Sunshine Gem Homalomena

Sunshine Gem Homalomena (Homalomena 'Sunshine Gem') is the indoor plant to reach for when a room needs lifting but there is no window to spare. It builds a rounded clump of glowing golden green leaves to about 60cm tall and 50cm across, holding that colour all year without a flower doing any of the work. Slow, tidy and genuinely forgiving, which is a rare combination in a tropical foliage plant.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that reads as light. The soft golden green tone brightens a dim corner in a way deep green plants cannot.
• A neat, self contained shape. It mounds rather than sprawls or climbs, settling at roughly 60cm by 50cm, so it holds its spot in a room.
• Low maintenance in practice. Water, warmth and shade are the whole list. No staking, no training, no seasonal cutting back.
• Slow growing. It sits happily in the same pot for years instead of demanding a bigger one every spring.
• Built for humidity. Bathrooms and humid coastal rooms suit it better than they suit most indoor plants.

Where it works best

Indoors, in every climate. It is frost tender, so inside is the reliable answer nationally. Give it bright indirect light or genuine part shade, away from heaters and cold draughts.

Pots and containers. A 250mm to 300mm pot with a drainage hole holds a mature plant comfortably. One makes a floor level feature beside a lounge or a hallway table.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can stay outdoors year round in deep shade under a covered patio, where the humidity works in its favour.

Growing Sunshine Gem Homalomena in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the best colour, and it copes with noticeably less. Direct sun scorches the leaves quickly. Outdoors it is limited to shaded, sheltered positions in tropical and subtropical gardens, and any frost will finish it.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix with extra perlite or bark for air. Aroid roots need oxygen as much as water, so a sodden mix causes more losses than dryness does.

Water and feed. Water when the top 2cm to 3cm of mix feels dry, usually weekly in summer and every second week in winter. Empty the saucer afterwards. A half strength liquid feed monthly through the warmer months is enough.

Pruning. Simply remove old outer leaves at the base as they yellow. Wear gloves, because the sap can irritate skin, and wash your hands afterwards.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in a single size: 200mm pots sold in packs of six. These are established plants with several mature leaves already up, ready to go straight into a decorative pot or to be spread through a house or an office fit out.

Broad soft leaves can arrive with a bent tip or a crease from transit, which is cosmetic and grows out. Keep it shaded and warm for the first fortnight and do not repot straight away. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive.
• Read our guide to indoor exotic plants.
• Browse the wider indoor plants range.
• Pair it with a pot or planter that drains properly.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like other aroids it carries calcium oxalate and is toxic to cats and dogs, so chewed leaves cause drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew foliage, and wear gloves when you cut leaves off.

How much light does it actually need?

Bright indirect light keeps the golden tone strongest, but it holds up in a part shaded room well away from a window. Direct sun is the one thing to avoid, since it bleaches and burns the leaves within days.

Why are the leaf tips going brown?

Usually dry air or uneven watering, sometimes salt build up from tap water. Group it with other plants, water more consistently, and flush the pot thoroughly every few months.