Date:  December 30, 2015  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Air plants offer a striking and versatile greenery option in any environment

“The first question I often get is, ‘What is it?’” says Jonathan Edwards, of Fayetteville’s PIGMINT Florist and Garden Living store, in reference to his shop’s offering of air plants. “It’s a great conversation piece,” he laughs. Air plants get their name from their lack of a traditional, extensive root system. The variety shown here is a highly popular one known as tillandsia xerographica, which can be displayed on stands (as shown), in bowls, or even suspended in the air. The plants take in moisture and nutrients from their environments, thrive in bright, indirect light, and require little care other than soaking them in distilled water every two to three weeks. Here, Edwards situates the plants—which are often considered contemporary in style—in a highly traditional setting. “It’s interesting to me to contrast the modern plant with the traditional grasscloth wallpaper, mahogany server, and the blue-and-white ginger jar; I think it proves that these plants can work in any environment,” He says.

Air plants available in the Garden Living store and online through shopgardenliving.com.

Garden Living, 160 East Joyce Boulevard, Fayetteville, (479) 435-6999, shopgardenliving.com; PIGMINT Florist, 100 East Joyce Boulevard, Suite 113, (479) 444-0404, pigmint.com