Vintage plants back on trend

Our grandmothers didn't wait for confinement to discover the benefits of gardening. Long considered vintage, if not downright old-fashioned, the plants of their youth are back in fashion. Here's our selection of varieties to give to your grandmother to bring back fond memories. Or steal them for a trendy touch.

The multicolored flowers of sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) have perfumed many a grandparent's garden.

These annual perennials, often climbers, used to dress trellises and fences during the summer. Easy to sow and maintain, they have gradually given way to clematis and passionflowers.

If you'd like to restore sweet peas to their former glory, you're spoilt for choice. There are over 150 species, in all shades and sizes. For a decidedly vintage look, choose a variety from the early 20th century, such as Painted Lady or Old Spice.

Fashion is an eternal restart, and no one knows this better than the Monstera deliciosa. A must-have in the '70s, the faux philodendron has become has-been along with disco, Arcopal crockery and Tam-tam stools.

But, like Jane Fonda, it has made a comeback on social networks. The Monstera deliciosa is now a classic in plant collections.

Next time you visit your grandma, bring her a Monstera cutting! The plant adapts to any interior, provided it gets enough light and is watered regularly. You might even be allowed to take a few plates home in exchange..

Was your grandmother a dentist, doctor or medical secretary? Then she probably had a Ficus lyrata at work. Its immense green leaves brightened up the aseptic atmosphere of waiting rooms in the last century.

Today, the lyre fig has left the doctor's office behind. It prefers to squat in magazines and trendy bars. The fashion designer Céline and the restaurant l'Alcazar have made them key elements of their decor.

Would you like to give your grandma a Ficus lyrata to transform her living room into a fashionable place? Make sure the room has plenty of light and space. At maturity, the shrub reaches a height of three meters, even in a pot.

Before they were displayed in neutral-colored homes filled with Dame Jeanne and macramé, pampas grasses (Cortaderia selloana) enjoyed their heyday as outdoor plants. Until the 1980s, these grasses were essential components of any green space worthy of the name.

Plant a grove of them in the garden and you'll transport your grandmother back 40 years. To highlight the long white feathers, plant colorful autumn flowers such as asters, daisies or orpins.

My grandmother had an infallible trick for getting beautiful plants: buy evergreen species. Such was the case with her tall aspidistre. It survived everything: forgotten watering, overwatering, lack of sun and reruns of The Young and the Restless.

High Aspidistre is native to Taiwan. This hardy plant can be grown in pots, indoors or in the ground. You can opt for the classic green-leaved version for a 100% vintage look, or choose the more contemporary Milky Way variety, with its white-flecked foliage.

Another old-fashioned plant to take its revenge: the Yucca. Too often seen in apartments, waiting rooms and offices, the shrub has disappeared from florists' stalls and trendy interiors.

Now, yucca gigantea and Yucca aloifolia are back with a vengeance to add a tropical touch to our living rooms and gardens. But yucca is not for everyone. It requires a lot of water and light, and is unforgiving of mistakes.

If your grandmother had one in the 80s, ask her for advice. If not, you can download the Monstera app. We'll send you a reminder of when to water and how to repot.

If your grandmother worked in an office between 1960 and 1985, her colleague was chlorophytum comosum. Back then, the spider plant was as much a must-have as the typewriter or Bic pen.

While computers have replaced stenodactylos, the phalanx is still with us. Easy to maintain, it flourishes everywhere, even in the darkest corners. Able to go several weeks without watering, even in summer, Chlorophytum comosum is ideal for dizzy gardeners of all ages.

Succulents haven't waited for the return of the Western trend to make their mark. While fringed jackets and cowboy boots continue to attract amused looks and mocking smiles, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) has everyone in agreement.

Originally from Brazil, christmas Cactus has been used in Europe as an ornamental plant since the early 20th century, and can live up to 70 years!

Its drooping habit and winter flowering contrast with the very graphic euphorbias and haworthias. It warms up a simple decor without requiring too much effort. All it needs is sun, water and a little fertilizer.

While Monstera and Ficus have made a successful comeback, the rehabilitation of pelargoniums, commonly known as geraniums, doesn't seem quite up to scratch yet. With its bright colors and heady scent, the king of balconies is far from being universally appreciated.

Yet the plant has many advantages. Hardy, it blooms almost all year round, and its 300 species allow you to play with shapes, shades and sizes..

You're not convinced and would like to add a trendy touch to your grandmother's windows? Start with a planter of begonias or petunias for a smooth transition. Once she's become a plant-addict with an eye for the latest trends, you can move on to our selection of plants to give to loved ones.