Introduction 

The green leaves that line the walls of luxurious office spaces often seem as though they have always belonged there. 

Their roots appear woven into the very fabric of the buildings they inhabit, their winding stems embracing the structures they have quietly made their own. 

Yet once, their leaves were accustomed to a very different air. 

Long before a plant takes root in an indoor space across our fair isle, it begins life thousands of miles away, anchored in ecosystems far removed from our own. Rainforests, with their dense canopies and vibrant undergrowth, are home to many of the species that now thrive in our interiors. Their journey from native habitat to curated design feature is not only botanical, but also cultural, economic, and ecological. 

This is the life cycle of plants in biophilic design. 

Deep in the heart of the forest. 

Rainforests; chaotic, impenetrable sanctuaries brimming with life; overflowing with roots, vines, and endless shades of green. 

Beneath the bright canopy lies the understory, the birthplace of many plants that now grace our interiors. It is a world that is shaded, humid, and sheltered.  

If you are inside, in your workspace, take a look around you. Feel the temperature of the air on your skin. You might just notice that the sunlight is somewhat dappled, perhaps absent. The air is temperate, constant. The space that you are in is not as dissimilar from a rainforest understory as you might have thought.  

As well as shade, and temperature, is consistency. While most plants from regions outside the tropics are adapted to vast seasonal shifts in temperature and rainfall, rainforest species grow within a far steadier rhythm, shaped by consistent warmth and humidity. This makes them the perfect places to mirror the constantly warmed, cooled, humidified or dried indoor spaces that we inhabit.  

“Rainforest species are resilient by nature, perfectly adapted to the light and humidity of our built environments.” 

The art of selection 

The journey begins in tropical regions where growers, often working with knowledge passed down through generations, identify and propagate plants. They select cultivars with purpose, tracing the qualities that set one apart from another: a tolerance for lower light levels, a lineage from a drier part of the forest. These are qualities that make them better adapted for the indoor life that awaits them.  

Ethical sourcing is key: partnerships ensure species are nursery-grown rather than stripped from the wild. Behind every plant is a community. Cultivation supports livelihoods across South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. By working with responsible suppliers, biophilic companies help stabilise economies and promote fair trade while discouraging destructive practices like illegal logging. 

“Every plant purchased is also an investment in people and communities.” 

The journey begins 

Plants are raised in controlled nursery environments before being shipped abroad. At this stage, strict checks are vital: phytosanitary certification and CITES permits ensure the safe and legal movement of species across border. These small green pockets of life are protected from the moment they are set in the ground and treated with tender care throughout their life - their early years a parallel for the care they will receive in the future.  

Whilst one may imagine whole trees wantonly shipped across oceans, the reality is quite different. Only tiny parts of plant matter are taken and moved, minimising the environmental impact of transportation. The plants start their journey when they are only young, barely formed things.  

“Every leaf and root travels under the watch of global regulation.” 

 Arrival on European shores 

After travelling halfway across the world from the wild rainforests that blanket the tropics, the vast majority of these little plant-lings will find themselves arriving in Holland. This small European nation, through governmental investment, and strong agricultural tradition, has become the epicentre of indoor horticulture across the continent. 

The cultivars that arrive find themselves housed in conditions not too dissimilar from those they’ve just left. They adapt to their new environment as nurseries work to ensure they’ll thrive in projects across Europe and the UK. This stage transforms them from tropical stock into workplace-ready greenery. 

By now they have travelled halfway across the world. They have experienced more travel than many humans might have in an entire lifetime, but are almost none the wiser. They only have a small journey left to go, to reach their new homes in the United Kingdom. 

“Acclimatisation bridges the rainforest and the reception desk.” 

The final stage of the journey. 

Now, after travelling thousands of miles, the cultivars find themselves at their final juncture. They have been packaged and shipped from the nurseries where they spent their young adult lives. At last, they arrive at their new homes, introduced to houses and offices, to new spaces and new caretakers who will love and nurture them for the rest of their days. 

The plants now are seated where they will spend their life. To be admired, to be touched, watered and fed. They are the centrepieces of people’s worlds, punctuating their offices, rooting their homes. The journey they have taken is long, and hard, but they have made it, nonetheless.  

“Rainforest plants become curated landscapes, designed for people.” 

Conclusion  

Every step of this cycle carries a quiet responsibility. By sourcing from nurseries rather than wild forests, companies ease the strain on fragile ecosystems. By selecting resilient species, they reduce the need for excess water and energy. And by integrating plants into workplaces, they transform the quality of our air, our mood, and our productivity. 

From distant rainforests to carefully curated interiors, each plant carries a story of adaptation and endurance. What began beneath dense canopies and humid air finds its continuation beneath skylights and filtered light, where roots once again take hold. 

In bringing them into our built environments, we do more than decorate; we take part in an ancient exchange between nature and nurture. These living threads bind our spaces to the wider world, reminding us that even within walls of glass and steel, life continues to grow, reaching always toward the light.