I ordered Biophytum seeds online after hearing about this plant on the On the Ledge podcast. They were listed as an interesting terrarium plant, so I thought I’d give them a try. Their common name is “little tree plant” because of the way their long leaves grow, giving even small plants a tree-like appearance. I grew three plants in a terrarium for about eight months–then, when I forgot to water, they died. Luckily, they had bloomed (very small, nondescript flowers) and set seed, so a seedling popped up in a nearby pot and has survived ever since.

The species name refers to the fact that the plant folds up like the sensitive plant. I only have photos of the plants folded up!

I am hoping to keep this last survivor alive through the winter in the window and get seeds off it that I can start or give away. They are cute to have around, even as a ground cover in pots with larger plants. However, I read online that they can become weedy in greenhouses, so I’ll keep an eye out for that–I have enough weeds in there!