Labisia

Labisia is a genus of small, terrestrial jungle plants from Southeast Asia, grown by collectors for their textured, often metallic foliage. They belong to the primrose family and remain compact.

Sought-after forms include Labisia 'Turtleback' and Labisia sp. Crocodile.

Labisia need consistent warmth and high humidity, so they are best grown in a terrarium or planted case. Use a fine, airy, moisture-retentive mix and keep the substrate evenly damp.

Give them bright, indirect light and keep them away from cold draughts.

Labisia grow best in the stable, high humidity of a terrarium or enclosed case, which closely matches their jungle-floor habitat.

They can be grown in a very humid room, but an enclosed display gives the most reliable results.

Labisia are considered collector plants, but they are not especially difficult provided their need for warmth and humidity is met. In a terrarium they are steady, rewarding growers.

Their main requirement is stable humidity, so they are less suited to a dry, open shelf.

There is limited toxicity information for Labisia, so it is safest to keep them away from cats and dogs and to discourage any chewing.

As they are usually grown in enclosed terrariums, they are generally kept out of pets' reach in any case. Always check the individual product page for details.

Labisia are native to the tropical forest floors of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, where they grow in deep shade and constant humidity.

Recreating those warm, humid, shaded conditions, ideally in a terrarium, is the key to growing them well.