Dischidia major

Dischidia major, the large urn plant, is found from Southeast Asia through Malaysia to northern Australia.

In the wild, it grows epiphytically on larger trees, and older plants can form dense mats around the tree trunks. Its most striking feature is its so-called urn leaves, which form at irregular intervals in place of normal leaves. These modified leaves are rounded and bulbous, with a hollow interior accessible only through a small opening facing the trunk. In the wild, these urns serve as dwellings for ants. The ants, usually members of the genus Philidris, build their paper nests there. The Dischidia then forms roots into this cavity and absorbs nutrients from the waste produced by the ant colony. This is therefore what is known as an “ant plant.”

It can also be grown as a hanging plant indoors, though this doesn’t really showcase its unique lifestyle and growth habit. We therefore strongly recommend giving it a piece of wood or cork for it to climb up ;)

It blooms with small, pink/white flowers.

You’ll receive a plant in an 8 cm pot with several shoots (without ants, of course).