Why The Internet Loves These 5 Most Commonly Googled Plants
Thanks to the internet, gardeners, foragers, and plant enthusiasts alike have never before been able to delve more easily into their hobby, and with the simplicity and ease of a Google search, anyone in the world can instantly access information on any species ever recorded. As such, it's no surprise that certain varieties will draw more interest from curious minds over others and that this will vary from year to year On that note, Google annually provides a year-end wrapup of the year's top searches, and in 2022, the search engine offered users insight into the top five most commonly Googled varieties of plants and fungi.
Leading the top five was the garden rose, followed by mushrooms and the damask rose. Passion flowers came in fourth, while the houseplant philodendron rounded out the list. Here, we'll take a closer look at each of these popular plant and fungi varieties and unpack why the internet — at least in 2022 — found so much in them to love.
1. Garden roses
The most commonly Googled plant in 2022 was none other than the garden rose (Rosa rubiginosa), and it's no surprise as to why. As the world's most popular flower year after year, the rose is beloved for its symbolism, its shape, and its many colors. It's also a very purposeful flower, serving as declarations of love and shows of appreciation, as well as beautifying spaces indoors and out.
Not just cultivated to be cut for use in bouquets and floral arrangements, garden roses are also commonly grown as landscape plants. In addition to their timeless beauty and sentimentality, garden roses are also widely loved because of how easy they are to grow. As long as they receive six to eight hours of sunlight a day, are watered regularly in soil with good drainage, and are routinely pruned, you can expect the garden rose to bloom and brighten wherever you choose to plant or display it.
2. Mushrooms
Whether you only think of them when you order a pizza or one of your favorite hobbies is hunting for elusive and tasty varieties like the morel, mushrooms are everywhere. In fact, mushrooms have such a fanbase that they even have their own design aesthetic: mushroomcore. So it's no surprise really to find the mushroom coming in at No. 2 of Google's most searched-for plants and fungi of 2022.
There are countless varieties of mushrooms around the world, and with many of them being edible and offering medicinal value, the global mushroom industry today is a booming one, worth an estimated $50.3 billion (as of 2021) and only expected to grow. The rarity of certain mushrooms only adds to the fungi's mystery and appeal (hence, all the searches on Google). The yartsa gunbu, or caterpillar fungus, for example, is so rare, it's valued at as much as $63,000 per pound (via Insider).
3. Damask roses
The third most commonly Googled plant of 2022 was the damask rose (Rosa × damascena), which is actually one of the many aforementioned forms of garden roses. The damask rose ranks popular among gardeners not only for its timeless beauty, but also for the sweet, potent fragrance it gives off that's unrivaled by other rose varieties. The damask rose is specifically sought after and cultivated for its natural oils, which are one of the main ingredients used in manufacturing attar of roses, or rose oil. The fragrant petals and oils of damask roses are also commonly used to make potpourri.
Damask roses grow in clusters of at least three to five buds that are most commonly found in white and various shades of pink. In addition to producing large clusters of blooms, damask rose bushes are also known to produce a lot of buds, making them a popular choice for homeowners looking to add eye-catching color to their yards during summer months. Properly pruned and cared for, damask rose bushes can grow to be 8 feet tall, making them good landscaping plants. Like most other varieties of garden roses, the damask rose is easy to grow and requires little maintenance overall.
4. Passion flowers
Fourth on Google's list of most searched-for plants and fungi of 2022 is the passion flower (Passiflora incarnata). In addition to its beautiful and exotic-looking blooms, the passion flower is also known for attracting many of the most popular — and environmentally necessary — pollinators. Whether you want to attract hummingbirds or butterflies to your garden, the passion flower can help add a beautiful tropical vibe to your outdoor space while also playing an important role in the ecosystem.
The passion flower blooms with distinctive purple flowers and is native to the Eastern United States. Conditions to grow this vining plant include full sun to partial shade and moderate watering. The passion flower is tolerant of drought conditions, and its flower is edible. In fact, the popularity of this flower in search is perhaps also thanks to its medicinal benefits. Historically, the passion flower has been cultivated for its calming effects, and even today, the flower is used in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia.
5. Philodendron
Rounding out the list of the most Googled plants and fungi of 2022 is the philodendron. Because philodendrons naturally come from the rainforest where there is little light, they are able to survive similarly low-light conditions, making them a good choice for a home. In fact, the philodendron is widely regarded as one of the easiest houseplants to grow. Their large, lush green leaves bring a slightly tropical vibe to environments that otherwise aren't so tropical. In addition to commonly being cultivated and grown in pots and other containers both indoors and outdoors, philodendrons can also make excellent landscaping plants for your property, and are commonly planted outdoors in shady areas of warmer climates.
On top of providing ornamental beauty, a study by NASA found that certain plants, like the philodendron, have air-purifying qualities and are able to remove certain harmful contaminants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide from the environment.