Shopping for a new houseplant? Check out this list for ideas.
Thinking of sprucing up that lonely corner in your living room with a fresh, oxygen-producing plant? Indoor plants are a great way to infuse more life, color, and beauty to your space. However, with the overwhelming number of options presented online and at plant stores, you may be at a standstill on which species to choose. Not to worry, we’re here to help: Below are 12 of the best and most common indoor plants based on their ease of care and aesthetic qualities.
Philodendron
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Philodendrons have a reputation for being among the easiest houseplants to grow. “They are extremely low maintenance and can sit unattended for long periods of time,” advises Brian Shaunfield, Lowe’s store manager. “These plants have large, dark leaves that look great while removing harmful toxins in the air and also allowing them to absorb the smallest traces of light and water, making them adaptable to various lighting and water conditions.”
Yucca
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Yucca plants are slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and pest-resistant with the ability to thrive in both direct and indirect sunlight. “With the right care, you can grow an indoor yucca plant for a few years without replanting or pruning it,” says Shaunfield. “Due to easy to propagation, you can share yucca plants with friends and family.”
English Ivy
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A versatile houseplant that can be grown in its own pot, English Ivy looks attractive in a hanging basket. “These plants are great for indoors as they are known for digesting dust and reducing the amount of mold in the air, as well as removing many other airborne toxins,” Shaunfield says. “In an indoor environment, this ivy is contained and doesn’t usually exceed more than a foot in height.”
Air Plants
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As suggested by the name, air plants require no soil at all. Shaunfield says air plants can be easily recognized by their size, leaf shape, lack of roots and small scales on their leaves that take in water and nutrients from the air. “Air plants are low maintenance, being able to go up to 10 days without water and unlike most plants, an air plant will only bloom when indicating the end of its lifespan,” Shaunfield says.
ZZ Plants
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The ZZ plant is known as one of the toughest, low maintenance indoor plants. “This houseplant performs well in various lighting conditions, making them great to put in any well-lit room,” Shaunfield says. “This plant is great for people who are busy, due to its drought-resistant nature it only needs to be watered once every three to four weeks.”
Orchids
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Orchids make wonderful plants for adding color and decorations to the home. Shaunfield says orchids have been known to help people relax and reduce stress as well as boost energy levels. “Orchid plants require growing conditions close to that already found in the average home making them beautiful indoor flowering plants,” he says.
Pothos
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Pothos plants are fast-growing, hearty, and easy to care for. “This versatile plant is great for low-light conditions, but will also thrive well in bright light spaces,” says Paris Lalicata, plant education and community engagement associate for The Sill. “The pothos is also fitting for indoor settings because it’s able to filter gaseous toxins like formaldehyde from the air, making it a great air purifying houseplant.”
String of Pearls
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The string of pearls plant is prized for its pearl-shaped leaves and trailing vines, and is a great addition to any room with a bookshelf or elevated spot it can trail down. “It’s an easy to care for, drought-tolerant succulent that doesn’t need 6 plus hours of full sun like other succulents—it actually prefers bright, indirect light to only a few hours of direct sunlight exposure,” says Lalicata.
Money Tree
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With a unique, braided trunk that’s said to bring good luck and fortune, the money tree is the perfect plant to add to any room of your home to create good Feng Shui. “It’s known for its resilience and ease of growth, growing happily in the home as long as it receives bright light in a window,” Lalicata says.
String of Hearts
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A lovely trailing succulent known for its heart-shaped leaves and tolerant nature, string of hearts can even surprise you with beautiful little tubular flowers in summer and fall. “The string of hearts can propagate quickly due to its shallow roots and ability to easily grow new aerial tubers and vines, and is also a non-toxic, pet-friendly plant safe to keep around pets and children,” Lalicata says.
Spider Plant
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The spider plant’s easy-going nature and green and white striped foliage make it one of the most popular houseplants around. Lalicata says the plant can be propagated easily by root division once it reaches an established size, or by removing baby pups from the mother plant when they develop on a cascading stem. Spider plants can also tolerate various light levels and don’t need to be watered frequently.
Rubber Plant
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Ficus plants, like the rubber plant, are tricky, yet-rewarding, plants to grow. “They can be temperamental but, in preferable conditions, will reward you with beautiful broad leaves,” Lalicata says. “It’s an ideal houseplant to try out for beginners and experts alike as long as their space can provide bright light to a few hours of direct sun as well as normal room humidity.”
