A little greenery goes a long way.
Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Adding a few indoor plants is one of the quickest ways to inject some personality, color, and feng shui vibes into your home. As far as design refreshes go, houseplants are much more affordable than a new throw blanket or accent chair. And beyond their invigorating energy and color, the best indoor plants have health benefits. Air-purifying plants can help filter harmful chemicals out of the air you and your family breathe, and being around plants can help lower your anxiety and stress levels.
You don't need to be a gardening pro or have an award-winning vegetable patch to keep indoor plants alive. There's a range of easy-to-care-for indoor plants that don't require an intensive maintenance plan or watering schedule. The absolute easiest to care for indoor plants are succulents (if your home gets a lot of sunlight) or beautiful trailing pothos plants (if it doesn't). If your house, apartment, or office gets practically zero natural light (we're looking at you, south-facing windows), that's okay. There are plenty of low-light indoor plants like ZZ plants and philodendrons that can thrive in whatever dim corner you put them in. Just pick the plant you think looks cute, and follow our simple care instructions.
Many plants actually grow better indoors than they do outdoors thanks to the controlled conditions. To help you start your houseplant collection, we've gathered 30 of the best indoor plants below along with their care level and tips to help them thrive.
Care level: Easy
For a less finicky fern option, go with the bird's nest fern. This one has thick, glossy leaves that hold onto moisture and humidity longer than many other types of ferns—making it the least fussy of its kind. Give it bright indirect light, and water it only when the top few inches of soil feel dry.
Care level: Easy to Medium
A bite-sized succulent ideal for a windowsill, the zebra plant (Haworthia fasciata) is named for its striped leaves. Be sure to give this 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.
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 air flow.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Care level: Easy
According to Rooted, this plant gets its nickname because the leaves fold up at night, which mimics the look of hands praying. This plant is low light friendly and ideal for plant beginners.
Care level: Medium
Named for its hole-filled leaves that result a slice of Swiss cheese, this voluminous plant develops large, glossy leaves with the right care routine. The best environment is in bright, indirect sunlight with a weekly watering.
Care level: Easy
The lush foliage of this 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.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
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.
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.
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.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Care level: Intermediate
With leafless stems that look like literal corkscrews, this unusual houseplant (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.
Care level: Intermediate
Not just suited to the Mediterranean, an olive tree actually makes a great houseplant. 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.
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.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Care level: Easy
ZZ plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) require less water than many other 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.
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.
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. It looks great in a hanging pot that allows the vines to cascade over the sides.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Care level: Intermediate
Bright, indirect sun is best for this 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.
Care level: Easy
Place your fiddle-leaf fig (aka ficus lyrata) in a corner to create a dramatic focal point. Water this plant only when the top inch of the soil is dry, and make sure it gets bright, indirect light.
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.
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
Care level: Intermediate
Known for its waxy, heart-shaped flowers with a prominent stamen in the center, this 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.
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.
