Biophytum zenkeri Plants GROW TROPICALS
Little Tree Plant

Biophytum zenkeri

£12.99
Pot size
8cm £12.99

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Description

Biophytum zenkeri, often called the little tree plant, is one of the most charming miniature houseplants you can grow. A single slender stem is topped with a perfect whorl of delicate, palm-like leaflets, giving it the look of a tiny tropical tree just a few centimetres tall. Most enchanting of all, the leaflets gently fold up at night and when touched, a trait it shares with its relative the sensitive plant.

Naturally tiny, humidity-loving and slow-growing, it is the ideal candidate for terrarium plants collections, bottle gardens and bell jars, where its love of moist, still air is perfectly met. It also makes a delightful curiosity on a bright, warm windowsill for anyone who enjoys the more unusual end of the houseplant world.

How to care for it

The golden rule with biophytum is never to let it dry out, it will collapse dramatically if the compost goes dry. Keep it consistently moist, warm and humid in bright but indirect light, and it will happily produce its little fans of leaflets and even tiny yellow flowers.

  • Light: bright, indirect or dappled
  • Water: keep constantly moist, never dry
  • Humidity: high; ideal for terrariums
  • Temperature: warm, 18-26C


Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Little Tree Plant

Give me a bright spot and check my soil before watering.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Little Tree Plant

Also known as

Biophytum zenkeri

Genus

Biophytum →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the leaves really move?

Yes. The leaflets fold up at night and react to touch and vibration, slowly closing like its relative the sensitive plant, then reopen in good light. It is a wonderfully interactive little plant.

Is Biophytum good for terrariums?

Perfect. Its love of constant moisture, high humidity and warmth makes it an ideal terrarium, bottle garden or bell-jar plant, where the enclosed, humid air keeps it thriving.

How often should I water it?

Keep it consistently moist at all times and never let it dry out. Biophytum will collapse if the compost goes dry, so check it often and use rainwater or filtered water where you can.

How big does it get?

It stays charmingly small, usually just a few centimetres tall, forming a single little 'tree' of leaflets. It may produce tiny yellow flowers and even self-seed in a humid terrarium.

Is it safe around pets?

Biophytum has no serious reported toxicity, but as with any houseplant it is sensible to discourage pets and children from chewing the foliage.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Biophytum

Biophytum is a genus of small, herbaceous plants best known for Biophytum sensitivum, a species famous for its leaves that gently fold in response to touch, light changes, or evening conditions. Its symmetrical rosette of leaflets gives it a palm-like appea...

More about Biophytum care
Biophytum Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Biophytum zenkeri
£12.99