African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)

Native to Tanzania, African violets are almost exclusively grown indoors and are known for their vibrant year-round purple blooms, though there are also varieties with pink, red, blue, and white flowers. African violets are safe for dogs, cats, and horses, and also feature delicate, fuzzy, leaves. Because root rot is a common problem, selecting a well-draining pot is essential for these plants.

Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadieri)

A tropical perennial native to Vietnam, aluminum plants (also known as watermelon plants) have distinctive silvery stripes on their broad green leaves and also produce small white flowers fairly sporadically when kept indoors. Most gardeners remove the blooms to encourage the plant’s foliage to further develop.

Aluminum plants love humidity, which makes them ideal for terrariums, but they can also thrive in pots and hanging planters. You can mist the plant occasionally in order to artificially recreate its native humid environment.

Dwarf Banana Plant (Musa acuminata ‘tropicana’)

Native to southeast Asia, dwarf banana plants can add dramatic foliage to any home, with their large, broad leaves, and eventual height of around 6 feet. The potential for fruit production is possible with this variety, but unlikely when kept indoors year-round. These tropical plants need ample water and root space, and cannot be in a cold environment.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exalta bostoniensis)

An herbaceous tropical fern, these plants grow to an average size of around 3 feet indoors. To keep Boston ferns growing evenly all-round, it’s best to rotate them periodically and prune any dead fronds. These ferns are often hung in suspended planters, but they can also thrive in traditional pots. Yellowing leaves could mean the plant needs more humidity and would benefit from an occasional misting.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Native to Central America, parlor palms are popular indoor plants that do well in foyers, with their tolerance for shade. A great plant for beginners, these palms also require infrequent watering. Parlor palms are also sometimes called bamboo palms because of their bamboo-like stems, and they produce inedible fruits (though fruiting is rare indoors).

Hens and Chicks (Echeveria elegans)

Hens and chicks are popular perennial succulents that do well in indoor container gardens as well as in rock gardens. A low maintenance plant with relatively shallow root systems, they don’t need a planter with much depth, but it does need some width to allow new growth to spread as the “hen” (parent plant) forms new “chicks” (smaller new rosettes that form).

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

A hardy perennial shrub, lemon balm is known for its fragrant odor and will need a sunny spot indoors and to be kept away from cold, drafty areas. Any flowers that form should be picked immediately if you plan to harvest leaves, as their flavor begins to change and become bitter as the plant goes to seed.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

Christmas cacti are known for their flattened stems and vibrant red blooms that typically flower around Christmastime. An easy to care for houseplant, these cacti aren’t like the desert varieties; instead, they are native to the Brazilian rainforest and require more water. A Christmas cactus can live for 20-30 years when properly cared for and makes a great holiday gift.

Friendship Plant (Pilea involucrata)

From the same genus as the aluminum plant, friendship plants are also known as moon valley plants because the deep grooves on the surface of their leaves are said to resemble the surface of the moon. These quilted grooves are a bronze/purple color, offsetting a vibrant green. Small blooms may form on the plant, which should be removed to keep the plant compact.

Haworthia (Haworthia species)

Haworthia is a genus of more than 80 species of succulent that grow easily indoors in containers of basically any shape or size. Known for their upright leaves that end in sharp points, Haworthia typically feature stripes or dots that form attractive patterns along with basal rosettes, from which leaves grow in a spiral pattern, although this can vary between species.

Metallic Peperomia (Peperomia caperata)

Peperomia are known for their beautiful foliage and grow easily indoors. Native to Brazil, Peperomia caperata sprout interesting flowers, which shoot above the leaves and resemble long, white beans. This distinctive plant comes in many varieties, most commonly the Emerald Ripple, pictured above with its dark green/purple, deeply veined leaves.

Fairy Elephant’s Feet (Frithia pulchra)

Also known as purple baby tears, Frithia pulchra is native to South Africa, where it thrives in rocky grasslands. A hearty perennial, this plant can adapt to many growing conditions and features club-shaped, erect leaves, and single, daisy-like flowers that bloom in the window and are often pink or purple.

Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis Orchid)

Also known as moth orchids, these flowering plants prefer warm, humid, conditions and are commonly grown indoors. Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, where they grow on trees, these orchids produce showy purple, green, white, or pink flowers, depending on the specific variety.

Thimble Cactus (Mammillaria gracilis fragilis)

These attractive succulents are native to Central America, where they typically receive plenty of bright sun and not much water, meaning that they’re easy to care for as long as you have a bright spot in your home. Thimble cacti will grow well in windows, producing light yellow flowers in winter and summer.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Also known as a ribbon plant, the spider plant is an herbaceous perennial native to southern Africa. These plants can be grown in hanging containers or in pots, and produce white, star-like flowers. Their green leaves have attractive light-colored vertical stripes that make it a distinctive and popular houseplant.