Discover the Top and Most Popular Indoor Plants for Your Home

1. Philodendron

Philodendrons are renowned for being one of the simplest houseplants to care for. “They require minimal attention and can thrive even with neglect,” says Brian Shaunfield, a Lowe’s store manager. “With their broad, lush leaves, they not only enhance your space aesthetically but also purify the air by filtering out toxins. Their ability to adapt to low light and irregular watering makes them highly versatile.”

• Scientific Name: Philodendron spp.
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry
• Mature Size: Up to 20 feet tall and 6 feet wide

2. English Ivy

English Ivy is a highly adaptable houseplant that thrives in pots or hanging baskets, adding a touch of elegance to any space. “This plant is ideal for indoor settings as it effectively filters dust, reduces airborne mold, and eliminates various toxins,” explains Shaunfield. “When grown indoors, its growth is controlled, typically staying under a foot in height.”

• Scientific Name: Hedera helix
• Light: Partial sun to full shade
• Water: Water when soil is dry to the touch
• Mature Size: Only limited by space allotted to it

3. ZZ Plants

The ZZ plant is celebrated for its resilience and minimal care requirements, making it a top choice for low-maintenance indoor greenery. “This plant thrives in diverse lighting environments, making it suitable for any brightly lit room,” Shaunfield notes. “Its drought-tolerant nature means it only requires watering every three to four weeks, perfect for those with busy schedules.”

• Scientific Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
• Light: Indirect light or low light
• Water: Water when soil is dry
• Mature Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide

4. Orchids

Orchids are exceptional for bringing vibrant colors and decorative charm to any living space. According to Shaunfield, orchids are known to promote relaxation, alleviate stress, and enhance energy levels. “These plants thrive in conditions similar to those found in most homes, making them ideal for indoor cultivation and a stunning addition to your decor,” he explains.

• Scientific Name: Orchidaceae
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water twice weekly in warm weather, once a week in cooler months
• Mature Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide

5. Snake Plant or Sansevieria

The snake plant, with its striking, upright leaves, is perfect for novice gardeners as it flourishes even with minimal care. Renowned for its ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night and filter out harmful air pollutants, it significantly enhances indoor air quality.

• Scientific Name: Dracaena trifasciata
• Light: Full or partial sun
• Water: Water deeply once or twice a month
• Mature Size: 2 feet tall

6. Pothos

Pothos plants are known for their rapid growth, resilience, and low maintenance. “This adaptable plant performs well in low-light environments but also flourishes in brightly lit areas,” explains Paris Lalicata, plant education and community engagement associate at The Sill. “Its ability to remove airborne toxins like formaldehyde makes it an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality.”

• Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum
• Light: Indirect light
• Water: Water on a weekly or biweekly schedule
• Mature Size: Up to 40 feet long and 6 feet wide

7. Rubber Plant

Ficus plants, including the rubber plant, can be challenging but highly rewarding to cultivate. “While they may be sensitive, they produce stunning, broad leaves when given the right conditions,” notes Lalicata. “This plant is suitable for both beginners and experienced gardeners, provided they can offer bright light, a few hours of direct sunlight, and average room humidity.”

• Scientific Name: Ficus elastica
• Light: Indirect sunlight
• Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry
• Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall

8. Chinese Money Plant

Known for its unique coin-shaped leaves that radiate outward, the Pilea thrives in bright light and requires thorough watering once the soil dries. This delightful plant often produces numerous offshoots, making it easy to propagate and share with others.

• Scientific Name: Pilea peperomioides
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water when plant dries out
• Mature Size: Up to 1 foot tall and wide

9. Monstera

The Monstera has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its striking foliage and tropical aesthetic. This plant is also favored for its low-maintenance nature, thriving in filtered, indirect light and requiring only moderately moist soil.

• Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water when top 1/3 inch of soil is dry
• Mature Size: Up to 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide

10. Aloe Vera

A perennial favorite among houseplants, the aloe vera is a delightful succulent. Its leaves contain a soothing gel known for its skin and hair benefits. This plant thrives in sunny spots and requires very little maintenance.

• Scientific Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
• Light: Full or partial sun
• Water: Twice monthly
• Mature Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 1 foot wide

11. Peace Lily

The peace lily is celebrated for its striking white flowers, though it’s not a true lily—it belongs to the arum family, making it a relative of the Monstera. This plant thrives in low light and only needs watering when its leaves begin to droop.

• Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum spp.
• Light: Indirect light
• Water: Water when the plant droops
• Mature Size: Up to 4 feet tall and wide

12. Yucca

Yucca plants are known for their slow growth, drought resistance, and ability to withstand pests, thriving in both direct and indirect light. “With proper care, an indoor yucca can flourish for years without needing repotting or pruning,” Shaunfield explains. “Its ease of propagation makes it a great plant to share with loved ones.”

• Scientific Name: Yucca spp.
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water weekly in spring and summer, biweekly in fall and winter
• Mature Size: Can grow up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide

13. Cast Iron Plant

True to its name, the cast iron plant is incredibly resilient, making it ideal for even the most forgetful plant owners. It thrives in low-light environments and only requires thorough watering once the soil has dried out completely.

• Scientific Name: Aspidistra elatior
• Light: Indirect light
• Water: Water when soil is completely dry
• Mature Size: Up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide

14. Spider Plant

Known for its low-maintenance care and striking green-and-white striped leaves, the spider plant is a favorite among houseplant enthusiasts. Lalicata highlights that it can be easily propagated through root division or by detaching the small offshoots that grow along its trailing stems. This adaptable plant thrives in various light conditions and requires minimal watering.

• Scientific Name: Chlorophytum comosum
• Light: Partial sun to full shade
• Water: Keep soil moist
• Mature Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide

15. Prayer Plant

For a plant with eye-catching foliage, the prayer plant is an excellent choice. Its intricate veining and unique patterns add a touch of elegance to any space. While it thrives in low light, it requires careful attention to watering—keeping the soil consistently moist with warm water is essential.

• Scientific Name: Maranta leuconeura
• Light: Partial sun to full shade
• Water: Keep soil moist, and use warm water
• Mature Size: Up to 1 foot tall and wide

16. Fiddle Leaf Fig

The fiddle-leaf fig has become a standout in the plant world, celebrated for its lush, dark green leaves and impressive stature. Place it in an area with indirect sunlight and water it once the soil is halfway dry.

• Scientific Name: Ficus lyrata
• Light: Partial shade
• Water: Water when the soil is about 50 percent dry
• Mature Size: Up to 10 feet tall

17. String of Hearts

This charming trailing succulent, celebrated for its heart-shaped foliage and hardy nature, can even produce delicate tubular flowers during summer and fall. “Thanks to its shallow roots and rapid propagation through aerial tubers and vines, the string of hearts is easy to grow. It’s also a pet-friendly, non-toxic plant, making it safe for homes with children and animals,” Lalicata explains.

• Scientific Name: Ceropegia woodii
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Water when soil is dry
• Mature Size: 2 inches tall and wide

18. Jade Plant

The jade plant has been a beloved houseplant for generations, and with the right care, it can become a cherished heirloom, lasting for decades.

Provide your jade plant with bright, indirect sunlight and keep the soil consistently moist, particularly during its active growing seasons in spring and summer.

• Scientific Name: Crassula ovata
• Light: Bright indirect light
• Water: Keep soil moist
• Mature Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide

19. String of Pearls

The string of pearls plant is admired for its unique bead-like leaves and cascading vines, making it a perfect choice for shelves or elevated spaces. “This low-maintenance, drought-resistant succulent thrives in bright, indirect light and only needs a few hours of direct sunlight, unlike many other succulents,” Lalicata explains.

• Scientific Name: Curio rowleyanus
• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Keep soil lightly moist
• Mature Size: Up to 2 feet tall and wide

20. Money Tree

The money tree, with its distinctive braided trunk, is believed to attract luck and prosperity, making it an excellent choice for enhancing Feng Shui in any room. “This hardy plant is easy to care for and thrives indoors with bright light from a window,” Lalicata notes.

• Scientific Name: Pachira aquatica
• Light: Full to partial sun
• Water: Water when top inch of soil is dry
• Mature Size: Up to 8 feet tall and wide

21. Air Plants

True to their name, air plants grow without soil. Shaunfield explains that these plants are identifiable by their compact size, unique leaf shapes, absence of roots, and tiny scales on their leaves that absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. “Air plants are incredibly low-maintenance, surviving up to 10 days without water. Unlike most plants, they bloom only once, signaling the end of their life cycle,” Shaunfield adds.

• Scientific Name: Tillandsia
• Light: Partial sun
• Water: Mist weekly
• Mature Size: Up to 1 foot tall