30 Easy Houseplants Even Beginners Can't Kill

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Botanical Name: Ficus lyrata
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (5.5-7.0)

We consider this indoor plant the exotic cousin of the Ficus—which means it's just the low-maintenance indoor plant to spice things up in your home. It's a flowering plant in the mulberry and fig family that only requires watering two or three times a week. This plant's leaves are elegant, and its size brings drama to any indoor space.

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Aloe Vera

Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Well-drained
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0)

We love how fresh and modern this indoor plant looks in any space. Aloe vera is a cactus-like succulent species. This evergreen perennial plant is considered invasive in certain regions. Native to warm, dry environments, place aloe vera in a sunny spot and water every two to three weeks. Extracts are known to have many medicinal uses, including as a topical gel to treat sunburns.

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Split-Leaf Philodendron

Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Organic, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5)

Highly coveted in Southern homes, this plant's shiny and lush leaves brighten any space. It feels a bit tropical, making it perfect for a summertime refresh. Also known as the Swiss cheese or window leaf plant, the split-leaf philodendron is native to tropical forests in Central America, including Panama and southern Mexico. This ornamental plant's leaves can grow as much as 18 inches wide.

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ZZ Plant

Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Sun Exposure: Partial, Shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, Organic
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)

Consider the glossy greatness of this plant. Its deep green leaves are super attractive and will still be alive if left under low light without much water for up to four months. In other words, even the most forgetful person can safely tote it home. This tropical, perennial plant is native to eastern Africa. It is a hardy plant that is considered toxic to people and pets.

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Hen-and-Chicks Succulents

Succulent Container Garden — Southern Living

Botanical Name: Echeveria
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Well-drained, Sandy
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0)

Practically made for your tabletop or windowsill, succulents don't ask for much. Just somewhere to get their sunning on. Tip: Don't over-water. This succulent is native to Mexico, South America, and the United States. Echeveria is a small, hardy plant available in various colored leaves.

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Peace Lily

Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Moist but Well-drained, Loamy
Soil pH: Acidic (5.8-6.5)

It doesn't get more classic than the Peace Lily. It'll look cozy when nestled in a corner or beside the sofa. Let it purify your air while looking pretty in this diamond-weave basket. Native to jungle environments, peace lilies need well-drained and aerated soil. If your plant has brown tips on its foliage, sagging leaves, or yellowing, these are symptoms of soil imbalance.

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Pothos Neon

Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum 'Neon'
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Moist but Well-drained, Loamy
Soil pH: Acidic (6.1-6.8)

This variant comes with a wonderfully bright hue, and we think it's just the thing our home needs come springtime. With neon green and heart-shaped leaves, this plant has an easy-to-care-for and vining growth habit. This growth makes this an excellent houseplant for tall containers where creeping or trailing foliage can grow freely. One thing to note about these pothos is all parts are toxic to animals and people if ingested.

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Rubber Plant

Botanical Name: Ficus elastica
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade
Soil Type: Moist but Well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-7.5)

Let's take a walk on the dark side. This plant comes in a gloriously vampy hue, making it the perfect complement to a more formal or moody space. It does well with medium-light with weekly watering. Native to Asian countries like India and Indonesia, Ficus elastica is known as the rubber plant, rubber tree, rubber fig, and rubber bush, along with other names.

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Yucca Cane

Botanical Name: Yucca gigantea
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Dry, Sandy
Soil pH: Slightly Alkaline (6.0)

Talk about a houseplant with a big personality. It loves being in lightly shaded areas, but it's smooth sailing from there. Native to Guatemala and southeast Mexico, the Yucca Cane is not particular about its soil requirements. It enjoys dry, well-drained soil as it is a member of the succulent family.

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Calathea Rattlesnake

Botanical Name: Goeppertia insignis
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Moist but Well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic to Neutral (6.5)

The cool factor of this plant is second to none. Not only does it feature long, wavy leaves, but those leaves also close at night, where this plant got its nickname: prayer plant. The wavy leaves have dark, distinguishing marks on this evergreen, perennial plant. Native to South America, this flowering plant blooms in the spring with small yellow flowers.

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Anthurium

Botanical Name: Anthurium spp
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Sandy, Rich
Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.5)

Give your desk a bright pop of color. This indoor plant grows best in bright, indirect light. Known commonly as the tailflower, flamingo flower, and laceleaf, the anthurium plant is native to South America, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean. This plant's flowers form in clusters and produce fruit—berries in various colors.

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Snake Plant

Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Light, Loamy
Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly Acidic (5.5-7.0)

Characterized by its upright sword-like leaves, the Snake Plant makes a great air-purifying plant option for beginners. You only need to water it about once every two weeks, making it way easier to take care of than most plants. It's best to let the soil dry out in between waterings, not overwater it. Native to southern Africa, this succulent is also known as "Mother-in-Law's Tongue."

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Tufted Airplant

Botanical Name: Guzmania lingulata
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5)

This houseplant is bold and stylish. Its colorful, long-lasting blooms only impress us more since it takes very little upkeep. Native to rainforest environments like Central America, South America, and southern Mexico, this plant is known as the scarlet star because of its flowering shape. The long leaves have a dark green, leathery appearance once matured.

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Silver Philodendron

Philodendron Silver — Courtesy of The Sill

Botanical Name: Scindapsus pictus
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Loose
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.5)

This little guy is so compact and cute that we're putting one on every shelf, windowsill, and tabletop. This plant only needs watering once a week and indirect sunlight. Outfitted with heart-shaped leaves in a velvety texture, this variegated plant is an excellent container or hanging plant when given the space to grow freely.

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Ficus Bonsai

Botanical Name: Ficus retusa
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Loose
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-6.5)

Bring balance and serenity to your space with this Japanese plant. You'll want to prune it to keep its shape and be weary of over-watering. From there, it's all mindful care that'll help center your soul as it's often considered an excellent bonsai for beginners. Shaped with an s-curved trunk and dark green, oval, waxy leaves, these plants prefer high humidity to help develop roots.

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Chinese Money Plant

Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Rich, Loamy
Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-7.0)

You don't see this houseplant quite as much as the common fern, but it's easy to care for and grows with gumption. The round leaves lend a unique look to this pick, which also lends itself to other commonly associated names like the pancake plant. When the leaves begin to look droopy, this plant needs more water. Otherwise, it would be best to let the soil mostly dry between waterings—except in sunny spaces.

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Spider Plant

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5)

This long, arched foliage is full of life, no? These houseplants are easy to grow and propagate, making them a longtime staple of beginner gardeners. This plant produces tiny, white flowers in the summer and grow relatively quickly. Solid green and variegated varieties are available.

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Asparagus Fern

Botanical Name: Asparagus setaceus
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.5-6.8)

Indoor hanging basket, anyone? This bright green fern will hold its own and inject some much-needed life into any room. It doesn't like to dry out too much between watering, so keep that in mind when taking care of this plant. The needles will start falling out when too dry. Prune asparagus ferns since they grow quickly. You can propagate this plant from the seeds found in the plant's small red berries.

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Chinese Evergreen

Botanical Name: Aglaonema commutatum
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Sandy
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.5-6.5)

Compact but oh-so full and bushy, the Chinese Evergreen will give a lush feel to every space. Place your plant by an east-facing window to provide the perfect balance of indirect light. Additional names for this plant include the Philippine Evergreen and Poison Dart Plant. The tropical perennial is slow-growing, making it ideal for most households. It also is toxic to animals, so be cautious where you put it in your home.

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Fittonia White

Botanical Name: Fittonia albivenis
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Moist but Well-drained
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.5)

This houseplant is so pretty it's like Picasso could've painted the vein-like details. The design gives the indoor plant its nickname: the nerve plant. Other common names include the mosaic plant and painted net leaf. Let this one dry out a little between watering. Native to South America, this evergreen perennial is a creeping flowering plant.

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African Violet

Botanical Name: Saintpaulia ionantha
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Loose, Well-drained
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.5)

This flowering plant showcases clusters of white, blue, or purple blooms throughout the year. New flowers arrive within two months of the last flowering, making this an almost continuous way to add color to your home. Native to East Africa, these plants are relatively low maintenance, except they are susceptible to rot and fungus if overwatered.

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Christmas Cactus

Botanical Name: Schlumbergera
Sun Exposure: Shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, Sandy
Soil pH: Acidic (5.5-6.2)

Maintaining well-draining soil is an essential factor in growing healthy Christmas cacti. Use a mix of inorganic and organic soil to mimic its native epiphyte environment. In its native coastal mountain region, such as Brazil, this plant grows on the trunks of larger trees or rocks. The flowers bloom for about a week, while the entire blooming period lasts around three to six weeks.

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English Ivy

Another Fine Vine to Train — Photo: Robbie Caponetto

Botanical Name: Hedera helix
Sun Exposure: Shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, Loamy
Soil pH: Neutral to Slightly Alkaline (6.0-7.5)

This fast-growing vining perennial is an excellent hanging basket plant because of its trailing growth. Native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa, this plant is considered carefree and often used as ground cover. English ivy, considered an invasive species, can disturb vegetation when allowed to spread, so pruning is essential. It will easily attach to tree bark, bricks, and other structures.

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Bird of Paradise

Botanical Name: Strelitzia reginae
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Well-drained, Moist, Loamy, Chalky
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.5)

Position Bird of Paradise in full sun to see the best flower showing, unless you live in a mainly sunny area, where some shade offers protection. This plant is relatively drought-tolerate and only requires watering when half the soil feels dry. The flowers make this plant spectacular, but the large, oval, silvery-green foliage is impressive.

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Mini Monstera

Botanical Name: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (5.5-7.0)

This plant adapts well to indoor conditions even though it originates from tropical regions in Africa and Asia. In its native environment, the overhanging trees protect it from direct sunlight, so try to mimic this in the spot you place a mini Monstera in your home. Try not to let dust collect on the porous leaves. You don't need to worry about watering when the soil is still damp—these plants are somewhat neglect-tolerant.

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Silver Pothos

Pothos Houseplant — FeelPic / Getty Images

Botanical Name: Scindapsus pictus
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-drained
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.1-6.5)

This hardy plant with heart-shaped silvery leaves stands out as a beginner-friendly, low maintaince favorite because of its variegated coloring. Susceptible to root rot, use well-draining soil when planting this evergreen, climbing plant. The trailing growth makes it an excellent selection for hanging baskets. Resilient and beautiful, you'll love this plant's light greyish-blue, speckled leaves.

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Cast Iron Plant

Botanical Name: Aspidistra elatior
Sun Exposure: Partial, Shade
Soil Type: Well-drained, Rich, Sandy, Loamy, Clay
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (5.5-6.5)

Native to China and Japan, this easily-maintained evergreen plant can grow up to three feet tall. Keep a consistent watering schedule at first, but after this plant matures, it is relatively drought-tolerant. Wait to water until the soil feels dry. Plant varieties like white or yellow stripes and yellow and white speckled dots are available.

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Ponytail Palm

Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil Type: Well-draining, Sandy
Soil pH: Neutral (6.5-7.5)

Growing well in dry, warm climates, using fast-draining soil helps this slow-growing, long-living plant. Female ponytail plants may bear fruit after flowering, which tends to be pink, while male flowers are ivory. Flowering can occur multiple times a year, depending on your location. These plants don't require too much water, usually once every two weeks or less in cold weather months.

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Emerald Ripple Peperomia

Botanical Name: Peperomia caperata
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-draining, Rich
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic (6.0-6.6)

This slow-growing tropical perennial can grow up to eight inches tall and wide. Native to Brazil, this plant gets its nutrients from the air, so maintaining aerated soil is critical. You won't need to water this plant too frequently. It only needs watering when the top few inches (four or five) of soil are completely dry.

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Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Well-draining, Rich, Moist
Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral (6.0-7.0)

If you are hesitant about growing indoor plants, try one that will be rewarding as an ingredient to add to your favorite recipes. Growing herbs is relatively straightforward in container pots, especially basil. Use well-draining soil so it's never soggy because it is susceptible to rot. If you plan to eat the basil, use an organic fertilizer to help maintain the soil's nutrients and pH level.

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