20 plants that totally thrive indoors

A common house plant, you’ve probably seen a spider plant in someone else’s space. If you’re brand new to the house plant game, a spider plant is a great place to start because it’s sinfully easy to care for.

An indoor plant that grows tall is a plant worth having, or so some say. The yucca cane plant is a tropical plant that can grow up to eight feet tall, which is good considering it’s poisonous to house animals. 

If you want a good luck charm for wealth and prosperity, bring a money tree into your home. They’ve got a neat tropical look, and they’re easy to take care of, requiring little sunlight and water. They can grow pretty tall, so be aware of that before putting your tree in a room with low ceilings. 

If you’ve ever looked at a watermelon and wished that its design came in plant form, you’re in luck. A watermelon peperomia plant is a great indoor plant with leaves that resemble the outside of a watermelon. They’re easy to care for and make a major impact. 

Another great tropical plant to grow indoors, a bird of paradise is named for its vibrant flowers that resemble birds. Because it’s a tropical plant, these babies love heat and humidity, so if you like keeping your house warm, adopt a bird of paradise as an indoor plant. 

When looking at a string-of-pearls plant, it’s easy to see how it got its name. This unique plant thrives indoors and is unlike any other houseplant. It’s probably best if you don’t have pets, though, as string-of-pearls are poisonous for cats and dogs. 

We all want palm trees inside our homes, right? Luckily, there are many, many different palm varieties, including the Japanese sago palm tree, which works great indoors and won’t produce any coconuts (though maybe that’s a negative).

Seriously, there are thousands of different types of palms in the world. Another great one for indoors is the parlor palm. It’s darling and doesn’t require much pruning, aside from removing the fronds that turn brown. 

Red prayer plants are perfect for the indoors. They don’t need much sunlight or water, and they do well in a pot. They also have cool oval leaves with red veining, making them a great option for fun, low-maintenance natural decor. 

A cast-iron plant is commonly seen indoors for a reason. It’s easy to take care of, and even able to withstand some neglect. They’re great if you’ve never had an indoor plant before, or if you travel often. 

If you’re after something a little smaller, try a bamboo desk plant. These babies are actually babies. They’re small enough to sit on a desk. They can grow fairly tall, though, so make sure they have enough air space to thrive. 

Another very popular indoor plant is a philodendron. These don’t like water and aren’t huge fans of sunlight, making them super low-maintenance. Philodendrons are also toxic to cats and dogs, so consider placing yours out of reach for your pets if you have a plant and animal home. 

Many ferns thrive indoors, although they vary in terms of care requirements. A bird’s nest fern does require some work, but it’s a great plant if you’re working on your gardening skills in the off-season. 

You’ve definitely seen a Monstera Deliciosa before, even if you didn’t realize what you were looking at. Sometimes called a Swiss cheese plant, Monstera Deliciosas have heart-shaped leaves with holes, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a soul who doesn’t like the way they look. 

ZZ plants are a rather popular indoor plant that grows a few feet tall despite only needing twice-monthly watering and quarterly fertilizing. They are toxic to animals and kids, though, so keep them in hard-to-reach spots if you’re worried they might get bitten. 

Aloe plants do super well indoors, and there’s all sorts of stuff you can do with their leaves. If you want an indoor plant that will aid in wellness in a variety of ways, opt for an aloe. 

It’s fun to find plants that do well indoors and have some color, such as a Chinese Evergreen. A bit of a misnomer considering this plant has leaves that aren’t entirely green, Chinese Evergreens are very low-maintenance and very beautiful. Aside from being toxic to pets, they are an ideal houseplant. 

Another great colorful indoor plant, an oyster tricolor plant has gorgeous leaves, some of which grow in a stunning purple shade. They like bright light, but they can handle all sorts of light sources. 

Peace lilies offer a calming presence and are easy to care for. They don’t do well in cool temperatures, but as long as you don’t let your home get to pipe-freezing temperatures, you should be just fine. 

Polka dot plants are all sorts of cute. Their green and pink leaves make everyone who lays eyes on them happy, and because they’re easy to care for, they’ll make you and all of your guests happy for a long time.