10 Best Houseplants for Beginner Plant Parents

Trying to freshen up your home with a little greenery? Houseplants come with all kinds of benefits, from purifying the air to boosting your mood. But if you’re new to the indoor plant scene, you might feel a little overwhelmed with all the options available and the customized care they each require. That’s where this list comes in. For the beginner plant parent, here are 10 of the best (and easiest to keep alive) houseplants to get you started.

1. Pothos

Also known as Devil’s Ivy, Pothos is a popular indoor plant that thrives in settings with limited natural light. You could even stash this little fella on the bathroom sink and he would likely survive just fine. In fact, these plants are notorious for being difficult to kill. While these handsome plants produce flowers when growing outside, you’re not likely to see them blossom when growing indoors.

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2. Bromeliads

Many indoor plants come in beautiful shades of green, but the Bromeliad is a tropical knockout that can cheer up any space with its vibrant colors. These slow-growing houseplants flower once in their lifetime, but you can usually prune the blossoms and see sequential offshoots in time. Expect to find these stunning plants in just about every color: red, purple, green, yellow and orange. Many also boast bands, spots, stripes or other patterns.

3. Snake Plant

Snake plants are technically called Dracaena trifasciata, but snake plant is much easier to say, isn’t it? And they’re appropriately named, with their strong, slender green leaves that reach to the sky. Known for their hardiness and easy care, snake plants are virtually indestructible and can survive in minimal light. If you find yourself with a snake plant that is outgrowing its pot, do your best to wait until springtime when the plant is more receptive to being uprooted.

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4. Ficus

These trees have names, such as ficus benjamina and weeping fig tree, but they are usually sold at garden centers with one simple title: ficus. These trees make beautiful additions to just about any corner of the room where they can receive natural light, but keep in mind they can mature to anywhere from 3 to 6 feet in height. If you buy one when it’s small, keep a close eye on it because these trees grow rapidly and could benefit from repotting and intentional pruning.

5. Peace Lily

Most of us are familiar with peace lilies. With rich, deep green leaves and splendid white petals, these iconic plants are native to the floors of the tropics, where they only receive dappled sunlight at best. Naturally, that makes them a good choice for growing indoors. While outdoor varieties can reach 6 feet in height, household varieties usually top off at just over a foot. Be sure to watch your thermostat with these in the house since they grow best in warm, humid environments.

6. Parlor Palm

Something about the parlor palm screams midcentury, but you don’t have to take this one off your shopping list if that isn’t your design style. Parlor palms are from Central America but have been a popular indoor plant in the United States for a long time. They have thin trunks that produce clumps of beautiful green foliage, and they are notably slow growers that can take years to reach their full height (anywhere from 2 to 6 feet when cultivated indoors).

7. Heart-Leaf Philodendron

Heart-leaf philodendrons are also known as sweetheart plants, which is endearing enough on its own. But what makes them even more attractive is their notoriety for being low-maintenance and attractive all year long. New leaves sprout in beautiful shades of bronze that darken over time to a rich, deep green. You may even spot a few small green-white flowers from time to time. These grow slowly, but their lifespan is long (some have been known to last decades), and they only need to be repotted every two to three years.

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8. Bird’s Nest Fern

Bird’s nest ferns are charming indoor plants that are referred to as ‘naturally epiphytic,’ which means they like to grow on the surface of other plants. Native to the rainforest, they are often found growing in the crooks of tall trees. But don’t worry, you can still grow them at home in their own pot. Their bright green fronds can reach up to 5 feet when growing outdoors, but indoor varieties often top off at closer to 2 feet. They grow slowly but make a good addition to partially sunny or shady pockets of the house.

9. Money Tree

Looking for a plant with a little more character than your average fern? Consider investing in a money tree plant. These beginner-friendly plants make a serious statement with their braided trunks and reputation for bringing good luck and fortune. Place your money tree somewhere it can enjoy a combination of direct and indirect sunshine, and consider rotating it regularly to prevent too much light from scorching its leaves.

10. Begonia Rex

Semi-tropical and dramatically colored, Begonia rex is a favorite indoor plant for beginners because of its bright, large, variegated leaves that come in numerous shades of green, red, silver and purple. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, so to speak, pinch off small blooms to encourage larger, more dramatic growth. You should also bear in mind that Begonia rex leaves are toxic to dogs and cats and should consequently be kept out of reach of any furry friends who live indoors.