cheese Plant is a prevalent option for east-facing windows and with its vining nature and glossy, rich, fenestrated leaves. It’s also a popular plant for more quirky, tropical-styled homes.

The two key species grown inside include deliciosa and adansonii, with the latter renowned for having enclosed leaf holes and longer leaves.

Goldfish Plant (Columnea Gloriosa)

The first question to address is why this plant is nicknamed the ‘Goldfish plant’, and the simple answer is because its leaves resemble small goldfish!

Even when grown indoors, this plant can thrive, but only if you care for them in the correct manner. From ensuring they receive an adequate amount of water and sunshine, to placing them in an east-facing window, there are numerous ways to help the columnea gloriosa thrive.

Other aspects to consider include selecting the right soil, turning the plant, and feeding it a good quality fertilizer.

Hawaiian Ti Plant (Cordyline Fruticosa)

Another great east-growing plant and one that boasts a tropical appeal is the Hawaiian Ti plant. Although these shrubs enjoy sunlight, they aren’t able to handle it at all times!

They do however enjoy a few hours of heat per day, which makes an east or west-facing window an ideal spot for them.

Paperplant / Japanese Fatsia (Fatsia Japonica)

With its robust foliage, this species is an impressive space-filling plant. Outside, it enjoys the shade, whereas inside it prefers brighter morning conditions.

Provided that you keep the Japanese fatsia away from direct sunlight, it will grow into a bushy, tall plant boasting deeply lobed leaves that sometimes span a foot in diameter.

This east-facing window-loving shrub is unfussy and easy to maintain. Just be sure to watch out for common pests such as mealybugs and aphids, both of which are easy to treat.

Clivia (Clivia Miniata)

Clivia miniata is a shrub that thrives in both indoor and outdoor conditions, as long as it’s placed in an east-facing position. A west-facing window won’t do in this case, as this species can’t tolerate late afternoon sunshine and prefers the cooler morning light.

For best results, place this plant inside during the winter months and then outside come the summer months.

Areca Palm (Butterfly Palm)

One of the most favoured palms across the globe, especially by those looking to create a tropical display in their homes, is the Butterfly Palm. It’s another great option for an east-facing window too.

They’ve been given the nickname ‘Butterfly Palm’ due to their lengthy, elegant, and feathery fronds. To thrive, they necessitate a few hours of indirect, bright light per day – this makes them ideal east-facing shrubs. When cared for correctly, they can grow to astounding heights, which makes them better suited to a larger home.

They also prefer a little humidity and aren’t fans of draft-filled areas. Asides from their looks, Areca palms are considered one of the best air-purifying plants to place in the home. They’re also non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

Dieffenbachia is an easy plant to care for and a great choice for amateur gardeners. Follow a few top tips, such as placing this shrub in a west-facing location and you’ll ensure it thrives all year round.

For best results, place behind a barrier of light curtains, as too much harsh morning sun can burn the leaves.

Roundup

East-facing windows are the perfect source of indirect, bright light for numerous plants and shrubs, which when cared for correctly, will turn your interior windowsills into botanical paradises.

East-facing windows offer short bursts of morning sunshine as opposed to full, harsh sunlight all day long or in the evening.

Numerous prevalent tropical plants have evolved over the years to thrive in a forest canopy’s filtered sunshine, and it’s these exact plants that are perfectly suited to be placed in east-facing windows.

Sources: plantophiles.com, smartgardenguide.com

Lily Calyx is our in-house flower whisperer, an expert on all things botanical and an enthusiastic orchids collector. She loves discussing the insights of the secret world of flowers, shares her gardening tips and hacks and moons over the latest additions to Serenata Flowers flower range. Ask Lily anything about flowers and we can guarantee she will have the answer.

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