Miss Havisham | Dieffenbachia Camille

Meet Miss Havisham

Miss Havisham has never been particularly interested in moving on. She prefers rooms that remember things. Curtains drawn against the afternoon. Objects left exactly where they were placed. Beauty, in her opinion, becomes more interesting once time has had the chance to interfere with it.

Her broad cream-centered leaves and deep green margins suit that same sense of faded grandeur. Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’ is striking without being cheerful, elegant without feeling delicate, and pale enough to look almost luminous in the right light.

Inspired by Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, this botanical companion reflects one of literature’s most unforgettable figures: a woman surrounded by the remains of a life she expected to have, still dressed for a future that never arrived.

Miss Havisham is dramatic, exacting, and deeply attached to memory. She understands that a room can hold onto a story long after everyone else has tried to leave it behind.

She does not need fresh flowers.

She has kept the arrangement exactly as it was.

Plant Care

Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia seguine ‘Camille’

Common Name: Dieffenbachia ‘Camille’

Light: Bright, indirect light is ideal. Avoid prolonged direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.

Water: Allow the upper portion of the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Water thoroughly, then allow excess water to drain.

Humidity: Prefers moderate to higher humidity but generally adapts well to average indoor conditions.

Temperature: Warm indoor temperatures are best. Protect from cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.

Growth: Upright and bushy, with broad leaves marked by pale cream centers and deep green margins. Mature plants can become substantial statement plants indoors.

Pet & Child Safety: Dieffenbachia contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic if chewed or ingested. Sap can also irritate the skin and eyes. Keep well out of reach of pets and young children.

A Note from The Literary Garden

Miss Havisham is part of The Literary Garden, a collection of living personalities inspired by remarkable authors and unforgettable literary characters. Each botanical companion is chosen not simply for appearance, but for the way its history, temperament, or natural character reflects the person whose name it carries.

Miss Havisham’s story continues through Great Expectations, where Dickens surrounds her with stopped clocks, faded wedding finery, old rooms, and the consequences of a life held too tightly in place.