Commonly called Ant Plants because of their habit of growing in tree-dwelling ant nests, Dischidia imbricata is a unique and easy-to-grow plant! It has developed a relationship with ants in its natural habitat because it scrambles up tree trunks and produces pairs of leaves that lay perfectly flat along the trunk. The underside of the leaf pairs is where the roots attach to the bark or moss...they look like little green shingles! These 'shingles' create a protected area for the ants, where they can hide from predators and the elements. It makes a wonderful addition to a planted terrarium, and it can also be grown as an outdoor plant in the southern US, but should be protected from colder weather...similar to most Nepenthes species. It can be grown in a pot or hanging basket with long-fibered Sphagnum (our favorite way to grow them), soil, peat or bark. However, one of the most striking ways to display full sized plants is by growing it attached to a piece of moss-covered wood or bark and hanging it on the wall or patio, similar to what many growers do with staghorn ferns of the genus Platycerium. Potted and ready to grow to reduce stress!
