Meet the Women Who Shaped the Houseplant World
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Time to read 2 min
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating incredible women whose contributions helped shape the world of houseplants and horticulture. These trailblazing but silent ‘Houseplant Her-os’ (as we like to call them) played a key role in bringing tropical plants into our homes, advancing botanical knowledge, and transforming how we care for plants today.
Let’s dive right in!
Marianne North (1830–1890)
A fearless Victorian explorer and artist, Marianne North painted over 800 plant species from around the world, many of which were unknown in the UK at the time. Her work introduced exotic plants to Victorian homes and helped document biodiversity. You can still see her legacy at the Marianne North Gallery in Kew Gardens.
Ellen Willmott (1858–1934)
Known for funding global plant-hunting expeditions, Ellen Willmott played a huge role in introducing rare and tropical species to UK gardens and homes. Legend has it she secretly scattered seeds of Eryngium giganteum (Miss Willmott’s Ghost) wherever she went, ensuring her mark was left on gardens worldwide.
Beth Chatto (1923–2018)
Beth Chatto revolutionised plant care with her philosophy of ‘right plant, right place.’ Her approach encouraged indoor gardeners to think about their home environments when choosing plants, making houseplant care more sustainable and accessible. Her gardens remain an inspiration for plant lovers everywhere.
Lady Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe (1867–1967)
A plant collector and botanical artist who contributed significantly to Kew Gardens' orchid collections. She discovered and documented many exotic species while living in Burma (Myanmar), influencing their introduction to British horticulture. Some of her collected plants still thrive in Kew’s greenhouses today.
Photo courtesy of the National Botanic Garden of Ireland via The Garden History Blog
Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932)
A pioneering garden designer who helped popularize the idea of curated plant arrangements, including indoor plants. She emphasized color theory and naturalistic planting, influencing how people displayed plants in homes and greenhouses. Jekyll also worked with Edwin Lutyens to design gardens that seamlessly blended indoor and outdoor spaces, shaping the way plants were incorporated into home design.
Margaret Mee (1909–1988)
A British botanical artist and explorer, Margaret Mee dedicated her life to documenting and protecting the Amazon rainforest’s rare plant species. Her detailed paintings of orchids and bromeliads helped raise awareness of habitat destruction, influencing conservation efforts and inspiring a new generation of plant lovers.
seplants more accessible to everyday people and sparking the rise of indoor gardening.
Joyce Stewart (1936–2011)
A leading authority on orchids, Joyce Stewart was a key figure in orchid conservation and cultivation. As a former Director of Horticulture at the Royal Horticultural Society, she played a crucial role in protecting rare orchid species and promoting their ethical cultivation.
Available at alibris.co.uk
Elspeth Thompson (1961–2010)
A garden writer and journalist, Elspeth Thompson made houseplants and small-space gardening accessible to a modern audience. Her books and newspaper columns encouraged urban dwellers to embrace indoor gardening, showing that anyone could bring greenery into their home, no matter their space or experience.
Source: elspeththompson.co.uk
These women shaped the way we interact with plants, from exploration to conservation and home care. Their passion, knowledge, and dedication remind us that plants are more than just decorations but they are living connections to history, culture, and the natural world. As we nurture our own indoor jungles, we continue their legacy of curiosity, stewardship, and appreciation for the beauty of plants.
We hope you found this blog informative and interesting! Let us know in the comments what you would love to read next.
Sources:
elspeththompson.co.uk