Houseplants are a great way to add life and greenery to any indoor space. Certain houseplants are especially beloved for their attractive foliage, easy care requirements, and air purifying abilities. Here we will explore the 17 most popular houseplants that decorate homes across the world. Discover which ones match your style andabilities to care for them.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue or Sansevieria, is an ideal houseplant for beginners. Snake plants have long, upright, sword-shaped leaves with eye-catching striped patterns in shades of green. These tough plants are highly tolerant of neglect, surviving even infrequent watering and low light conditions in indoor environments.
Snake plants are excellent at filtering indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene. They can grow quite large when given enough space, with varieties reaching up to eight feet tall. However, their slow growth means you can keep snake plants in the same pot for years before repotting. Place your snake plant in a spot with bright, indirect light and water every two to three weeks. The resilient snake plant will reward you with a long-lived, elegant addition to your home.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
A classic houseplant, pothos is admired for its heart-shaped satiny leaves and cascading vine-like growth habit. Sometimes called devil’s ivy, pothos is available in many fun leaf variegations like ‘Pearls and Jade’ and ‘Neon.’ Pothos can thrive in a wide range of conditions, tolerating low light and inconsistent watering. Growth can be vigorous in optimal conditions, so regular pruning may be needed to keep its long trailing stems under control.
Pothos helps filter environmental toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from indoor air. Place pothos plants in bright, indirect light locations, allowing the vines to trail down from bookshelves, top of cabinets, or hang planters. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Pothos is so easy to grow that it makes an excellent choice for beginners or those with little time for plant care.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
If you want a houseplant that blooms, the peace lily is a great option. Peace lilies produce beautiful white flowers that emerge right from the glossy green leaves. Caring for peace lilies is uncomplicated – they need moderate light and just occasional watering. Let the soil partially dry out between waterings.
Peace lilies also help clean indoor air by removing pollutants like trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde. Their need for frequent moisture makes peace lilies excellent indicators when they need water – leaves will droop dramatically but perk up again after watering. Place peace lilies in low to medium indirect light locations. Their lush green foliage and delicate flowers will provide a tropical feel.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is grown as a houseplant for its medicinal properties and decorative spiky leaves. The gel inside aloe leaves can be applied to burns, scrapes, sunburns, and dry skin for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effects. Aloe vera is a succulent and stores water in its thick, fleshy leaves. Allow soil to completely dry between waterings and give it bright indirect light or partial sun.
The succulent leaves have hints of white and are pleasingly plump and curved. Pot up small offsets or “pups” from the mother plant for easy aloe vera propagation. Aloe vera is also an air purifier, eliminating benzene and formaldehyde. Place your aloe vera where you can easily harvest leaves as needed for home remedies.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ornamental ZZ plant has glossy oval leaves and an unusual, modern look. Two other highlights of the ZZ plant are its ability to tolerate very low light conditions and irregular watering. ZZ plants store moisture in swollen underground stems called rhizomes, allowing them to handle droughts that would damage other plants.
ZZ plants slowly grow up to three feet tall. Provide bright, indirect light if possible but don’t worry if conditions are less than ideal. Let the soil dry out some between watering. Well-suited to offices and darker corners, ZZ plants will reward you with an easy-care, sculptural plant. Their waxy leaves and upright stems create interest without needing much maintenance.
Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Nicknamed the “Swiss cheese plant” because of its holes and fenestrations, monstera is a tropical plant loved for its large, glossy leaves. Monstera prefer bright indirect or partial sun and moist, well-draining soil. The striking leaves of monstera start off small and entire, maturing and developing holes as the plant grows.
Let monstera dry slightly between waterings and mist occasionally to increase humidity. Stake larger specimens to provide support as they grow. Monstera can also be encouraged to climb up surfaces using plant ties against a moss pole or wall. A monstera’s holey leaves create a graphic, jungle look in any home.
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
With its large, oval leaves and tall, tree-like growth, the rubber plant is an excellent specimen houseplant. Growing up to eight feet tall indoors, the rubber plant has dark green, shiny leaves and thick woody stems. Propagate rubber plants from stem cuttings and nurture them into impressive, focal point statement plants.
Choose a well-draining potting mix and water when the top few inches of soil become dry. Give the rubber plant bright filtered light to keep its foliage lush and vibrant. Mist the leaves periodically for added humidity. Rubber plant’s mature size demands ample space, but its tolerance for lower light makes it ideal for offices and indoor corner spaces.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
If you love houseplants but don’t have much time for fussy care routines, Chinese evergreen is for you. This low-maintenance plant has patterned oval leaves often blushed with hints of red, silver, pink and other colors. Leaves emerge directly from the soil, growing up to two feet tall.
Chinese evergreen thrives in low to medium indirect light with minimal watering needs. Well-suited to desks and tabletops, use Chinese evergreen’s colorful leaves and different cultivars to create custom arrangements. Tolerant of neglect, its slow growth and compact size makes Chinese evergreen perfect for small spaces.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are easy to identify by their long, thin leaves that form grassy mounds. Spider plants send out runners with baby spiderettes, allowing them to propagate rapidly. For this reason, regular pruning of runners may be required to keep spider plants manageable indoors.
Place your spider plant in bright, indirect light and allow the soil to partially dry between waterings. Even with inconsistent care spider plants will produce plenty of draping foliage. Spider plants help filter airborne toxins like xylene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide from indoor spaces.
Dracaena (Dracaena)
Displaying attractive, sword-shaped foliage, dracaena are excellent low maintenance houseplants. Most dracaena tolerate low light and irregular watering, growing slowly to heights of up to ten feet tall. Popular dracaena cultivars include Dracaena marginata (also called dragon tree) and Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ with yellow striped leaves.
Allow your dracaena to partially dry out between watering and provide bright, indirect light. Wipe dracaena leaves periodically with a damp cloth to keep them dust-free. The bold, upright leaves of dracaena add architecture and texture to indoor plant displays. Their resilience suits them well to homes and offices.
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
For an indoor tree with style, look no further than the fiddle leaf fig. This popular houseplant has very large, elegantly shaped leaves that resemble a violin or fiddle. Give fiddle leaf figs bright light to maintain the bold veins and leaf silhouette. Allow soil to partly dry out between watering and mist occasionally for added humidity.
Fiddle leaf figs can grow up to 10 feet tall inside your home. Stake the tender branches of younger plants to protect them. The striking leaves make a memorable impression in any setting. Place your fiddle leaf fig prominently as a living sculpture.
Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
The bird’s nest fern is aptly named for its lush mound of curled fronds that resemble a bird’s nest. Their easy care requirements and lush tropical look make bird’s nest ferns excellent houseplants. Grow bird’s nest ferns in medium to bright indirect light and keep their soil consistently moist. The convoluted leaves can reach up to three feet long on mature plants.
Mist bird’s nest ferns frequently or group nearby other plants to increase humidity around them. Use a well-draining potting mix amended with peat or orchid bark. Repot bird’s nest ferns only when rootbound, as they resent disturbance. Give bird’s nest ferns a shaded spot and some humidity, then enjoy their cascading bounty of intricate foliage.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
A classic houseplant, parlor palm has feathery, arching fronds emerging from slender stems. Parlor palms thrive in bright indirect light in homes and offices. Allow the soil to partly dry out between waterings. Parlor palms grow slowly, so you can keep them in the same container for a few years before repotting.
Mist parlor palm fronds regularly to increase humidity around them. Prune any yellowing or damaged leaves at the base of the plant. Parlor palms can reach heights up to five feet tall indoors. Their compact shape makes parlor palms ideal for decorative plantings even in small spaces.
Heart Leaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
The heart leaf Philodendron has dark green, glossy leaves that emerge elegantly from slender stems. This climbing vine plant will grow several feet long in ideal conditions, so provide a trellis or moss pole for support. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between watering and place the Philodendron in bright, indirect light.
Prune back leggy Philodendron stems to encourage bushier new growth. Mist occasionally and fertilize in the growing season for best results. Heart leaf Philodendrons remove airborne toxins like formaldehyde from the air. Let their lush trailing vines bring the look of the tropics indoors.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The lush Boston fern has gracefully arching fronds and thrives in high humidity environments. Boston ferns prefer bright, indirect light and frequent misting. Keep their soil moist but not soaked. Growing up to five feet long, Boston ferns make excellent hanging basket plants or additions to plant collections.
Prune dead or damaged fronds at the base of the plant. Use pots with drainage holes and well-draining potting mix amended with peat moss. The graceful plumes of a Boston fern create a relaxed, natural look in the home. Boston ferns help purify indoor air of toxins like xylene and formaldehyde as well.
Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Air plants are top choices for indoor gardening because they don’t even need soil – just air! Air plants or Tillandsia absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves. Mist air plants several times a week or soak briefly to provide hydration. Ensure plenty of airflow around plants.
Give air plants bright, indirect light to allow them to thrive. Mount them on pieces of wood or include them creatively in other plant displays. Air plants come in many colorful varieties and quirky shapes, like fuzzy balls or spiky spirals. These cute, carefree plants let you easily add greenery in unexpected places.
Succulents
Succulents are the perfect indoor plant for busy folks and beginners. Succulents store water in their thick, fleshy leaves, stems, or roots so they only need occasional watering. Wait until the soil has thoroughly dried out before watering again. Provide at least a few hours of bright direct sunlight if possible.
Well-draining cactus and succulent potting mix helps prevent root rot. Choose low maintenance succulents like Echeveria, Haworthia, jade plant, and more to add texture and color to your home without fuss. Design fun succulent mosaics and centerpieces by combining varieties like hen and chicks, aloes, agaves, and sempervivums for low effort indoor garden beauty.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Despite its name, lucky bamboo is not a true bamboo but a type of Dracaena. Lucky bamboo features tall, linear, bright green stems that make excellent indoor greenery. Grown in containers of just water or pebbles and water, lucky bamboo is exceptionally low maintenance.
Give lucky bamboo medium to bright, indirect light to simulate its partial shade native growing environment. Change the water weekly and add plant food occasionally. The vibrant stems can be trained into spiraling shapes for added visual interest. Lucky bamboo makes a great feng shui gift with symbolic associations to prosperity and good fortune.
17 Most Popular Houseplants FAQs
What are the best houseplants for beginners?
Some of the best houseplants for beginners are pothos, snake plant, ZZ plant, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, and succulents. These plants tolerate a range of conditions and occasional neglect that makes them ideal for new plant parents.
Where is the best place to keep houseplants?
The best places for houseplants are in front of windows or other spots that receive plenty of bright, indirect light. Avoid placing houseplants in exceedingly hot or cold drafty locations which stress plants. Group plants according to their light and watering needs for easiest care.
Do houseplants remove toxins from the air?
Many popular houseplants help remove toxins from indoor air through the natural process of phytoremediation. Excellent air purifying houseplants are snake plants, peace lilies, rubber plants, golden pothos, Boston ferns, and spider plants. Place these in rooms where you spend the most time for cleaner indoor air quality.
How often should you water houseplants?
Houseplants should be watered whenever the top inch or two of soil becomes dry. The frequency varies based on factors like plant type, container size, climate, and season. Feel the soil and pay attention to clues from the plant, like wilting or drooping leaves, to determine optimal watering needs. Avoid a fixed schedule.
What makes the best potting mix for houseplants?
The ideal potting mix for houseplants is well-draining and moisture retaining. Aim for mixtures containing peat moss, compost, perlite or bark for aeration, and a wetting agent. Commercial potting soil formulated specifically for indoor plants is readily available. Or create your own customized blend.
How do you increase humidity for houseplants?
Use a humidifier, mist plants daily, place plants on pebble trays filled with water, or group plants together to increase humidity. Plants that thrive in higher humidity like ferns, orchids, and bromeliads may need more humidity than other houseplants. Pay attention to signs of low humidity like brown leaf tips.
Why are houseplant leaves turning yellow?
Leaves turning yellow are a sign the plant is stressed and a response to factors like overwatering, low nutrients, and insufficient light. Improve conditions and prune away any severely yellowed leaves to restore the plant to health. Keep an eye on moisture levels, fertilization, and light exposure to prevent further yellowing.
Conclusion
Our homes and offices gain life and vibrancy from the greens, textures, and designs of indoor plants. Some houseplants like snake plant and pothos can thrive for years with minimal care while adding powerful air cleansing abilities. Pay attention to factors like lighting, humidity, and watering needs to help your houseplants flourish. The most popular hardy houseplants are varied and versatile to suit nearly any space. Choose one or more of these living sculptures to enhance your indoor spaces with natural beauty.