Winter Is Finally Over! Celebrate With These 45 Vivacious Houseplants
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A thriving houseplant is one of the easiest (and most cost-effective) ways to infuse your space with a bit more life. Whether it’s a succulent on your windowsill or a fiddle-leaf fig tree in an empty bedroom corner, indoor houseplants can provide color, personality, and even fresher air. They also offer the perfect interior design refresh without the need for power tools or DIY skills.
The world of indoor houseplants is vast, and not all varieties are created equal in terms of care routine or environmental preferences. “Be sure to understand each plant's watering needs,” says Paris Lalicata, a plant expert at The Sill. “There will be some plants that require frequent waterings, especially newly potted ones that are getting established, while others prefer drier conditions. Note: When watering, it’s almost always ideal to water deeply to encourage root growth.” You should also focus the water on the soil rather than the leaves for the best results.
Beyond their vibrant energy, some indoor plants can even result in a healthier home for you and your family. Caring for plants is known to boost your mental health, and certain species can purify the air. Many low-maintenance plants, such as pothos plants, suit various light conditions. Even in dim spaces, low-light indoor plants like ZZ plants and philodendrons flourish.
To kickstart your houseplant journey, we’ve compiled 45 of the best indoor plants, along with care tips to help them thrive.
Find the perfect houseplant for your environment:
Whale Fin Sansevieria
Care level: Easy
A unique type of snake plant, this one is named for its striking resemblance to a whale's fin. You can follow a similar low-maintenance care routine for this one as you do for your regular snake plant. Ensure this sansevieria has well-draining, slightly sandy soil to prevent overwatering.
Anthurium 'Veitchii'
Care level: Medium
Colloquially known as the King Anthurium, this plant boasts showstopping, oversized leaves. This plant may grow slowly, but the leaves can reach a whopping four feet in length. While it will thrive in standard bright, indirect light, this plant needs a lot of humidity to keep it happy. Consider placing it in a bathroom or an at-home greenhouse.
Dieffenbachia
Care level: Medium
Relatively low maintenance, this plant just needs to be dusted every month to prevent pests and keep its leaves glossy, Dieffenbachia is a lush addition to any plant collection. This variety is a natural air purifier, so keep it in the kitchen or bathroom to help eliminate toxins. Provide this plant with partial sun and water every 10 days or so for the best results.
Alocasia ‘Tiny Dancer’
Care level: Easy
Named for its willowy stems that tend to sway in the wind, this variety of Alocasia is longer and leaner than traditional types. This plant will grow tall, nearly two feet from the soil in the right conditions. Enjoying moderate humidity and bright, indirect light, this alocasia follows the same care needs as many tropical houseplants, making it an easy addition.
Geogenanthus
Care level: Easy
This purple geo plant boasts glossy and thick little leaves, similar to a rubber tree. The round leaves have a slightly purple coloring, ideal for breaking up all of the green in your houseplant collection. Easy to care for, this plant loves indirect light and minimal watering, only when the soil has dried out completely.
Pink Polka Dot Plant
Care level: Medium
Compact and vibrant, the pink polka dot plant is ideal for small spaces that need an infusion of color. This tiny indoor plant thrives in high humidity with moderate to bright light. The Sill recommends placing this variety in a greenhouse or terrarium for the best-growing results.
Alocasia Melo
Care level: Medium
With thick, etched leaves, the alocasia melo indoor plant is a nice structural alternative to trailing or flowy greenery. These leaves are darker in color and love indirect light as too bright of sunlight can burn the foliage.
Norfolk Pine
Care level: Easy
An evergreen is always a good indoor houseplant, especially in the winter. This miniature Norfolk pine, a very common Christmas tree type, is great for bringing a holiday-ready vibe into your home. This tree is very cold-hardy and loves medium light. Water it sparingly throughout the dark and cold months.
Calthea ‘White Fusion’
Care level: Easy
Actually a unique variety of prayer plants, this Calthea boasts stunning variegated leaves in green and white. With ample sunlight, the leaves will start to develop a purple-ish hue as well. Place this indoor plant in bright, indirect sunlight and watch the leaves rise and lower with the path of the sun.
Bay Laurel Tree
Care level: Easy
Bay laurel leaves are green and glossy, all year long. Even in the depths of winter, this tree will provide a wonderful wash of color. Bay laurels are famous for being very low maintenance in their care routines and love a pot just as much as they do the ground. Plus, imagine being able to pluck your very own bay leaves right from the source!
Wintergreen Berries
Care level: Easy
A beautiful seasonal option for those looking to incorporate holiday plants into their collection, the wintergreen berry plant is ideal for novice gardeners. Cold-hardy and partial to indirect sunlight, this indoor plant can survive the winter months with ease. When crushed or rolled between your fingers, the leaves produce a minty scent, similar to its namesake.
Christmas Cactus
Care level: Easy
A beloved seasonal cactus, the Christmas cactus blooms in late December, not waiting for the warm weather of spring. Caring for this cacti is fairly simple, but this type is from the jungle rather than the arid desert, so it loves dappled light and plenty of humidity.
Related Story: How to Care for a Christmas Cactus
Moonshine Snake Plant
Care level: Easy
Lighter and paler than other snake plant varieties, the moonshine type has a silvery quality to the leaves. This indoor plant requires a similar care routine to the traditional snake plant, preferring medium- to low-light environments and waterings every few weeks.
Purple Passion Plant
Care level: Medium
With vibrant, fuschia accents and rich green leaves, the purple passion plant is a stunning houseplant. This plant is fuzzy to the touch and quite thirsty, so be sure to water regularly. It loves medium, direct light, so in the winter, be sure to place it near a window.
Red Chinese Evergreen
Care level: Easy
The red Chinese evergreen is a beautiful indoor plant with variegated leaves in shades of red and green. With proper care—plenty of water and no direct sunlight—the plant will bloom waxy, white flowers.
Bird's Nest Fern
Care level: Easy
The bird's nest fern is one of the easiest indoor houseplants out there. It has thick, glossy leaves that hold onto moisture and humidity longer than many other types of ferns. Give it bright, indirect light, and water it only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Zebra Plant
Care level: Easy to Medium
A bite-sized succulent ideal for a windowsill, the zebra plant (Haworthiopsis fasciata) is named for its striped leaves. Be sure to give this indoor plant lots of bright indirect light and water every few weeks when it's totally dry. It's easy to overwater, so check the soil first to avoid root rot.
Majesty Palm
Care level: Easy
Excellent for an empty corner or a space that needs a little height, majesty palms are easy to care for and pet-safe. Plus, they help to purify the air around them, making them great for spaces with limited airflow.
Prayer Plant 'Beauty Kim'
Care level: Easy
According to Rooted, the prayer plant gets its nickname because the leaves fold up at night, which mimics the look of hands praying. This indoor plant is low-light friendly and ideal for plant beginners.
Monstera Swiss Cheese Plant
Care level: Medium
Named for its hole-filled leaves that resemble a slice of Swiss cheese, this indoor plant develops large, glossy leaves with the right care routine. The best environment for it is in bright, indirect sunlight with weekly watering.
Blue Star Fern
Care level: Easy
The lush foliage of this indoor plant (Phlebodium aureum) prefers medium to bright indirect light, plenty of mist and humidity, and occasional watering. Because its full, feather-like leaves get longer as they grow, it looks best in a hanging planter.
Boston Fern
Care level: Intermediate
The only thing that levels the Boston fern up from easy is its love of steam. Because it thrives in low light and humidity, it makes a great bathroom plant. Hang it in a corner, allowing its dark green fronds to drape down, and water it regularly—but only once the soil has completely dried out.
Algerian Ivy
Care level: Easy
As with any trailing ivy, the primary maintenance for this stunning houseplant is pruning its fast-growing vines. Algerian ivy loves a lot of shade and consistent watering.
Tricolor Hoya 'Krimson Queen'
Care level: Easy
This waxy plant will grow trailing vines of white and green (and sometimes pink!) leaves. Pet friendly and nontoxic, it thrives in bright, indirect light with a watering every one to two weeks.
Corkscrew Rush
Care level: Intermediate
With leafless stems that look like literal corkscrews, this unusual indoor plant (aka Juncus effusus 'Spiralis') loves moist soil and indirect light. It can even thrive in a low-light environment with the occasional use of a grow light to aid with photosynthesis. In the right conditions, it can grow up to three feet tall.
Olive Tree
Care level: Intermediate
Not just suited to the Mediterranean, an olive tree actually makes a great indoor plant. It loves a warmer, sunny climate (but not too much direct sun or it will scorch) and plenty of humidity. Prune it seasonally to keep it looking fresh, and you'll enjoy it for years.
Golden Pothos
Care level: Easy
You'll love how the leaves of a golden pothos seem to glow when the light hits them. Pothos plants are fuss-free: Keep yours in partial to bright indirect light, and water it when the soil is mostly dry. Pro tip: You can easily expand your plant family by propagating these from cuttings.
ZZ Plant
Care level: Easy
ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) require less water than many other indoor plants. If you tend to neglect yours (rather than overwater them), you'll do well with it. It'll thrive in bright, indirect light, but it can also tolerate low light if you have a less-than-sunny spot you want to keep it in, according to Bloomscape.
Rubber Plant
Care level: Intermediate
The rubber plant requires bright, indirect light. You should water it only when the soil is dry. Rubber plants have the added benefit of being one of the best natural air cleaners out there. Place it near your favorite seating area to reap the benefits.
String of Pearls
Care level: Easy to Intermediate
You'll quickly have lengthy strands of pearls if you place this cute succulent in bright, indirect light and give it enough water to keep the soil steadily moist. This indoor plant looks great in a hanging pot that allows the vines to cascade over the sides.
Pilea
Care level: Intermediate
Bright, indirect sun is best for this indoor plant, but be careful with watering: It requires a "drench-and-dry" approach (water it thoroughly, then let the soil dry out) along with weekly misting. The unusual round leaves make a dramatic impression, so it's best to keep the pot simple, like this display from The Joy of Plants.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
Care level: Easy
Place your fiddle-leaf fig (aka ficus lyrata) in a corner to create a dramatic focal point. Water this indoor plant only when the top inch of the soil is dry, and make sure it gets bright, indirect light.
Sweetheart Waxplant
Care level: Easy
This adorable little heart-shaped plant, also known as Hoya kerrii, can be sold as either a single leaf-cutting or an entire trailing plant. It's a succulent that needs very little care (according to The Sill, watering it every three to four weeks is ideal) and does best in bright, direct light. Consider it a perfect addition to your windowsill.
Anthurium
Care level: Intermediate
Known for its waxy, heart-shaped flowers with a prominent stamen in the center, this indoor plant needs to be watered every one to two weeks and requires occasional fertilizing—so it's not exactly low maintenance, but it's not high maintenance, either.
Bird of Paradise
Care level: Intermediate
This tropical plant will prosper in a bright, sunny spot, but it can handle lower light levels too. You'll need to fertilize it often in the spring and summer, according to Bloomscape. Otherwise, it's fairly simple to handle so long as you don't overwater it.
Sansevieria
Care level: Easy
Indirect light is ideal for sansevieria or snake plants (also called mother-in-law's tongue) along with light watering only after the soil has fully dried. Place it on a plant stand or in an elevated planter to add interest to an empty corner in your hall.
Watermelon Peperomia
Care level: Easy
Peperomia argyreia—also known as the watermelon peperomia or watermelon begonia—is a member of the Piperaceae plant family, which is native to northern South America. Despite its name, this indoor plant actually has nothing to do with watermelons or begonias. It loves low to bright indirect light and won't wilt if you miss a watering—but it prefers to be well watered when the soil is half dry.
Begonia Maculata
Care level: Easy
Begonias need their soil to dry out completely between waterings. Oddly enough, this indoor plant responds well even to fluorescent light, which makes it a perfect office plant.
Air Plants
Care level: Intermediate
These plants can grow anywhere (though bright, indirect light is best), but you need to soak them in water once a week for at least 10 minutes. Air plants are the perfect addition to any terrarium or mini ecosystem. There are tons of different types of air plants, which is great if you like your indoor garden to have a little variety.
Peace Lily
Care level: Easy
This indoor plant requires medium to low light and needs to be watered only when the top of the soil is dry. Juxtapose the organic shape of the leaves with a modern planter.
Split Leaf Philodendron
Care level: Easy
Bright, indirect light and consistent moisture help a philodendron plant thrive. Be sure you have plenty of space to let its large leaves spread out; this one likes to sprawl rather than grow straight up.
Plumosus Asparagus Fern
Care level: Easy
Indirect light is best for this fern. You should also give it plenty of water, taking care not to oversaturate the soil. Hang the pot in a modern macramé holder or plant it in a woven basket for a boho feel.
Jade Plant
Care level: Easy
These plants require medium light for only a few hours every day and watering every few days after the soil has completely dried. To help the deep green leaves with red tips on this indoor plant pop, put it in a pot that's just as vibrant and striking.
Aloe Vera
Care level: Easy
Aloe vera loves the sun and requires water only once a week— let the soil dry completely in between. Put your plant in a tall pot that will help keep the leaves off the table.
Spider Plant
Care level: Easy
Occasional watering and bright, indirect light make the spider plant one of the easiest around to care for. Show off its dramatic curved leaves in a hanging planter or on a pedestal.
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