What Are The Best Indoor Plants? 30 Choices To Fit Your Needs!

Adding plants to your home can help purify the air, add personality, and make any space feel more lively. There are so many varieties to choose from – flowering plants, trailing vines, air-purifying plants, pet-friendly options and more.

To help you pick the perfect indoor plants, here is an overview of 30 top options for you.

Best Beginner Friendly Indoor Plants

These easy-care indoor plants are ideal for those new to gardening or who don’t have a lot of time to devote to plant care.

Snake Plant

The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a dramatic upright plant with sword-like architectural leaves. It can grow up to 6 feet tall but also does well in smaller tabletop containers. Snake plants thrive in low to bright indirect light and only need infrequent watering. Just allow the soil to dry out between waterings. They are extremely tolerant of neglected watering schedules. The only downside is that they can be toxic to pets if ingested.

ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant features oval-shaped dark green leaves on upright stems that can reach up to 3 feet tall. Like the snake plant, it is very tolerant of low light and irregular watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. ZZ plants do best with bright indirect light but can adapt to nearly any indoor lighting conditions. Just watch out for toxicity if pets ingest the leaves.

Pothos

A classic trailing vine, pothos features heart-shaped leaves in green or variegated shades. It can trail up to 10 feet long from hanging baskets or climb up supporting poles. Pothos thrives in low to bright indirect light and should be watered when the soil becomes partly dry. It trails beautifully and is fun and easy to propagate in water. The main drawback is the potential toxicity to pets.

Chinese Evergreen

This upright plant grows to around 3 feet tall with long wide leaves featuring unique patterns and speckles in shades of green, silver, and cream. It does best in low to medium indirect light. Allow the soil to become partly dry between waterings. Chinese evergreen is easy to care for and has fun variegated foliage but can cause toxicity if ingested by pets.

Best Pet-Friendly Indoor Plants

These plants are non-toxic for cats and dogs if nibbled or ingested, making them ideal for pet owners.

Spider Plant

The spider plant is an exceptionally easy-to-grow houseplant with long, thin leaves that trail up to 3 feet long from rosettes. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light and should be watered when the soil becomes partly dry. Spider plants look great trailing from hanging baskets and are completely non-toxic for pets.

Parlor Palm

Parlor palms have long green fronds on upright stems that can grow up to 5 feet tall. They adapt well to low to medium indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist by watering frequently. Parlor palms are non-toxic for pets and help purify indoor air. The main drawback is sensitivity to irregular watering.

Peperomia

Peperomia come in many leaf shapes and color varieites but stay compact, under 1 foot tall. They do best in medium to bright indirect light. Allow the soil to become partly dry between waterings. Peperomia are fun, petite plants that are safe for pet households.

Best Low Light Indoor Plants

These plants can tolerate very low light conditions, making them ideal for darker corners or rooms with minimal sunlight.

Cast Iron Plant

As its name suggests, the cast iron plant is nearly indestructible and able to tolerate low light, irregular watering, dry air, and poor soil conditions. Its long wide leaves reach up to 2 feet tall from rhizome roots. Allow soil to become partly dry between waterings. Cast iron plants are slow growing but steady and reliable.

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreens adapt well to low indoor light down to nearly dark corners, yet tolerate brighter indirect light too. Their unique speckled foliage adds interest. Allow soil to become partly dry between waterings. They are easy to care for plants but toxic if ingested by pets.

Peace Lily

Known for its gorgeous white blooms, the peace lily has lush dark green leaves that reach up to 3 feet tall. It thrives in low indirect light and should be watered when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Peace lilies are excellent air-purifying plants but toxic to pets if eaten.

Best Air Purifying Indoor Plants

These plants naturally remove harmful toxins from indoor air, making them beneficial additions to any room.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are excellent air-purifying plants that also tolerate low light and irregular watering quite well. Allow soil to fully dry between waterings. The only downside is the potential toxicity to pets if leaves are eaten.

Peace Lily

In addition to producing pretty white blooms, peace lilies effectively filter formaldehyde, benzene, and other toxins from the air. They thrive in low light with moderately moist soil. Just watch out for toxicity to animal companions.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are easy air purifiers that thrive in most indoor conditions. Allow soil to partly dry between waterings. The trailing leaves look lovely in hanging baskets. Spider plants are pet safe too.

Rubber Plant

The rubber plant features large, lush leaves that can grow up to 8 feet tall. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light with moderately moist soil. Rubber plants are powerful air cleaners but can be toxic to pets.

Best Flowering Indoor Plants

These flowering varieties add pops of colour and fragrance to indoor spaces.

Orchids

Available in an endless array of colours and flower shapes, orchids add delicate exotic blooms to your home. They come in many sizes, from 6-inch mini varieties to large plants over 3 feet tall. Orchids thrive in indirect light and need fast-draining soil that is allowed to partly dry between waterings. They can be somewhat finicky to care for.

Bromeliads

Bromeliads produce vibrant long-lasting flower spikes ranging from red and orange to purple and pink depending on variety. They do best in bright indirect light with consistently moist soil. Bromeliads only reach about 1 to 3 feet tall but require more humidity than most indoor plants.

African Violets

These compact flowering plants have fuzzy green leaves up to 6 inches wide and produce blooms in shades of purple, blue, pink, and white. They thrive in bright indirect light with moderately moist soil. African violets make easy flowering houseplants but can be prone to diseases if overwatered.

Best Unusual and Exotic Indoor Plants

These unique indoor plant varieties have very distinctive leaves, shapes, or forms that make them conversational statement pieces.

Ponytail Palm

Despite its name, the ponytail palm is not a true palm but a succulent with a swollen upside-down bulbous trunk and long thin foliage that resembles a ponytail. It grows slowly up to 10 feet tall over many years. Ponytail palms need bright indirect light and occasional watering with time to dry out between. The curled leaves are eye-catching but toxic to pets if eaten.

Elephant Ear

Giant dark green elephant ear leaves grow up to 3 feet long on plants that reach 5 feet tall. Their huge leaves add major drama. Elephant ears thrive in medium to bright indirect light with consistently moist soil. They are unfortunately toxic if ingested by pets.

Venus Fly Trap

This carnivorous bog plant has snapping traps that capture insects for nutrients. It only grows about 4 to 7 inches tall and makes a quirky conversation piece. Venus fly traps need bright indirect light and moist bog-like soil. They also require a winter dormancy period.

Best Trailing and Vining Indoor Plants

These indoor plants feature long cascading stems or vines that look lovely spilling from hanging pots or trailing over shelving.

Pothos

Pothos is a classic indoor vine with heart-shaped leaves that trails up to 10 feet long. It is easy to grow in low to bright indirect light with occasional watering. Pothos looks great spilling from hanging baskets but can cause toxicity if eaten by pets.

Wandering Jew

Wandering Jew has striking solid or variegated purple foliage on trailing stems up to 3 feet long. It thrives in medium to bright indirect light with consistently moist soil. This fast-growing vine looks lovely mixed with other trailing plants but is potentially toxic to pets.

String of Pearls

String of pearls is a unique succulent with round bead-like leaves that trail down stems up to 3 feet long. It does best in bright indirect light with occasional watering and dry periods between. String of pearls makes an unusual trailing houseplant but is toxic if ingested.

Arrowhead Vine

Arrowhead vine is an easy-to-grow trailing plant with arrowhead-shaped leaves on vines that can reach up to 6 feet long. It adapts to a wide range of light levels with moderate watering. Arrowhead vine looks great in hanging pots but does pose toxicity risks for pets.

Additional Indoor Plant Varieties

Here are even more great indoor plant types to consider:

Rubber Tree

The large glossy leaves of rubber trees can reach up to 8 feet tall. They thrive in medium to bright indirect light. Allow soil to partly dry between waterings. Rubber trees purify the air but may cause stomach upset if ingested.

Ferns

Decorative ferns like Boston ferns have graceful, delicate fronds. They thrive in indirect light and high humidity like bathrooms. Keep their soil consistently moist. Boston ferns can become straggly with age.

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia features large oval leaves with striking white or yellow striping. They grow up to 3 feet tall in medium to bright indirect light with frequent watering. Dieffenbachia sap can irritate the skin and mouth.

Croton

Crotons have colourful leaves in yellow, orange, and red that create a rainbow effect. They reach 3 feet tall in bright indirect light with moderate watering. Crotons are unfortunately toxic to people and pets.

Dracaena

Upright, slender dracaena plants have green sword-like foliage with yellow edges or variegation. They thrive in indirect light with occasional watering but are toxic if eaten. Dracaena can grow up to 6 feet tall.

Calathea

The eye-catching striped leaves of calathea have pink, red, or silver colourations. They reach 2 feet tall in indirect light if kept moist. Calathea prefers higher humidity and can be sensitive to tap water.

Bottom Line:

Congratulations on exploring this diverse collection of indoor plants! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, there’s a perfect plant for your space and lifestyle.

For easy care, consider Snake Plant, ZZ Plant, Pothos, or Chinese Evergreen. Pet owners will appreciate the safety of Spider Plant, Parlor Palm, and Peperomia.

Brighten up dark corners with Cast Iron Plant, Chinese Evergreen, or Peace Lily. If air purification is a priority, opt for Snake Plant, Peace Lily, Spider Plant, or Rubber Plant.

For flowering beauty, Orchids, Bromeliads, and African Violets are delightful choices. If you want something unique, try Ponytail Palm, Elephant Ear, or Venus Fly Trap.

Trailing plants like Pothos, Wandering Jew, String of Pearls, and Arrowhead Vine are perfect for hanging pots.

Choose the ideal indoor plant that suits your style, space, and care abilities. Embrace the joy of indoor gardening and create a lush oasis in your home. Happy planting!