Shingle Plant

Dischidia imbricata, also called the Shingle Plant, creates a living mosaic with overlapping, glossy “shingle” leaves that cling to mounts or cascade from hanging baskets. It’s textural and space-smart, i.e. perfect for compact, modern, or boho interiors and vertical garden displays.

Shingle Plant’s most capturing trait is its tightly overlapping, succulent-like leaves that lay flat along thin stems, creating a scalloped, scale-like appearance. Leaves are glossy, thick, and often slightly cupped, giving tactile depth and subtle light reflection. This makes Dischidia imbricata a standout in hanging baskets, mounted on cork or wood, or trained up a shallow trellis. The plant looks particularly refined, cascading from high shelves or in a vertical planter, where its patterned foliage can be admired at eye level.

The Shingle Plant could grow trails 50 to 150 cm, depending on light and support, with individual leaves 1 to 3 cm wide and 1 to 4 cm long. It is an epiphytic climber that naturally hugs surfaces rather than sprawling freely, so it’s best trained to follow a mount or narrow pole. It is a moderate grower; new growth springs quickly in warm, humid seasons and slows in cooler months. Repot sparingly; use shallow pots or mount on bark to mirror its native habit. For a fuller wall effect, mount several cuttings close together to encourage a dense carpet of leaves.

Dischidia imbricata thrives in bright, indirect light. Filtered morning sun from an east or north-east window is ideal; avoid harsh afternoon sun that can scorch the small leaves. It tolerates medium light but will grow more slowly and may lose compactness in very low light. Well-lit bathrooms, bright kitchens, and sheltered balconies (non-frost climates) suit it well. If mounted, place where dappled light reaches the foliage; for hanging baskets, keep a few metres back from intense panes or use sheer curtains.

Water when the top 2 to 3 cm of the medium is dry, that’s typically every 7 to 14 days indoors, depending on humidity and temperature. Use a free-draining epiphyte mix (bark, coco chips, perlite) or an airy potting blend; mounts prefer light moss or no soil with occasional misting. Provide humidity above 50% for the best leaf texture. Feed lightly with balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength every 6 to 8 weeks during active growth. Avoid waterlogging and cold drafts. Propagate easily from stem cuttings placed on mounting wood or in a moist medium. Non-toxic to most households, but check if you have sensitive pets.

Adding a Shingle Plant warms indoor spaces with gentle texture and living pattern that supports mental calm and visual interest. Its compact, layered leaves create a subtle focal point that reduces visual monotony and can make work or relaxation areas feel fresher and more composed. As an epiphyte with moderate transpiration, it slightly increases local humidity, which can ease dry air irritation in heated rooms. Caring for a tactile plant like Dischidia Imbricata, like watering, checking mounts, and gentle pruning, offers a short, mindful ritual that boosts mood and focus.

• Hang Out: A hanging plant - contrast to the usual tabletop plants.
• Let’s Get Vertical: Great for mounting, hanging baskets, and just about any vertical space.
• Adaptable and Adjustable: Perfect for enthusiasts and beginners.
• Grow Your Own: Easy to propagate.
• Breathe In: Enhances indoor humidity.

This plant transforms small corners into textured highlights with minimal footprint. If you want a space-wise plant that’s both hands-on and forgiving, bring home a Shingle Plant today and start building your vertical jungle!

• Size at dispatch: 25 cm in height, and comes in a 14 cm pot
• Care level: Medium
• Pet safety: Toxic