Quite the ramen fan? Check out these Plants that Look Like Noodles, Pasta, and all things snacky for your home!
From slender and succulent to bouncy and vigorous, these plants that look like noodles and other tasty edibles will have your tummies growling with temptation! And they are distinct ornamentals that will quickly uplift your green decor. Let’s dive in!
Plants that Look Like Noodles
1. Spanish Moss
Botanical Name: Tillandsia usneoides
A rootless epiphyte, Spanish Moss is an air plant that dangles off trees, fences, and surfaces. With curly, long leaves that resemble springy ramen, it absorbs nutrients and water from the air and rain. Also called “grandpa’s beard” in some regions, its wiry leaves are used to pack cushions and as insulation material.
It thrives in high humidity and a pollution-free environment. Regular pruning helps prevent its delicate foliage from breaking.
2. Burro’s Tail
Botanical Name: Sedum morganianum
Looking a bit like trailing pendants of cavatelli pods, the Burro’s Tail features plump, succulent leaves that are actually quite sumptuous to the eyes. These luscious stems can reach up to four feet long and are bluish-green with a smooth, waxy texture.
Ideal for hanging baskets, this plant thrives in sunlight, dry soil, fresh air, and shallow pots. Here’s how to grow your own.
3. Veldt Grape
Botanical Name: Cissus quadrangularis
This succulent vine with medicinal benefits from the grape family looks much more like strings of delicious churros thanks to its segmented, variegated branches. Reaching up to five feet in length, this evergreen climber needs the support of trellises and similar structures if you don’t want it to cascade. It is used in traditional practices like Ayurveda to heal broken bones and as a pain killer.
You can grow this plant through stem cuttings or seeds quite easily. Plant it in well-draining soil in a spot that receives partial sunlight and warmth like all other succulents.
4. Mistletoe Cactus
Botanical Name: Rhipsalis baccifera
Also called the Spaghetti cactus, this succulent has bright green, slender, cylindrical stems that can grow up to 10 feet long! Perfect for novice gardeners, this one’s another epiphyte in the list of plants that look like noodles and is particularly striking when it cascades from hanging baskets.
The only cactus that naturally occurs outside the Americas, this plant thrives in bright, indirect light, high humidity, and acidic, moist, well-drained soil.
5. California Dodder
Botanical Name: Cuscuta californica
Next on this list of noodle-look-alike plants is a parasitic plant. A tangled mass of slender, thread-like stems, it often drapes and twines around other plants, feeding off them until they die. It can grow several feet long and stands out due to its bright orange color.
But don’t let its snackable appearance fool you; act quickly, remove and cut it out when you see it anywhere near your vegetation! If you let it grow, beware, as it’s highly invasive and quickly ruins all the other plants nearby.
6. Ludovia
Botanical Name: Ludovia lancifolia
At first glance, the Ludovia might not give off noodle-like vibes, as its leaves are broad and arching, somewhat like a fusion of banana and spider plants. But hidden among these leaves is a tangled-up clump of white strings–its unique flower–a spitting image of freshly cooked noodles.
With lush, decorative foliage, this South and Central American native thrives in tropical conditions with rich, organic soil and plenty of humidity.
7. Soft Rush
Botanical Name: Juncus effusus ‘spiralis’
This herbaceous perennial has slender, hollow stems with a pith filling that may remind you of spiky, raw green noodles. The stems can reach up to five feet long and sprout in dense, upright clumps, perfect for adding vertical elements to garden beds.
Now, this species also has a ‘Spiralis’ cultivar, which has noodle-like stems corkscrewing upwards and around. Both are easy to grow and are not fussy about soil. Just water during dry spells, and they’ll grow well.
8. Frizzle Sizzle
Botanical Name: Albuca spiralis
Frizzle Sizzle is a springy succulent from South Africa. This bulb-based plant has tall, slender, curly, deep green strands and sticky glandular hairs on the stem. With proper care, it may surprise you with fragrant, yellow-green flower clusters in late winter or spring.
The plant thrives in bright, sunny conditions, needs moderate watering, and is low-maintenance.
9. Hoya
Botanical Name: Hoya compacta
With leaves that gracefully fold along its edges, like a mix of conchiglie and tortellini pasta, Hoya Hindu rope is our final candidate in plants that look like noodles and food! But unlike regular hoyas, this vine sports rich, glossy green leaves that curl and twist tightly along trailing stems that cascade beautifully.
These slow-growers also occasionally produce clusters of star-shaped flowers in delicate pinks and whites. They thrive in dappled sunlight in well-draining soil. If you decide to grow it, adding orchid bark or perlite enhances its drainage. Also, here’s a detailed article on types of hoyas for your home.
