The Easiest Houseplants You Can Grow
Norfolk Island Pine
The secret to keeping Norfolk Island pine healthy is to give it ample light and humidity. In low light, the lower branches may turn brown and fall off. If the air is too dry, it becomes a prime target for spider mites, a common houseplant pest. In its native habitat, Norfolk Island pine can reach 200 feet tall, but don't worry -- indoors, it seldom grows taller than 10 feet.
Why We Love It: This tree is perfect for decorating for Christmas -- or giving as a holiday gift. Outside the holidays, its soft texture adds a cozy feeling to any room.
Name: Araucaria heterophylla
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide
Grow a Fragrant Windowsill Spa
Try growing scented geraniums on your kitchen counter or windowsill. These alluring houseplants put the scents of lemon, lime, rose, cinnamon, and even chocolate at your fingertips. Just pinch a leaf to release relaxing fragrance.
Chinese Evergreen
This plant has great foliage; the leaves are punctuated with shades of silver, gray, or shades of green making Chinese evergreen an attractive choice to brighten low-light areas of your home. Take a cue from shopping mall plantings and use Chinese evergreen as a ground cover around an upright, treelike houseplant. Or showcase it alone as a specimen plant.
Why We Love It: It's extra tough and has attractive leaves that brighten low light spots.
Name: Aglaonema commutatum
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Grape Ivy
'Ellen Danica', the variety of grape ivy pictured here is often called oakleaf ivy because its leaves are more deeply cut than other types of grape ivy. Regardless of the variety, grape ivy is a vine with tendrils that readily cling to a trellis or stake. It offers shiny, deep green leaves that create a very nice texture.
Why We Love It: Even though it's a vine, grape ivy has more of a mounding habit -- so it's a perfect choice for lush, tidy-looking hanging baskets.
Name: Cissus rhombifolia
Growing Conditions: Medium light; 65-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet as a vine
Dracaena
Don't confuse this plant with the vegetable of the same name. This beautiful houseplant offers variegated leaves and a single upright stem -- so it resembles a decorative corn stalk without the ears. Plant several together in a large container for a fuller appearance.
Here's a tip: If your corn plant grows too tall, cut back the cane to a foot or two above the soil and new shoots to form below the cut.
Why We Love It: It bears colorful yellow-and-green-striped straplike leaves on an upright stem.
Name: Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Note: Corn plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Fiddleleaf Fig
Fiddleleaf fig is a beautiful tree that gets its common name comes from the violin-shape outline of its leathery, deep green leaves. It tolerates low light well, though it may lose its lower leaves in dim spots. If your fiddleleaf fig grows too tall, prune stems back to the desired height, or start a new plant by air layering elongated shoots.
Why We Love It: This is one of the classiest-looking indoor trees thanks to its big leaves and the shape it forms as it grows.
Name: Ficus lyrata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide
Dieffenbachia
Several closely related species share the common name of dieffenbachia. All produce canelike stems with lush foliage variegated in green and white. Grow one by itself to for a tree appearance or several together in a single container for a shrubby look. One of the plant's common names, dumb cane, comes from the effect of the toxic sap that if eaten causes swelling and numbness in the mouth and throat.
Why We Love It: Its large, green-and-white leaves create a decidedly tropical look to any room of your home (and it's great for decorating decks and patios in the summer).
Name: Dieffenbachia spp.
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Snake Plant
This carefree succulent plant tolerates neglect extremely well. If you've had no success with houseplants other than plastic ones, give snake plant a try. In addition to the tall form pictured here, shorter, bird's-nest forms are available. All types withstand low light but appreciate brighter conditions. The only problem likely to develop is root rot if you overwater the plant.
Why We Love It: It's nearly indestructible and has architectural, sword-shaped leaves
Name: Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii'
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-85 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 4 feet tall and wide
Philodendron
Heart-leaf philodendron is a durable foliage plant that has long been the backbone of indoor gardening. It has pretty, heart-shape leaves and adapts well to low-light spots. It is often grown with stems trailing over the edge of bookshelves or large pieces of furniture.
Why We Love It: The climbing stems can attach to a moss pole or bark slab making it easy to create an upright tower of green.
Name: Philodendron hederaceum oxycardium
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Trailing or climbing to 8 feet or more
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
English Ivy
In many areas, English ivy is commonly grown as an outdoor ground cover. But you can also use it indoors. Grow a pot of ivy on a mantel or shelf where its stems can trail down. For a more formal effect, train the stems onto a topiary form. It's also exceptionally easy to start new plants: Simply cut off a 5-inch-long section of stem, remove the bottom leaves, and pot it up in moist soil. If you keep it moist, the cutting should root in a couple of weeks.
Here's a tip: Spider mites love to attack ivy. Help prevent them by periodically washing your ivy in the shower or bathtub with room-temperature water.
Why We Love It: It's a versatile vine plant with deep green or variegated leaves. We especially love using it to create topiaries.
Name: Hedera helix
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-70 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: Climbs or trails to 6 feet or more
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Zeezee Plant
Sometimes called eternity plant because it lasts so long, succulent zeezee plant tolerates low light and neglect. The thick, fleshy leafstalks are so durable that you might even think it's plastic. It is a slow grower, so purchase a large plant if you want a big specimen. Cut stems remain green and healthy in appearance for several weeks, even without water.
Why We Love It: This plant is so easy it's almost a challenge to kill it.
Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by children or pets.
Spider Plant
You may remember this from your grandmother's house; spider plants have been grown for years and are still popular today. Look for a number of varieties -- from types with plain green leaves to others that offer foliage marked with cream or white stripes. All make handsome hanging plants that develop plantlets at the ends of arching stems. These babies readily root in water or potting soil to start new plants.
Why We Love It: It offers tons of old-fashioned appeal and an easy-care nature.
Name: Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Size: To 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide
Arrowhead Vine
One of the most common houseplants, arrowhead vine features distinctly arrow-shaped leaves (hence the moniker). Unlike a lot of plants, there are many different varieties from which to choose. Most have variegated foliage; depending on variety, the leaves may be green with white markings or bronzy-green with pink tones. Young plants form a mound about a foot high, but stems begin to vine as they mature, so you can grow them upright on a pole or let them trail in a hanging basket.
By the way, you may also see this plant sold as Nepthytis.
Why We Love It: The colorful leaves keep their variegation -- even in low-light spots, so this is a top pick for dressing up just about any corner of your home.
Name: Syngonium podophyllum
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Note: All parts of this plant can cause irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Hoya
Hoya, or wax plant, has waxy green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers. Golden wax plant (pictured) adds creamy leaf variegation to the plant's appeal. You can let the plant climb, train the stems onto a topiary, or allow them to trail in a hanging basket.
Why We Love It: Wax plant offers beautiful flowers (that are often powerfully fragrant). It's also a low-water plant, so it doesn't mind if you forget to water it from time to time.
Name: Hoya carnosa
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can climb or trail to 4 feet or more
Rubber Tree
An old-fashioned classic, rubber tree gets its name from the sticky, milky sap it exudes if injured. It eventually grows into a large tree, but you can easily keep it shorter by pruning back long stems, causing it to branch into a multi-stemmed shrub.
Note: In frost-free areas, you may see rubber trees as a full-size shade trees outdoors.
Why We Love It: Its big, dark green shiny leaves definitely make a statement. The older plants get, the larger they become -- a good-sized rubber tree makes a big, dramatic accent in any room.
Name: Ficus elastica
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Note: The milky white sap may cause irritation to people with sensitive skin.
Green Dracaena
Some varieties of green dracaena, such as 'Janet Craig' have solid green leaves. Others such as 'Warneckii' (pictured), bear white, cream, gold or chartreuse stripes on their foliage. All form compact rosettes when young, but eventually become striking upright foliage plants. They tolerate low light, but produce better color in medium to bright light.
Why We Love It: It's a durable, upright plant with good-looking leaves.
Name: Dracaena deremensis
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Boston Fern
Boston fern's arching, lacy fronds make it well suited to hanging baskets or for display on a pedestal. Don't let its delicate appearance mislead you, though: This tough plant that will live for decades if you keep it moist and give it moderate light and enough humidity. The variety 'Dallas' is more compact and more tolerant of dry air.
Why We Love It: Boston ferns create a classic feel in any room. Their beautiful, arching fronds work well with any decorating style -- but especially cottage and country.
Name: Nephrolepis exaltata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 4 feet tall and wide
Pothos
This low-maintenance vine is also commonly called pothos, and is often confused with heartleaf philodendron. Like philodendron, devil's ivy has heart-shape leaves and can be grown as a mounding tabletop plant, in a hanging basket, or trained upright on a pole. It's not fussy about how much light it gets, but the brighter the spot, the more variegation you'll see in the leaves.
Why We Love It: Devil's ivy is one of the more versatile houseplants you can grow. It looks great trailing out of a hanging basket, climbing up a pole or other structure, or just left to crawl over a tabletop or mantel.
Name: Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil moderately dry
Size: Trailing plant 8 feet long
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Cast-Iron Plant
One of the toughest you can grow, cast-iron plant withstands neglect, low light, low humidity, and a wide range of temperatures. It grows slowly so purchase a plant that is large enough for the space in which you intend to use it. Several varieties have white or yellow variegation on their leaves.
Why We Love It: This plant really lives up to its name: It's nearly indestructible.
Name: Aspidistra elatior
Growing Conditions: Low light; 45-85 degrees F.; keep evenly moist during active growth, barely moist in fall and winter
Size: To 2 feet tall and wide
Croton
While this showy shrub survives in low light levels, its foliage shows the best color in bright spots. Its gold, pink, and orange tones glow when backlit from a sunny window. Wash the leaves occasionally to maintain their shine and keep it looking dramatic.
Why We Love It: It has beautiful, leathery leaves with exotic and colorful markings.
Name: Codiaeum variegatum pictum
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: This plant is poisonous and can make children or pets sick if they chew on it or eat it.
Dracaena
This plant is as impressive as its name. It bears tufts of long, narrow, deep green leaves edged in red at the tips of woody gray stems. Young plants are shrubbier, but soon grow more upright. The variety 'Tricolor' has pink-and-cream leaf margins, and is sometimes known as rainbow plant.
Why We Love It: Its grassy leaves on tall stems give it a festive appearance.
Name: Dracaena marginata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Note: This tree is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Jade Plant
If watering is an issue, jade plant may be for you. This slow grower can survive for decades if it has bright light and stays dry. It combines well with cacti and other succulents. It appreciates normal room temperatures during the growing season, but grows best if you keep it on the cool side and just moist enough to prevent leaves from shriveling through winter.
Why We Love It: It's a low-water, treelike plant with interesting, gnarly branches and succulent, fleshy leaves.
Name: Crassula ovata
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 55 degrees F. in winter; keep moderately dry
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Ponytail Palm
Despite its common name, this plant is a succulent rather than a true palm. Its graceful arching leaves are always attractive and its swollen trunk looks great, too. (The trunk holds moisture for the plant.) Keep your ponytail palm in a container only a couple of inches wider than its trunk base to control its size. It is sometimes sold as Nolina recurvata.
Why We Love It: Because the trunk actually stores moisture, ponytail palm can survive for long periods without watering.
Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 50-55 degrees F. in winter; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Schefflera
Also commonly called umbrella tree, this plant offers glossy foliage with leaflets that radiate out from a central spoke, similar to the ribs of an umbrella. A close relative, dwarf schefflera (Schefflera arboricola) has smaller, thicker leaflets and shorter stems. Both are sometimes classified in the genus Brassaia.
Why We Love It: Its large glossy green leaves create instant tropical flair.
Name: Schefflera actinophylla
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Size: To 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Crown of Thorns
Even when not in bloom, Crown of Thorns, makes an attractive houseplant because of its gray-green stems punctuated with small sharp thorns. The most common flower is red, but new varieties are available with cream, white, pink, or yellow flowers and fewer thorns. Crown of Thorns flowers (which are actually bracts that surround the plants tiny flowers) appear throughout the winter, making it an ideal plant for holiday decorating.
Why We Love It: As long as it gets enough light, this plant can take a lot of neglect.
Name: Euphorbia milii
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; cooler temps near 55 degrees F during the winter will promote increased flowering
Size: 18-24 inches tall
Calathea
Prized for its attractively mottled leaves, Calathea, occasionally called prayer plant, makes a handsome addition to any room in your house. There are a number of varieties available, some with rose, white, or yellow leaves. Each one also has a different leaf pattern of colorful spots or blotches. In very warm, frost-free climates, Calathea also can be grown outdoors in the landscape.
Why We Love It: This plant provides lots of color even when grown in low-light conditions.
Name: Calathea concinna
Growing Conditions: Low light; water every two to seven days; 65-75 degrees F; avoid direct sunlight.
Size: 6-24 inches tall
Weeping Fig
The go-to plant for interior designers, Weeping Fig, produces quantities of shiny green leaves on delicately pendulous branches. They also are available in a braided form where several young trees have been trained together to form one spectacular trunk. Weeping figs can be grown outdoors in frost-free regions. In the North, they enjoy a summer vacation in a protected location outdoors.
Why We Love It: The braided trunk adds an extra architectural element.
Name: Ficus benjamina
Growing Conditions: Bright indirect light; allow the soil to dry out between waterings; 60-75 degrees F; keep away from cold drafts
Size: 4-15 feet tall indoors
Note: Plants might drop leaves if moved to a different location but will recover with time.
Columnea
Often called goldfish plant because of its bright orange tubular blooms, Columnea has trailing branches that make it an ideal candidate for hanging baskets. The plants are easy to care for and have few insect or disease problems. Flowers appear in the spring and summer, but even when not in bloom the plant still looks great with rich, dark green foliage.
Name: Columnea gloriosa
Growing Conditions: Bright light; keep out of full sun; keep soil slightly moist during the summer and feed weekly with a weak liquid fertilizer; stop feeding during the winter and let the soil dry out slightly before watering; 60-75 degrees F.
Size: 18-24 inches long; pinch occasionally to keep the plant compact
Succulents
Do you forget to water your houseplants? If so, consider growing succulents. These tough-as-nails plants place few demands on their owners. All they ask is for a sunny spot and an occasional sprinkle of water. Succulents come in a wide assortment of species and varieties, but two of our favorites include Flapjacks and Candelabra Tree. Both are architecturally interesting and will last for years with little attention from you.
Name: Flapjacks (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora); Candelabra Tree (Euphorbia similis)
Growing Conditions: Full sun; water every week to ten days during the summer; once a month in winter, 60-75 degrees F.
Size: 1-4 feet tall
Note: Euphorbias have sharp spines. Keep the plants out of reach of children.
The secret to keeping Norfolk Island pine healthy is to give it ample light and humidity. In low light, the lower branches may turn brown and fall off. If the air is too dry, it becomes a prime target for spider mites, a common houseplant pest. In its native habitat, Norfolk Island pine can reach 200 feet tall, but don't worry -- indoors, it seldom grows taller than 10 feet.
Why We Love It: This tree is perfect for decorating for Christmas -- or giving as a holiday gift. Outside the holidays, its soft texture adds a cozy feeling to any room.
Name: Araucaria heterophylla
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide
Try growing scented geraniums on your kitchen counter or windowsill. These alluring houseplants put the scents of lemon, lime, rose, cinnamon, and even chocolate at your fingertips. Just pinch a leaf to release relaxing fragrance.
Chinese Evergreen
This plant has great foliage; the leaves are punctuated with shades of silver, gray, or shades of green making Chinese evergreen an attractive choice to brighten low-light areas of your home. Take a cue from shopping mall plantings and use Chinese evergreen as a ground cover around an upright, treelike houseplant. Or showcase it alone as a specimen plant.
Why We Love It: It's extra tough and has attractive leaves that brighten low light spots.
Name: Aglaonema commutatum
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Grape Ivy
'Ellen Danica', the variety of grape ivy pictured here is often called oakleaf ivy because its leaves are more deeply cut than other types of grape ivy. Regardless of the variety, grape ivy is a vine with tendrils that readily cling to a trellis or stake. It offers shiny, deep green leaves that create a very nice texture.
Why We Love It: Even though it's a vine, grape ivy has more of a mounding habit -- so it's a perfect choice for lush, tidy-looking hanging baskets.
Name: Cissus rhombifolia
Growing Conditions: Medium light; 65-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet as a vine
Dracaena
Don't confuse this plant with the vegetable of the same name. This beautiful houseplant offers variegated leaves and a single upright stem -- so it resembles a decorative corn stalk without the ears. Plant several together in a large container for a fuller appearance.
Here's a tip: If your corn plant grows too tall, cut back the cane to a foot or two above the soil and new shoots to form below the cut.
Why We Love It: It bears colorful yellow-and-green-striped straplike leaves on an upright stem.
Name: Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana'
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Note: Corn plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Fiddleleaf Fig
Fiddleleaf fig is a beautiful tree that gets its common name comes from the violin-shape outline of its leathery, deep green leaves. It tolerates low light well, though it may lose its lower leaves in dim spots. If your fiddleleaf fig grows too tall, prune stems back to the desired height, or start a new plant by air layering elongated shoots.
Why We Love It: This is one of the classiest-looking indoor trees thanks to its big leaves and the shape it forms as it grows.
Name: Ficus lyrata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide
Dieffenbachia
Several closely related species share the common name of dieffenbachia. All produce canelike stems with lush foliage variegated in green and white. Grow one by itself to for a tree appearance or several together in a single container for a shrubby look. One of the plant's common names, dumb cane, comes from the effect of the toxic sap that if eaten causes swelling and numbness in the mouth and throat.
Why We Love It: Its large, green-and-white leaves create a decidedly tropical look to any room of your home (and it's great for decorating decks and patios in the summer).
Name: Dieffenbachia spp.
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-80 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Snake Plant
This carefree succulent plant tolerates neglect extremely well. If you've had no success with houseplants other than plastic ones, give snake plant a try. In addition to the tall form pictured here, shorter, bird's-nest forms are available. All types withstand low light but appreciate brighter conditions. The only problem likely to develop is root rot if you overwater the plant.
Why We Love It: It's nearly indestructible and has architectural, sword-shaped leaves
Name: Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii'
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-85 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 4 feet tall and wide
Philodendron
Heart-leaf philodendron is a durable foliage plant that has long been the backbone of indoor gardening. It has pretty, heart-shape leaves and adapts well to low-light spots. It is often grown with stems trailing over the edge of bookshelves or large pieces of furniture.
Why We Love It: The climbing stems can attach to a moss pole or bark slab making it easy to create an upright tower of green.
Name: Philodendron hederaceum oxycardium
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Trailing or climbing to 8 feet or more
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
English Ivy
In many areas, English ivy is commonly grown as an outdoor ground cover. But you can also use it indoors. Grow a pot of ivy on a mantel or shelf where its stems can trail down. For a more formal effect, train the stems onto a topiary form. It's also exceptionally easy to start new plants: Simply cut off a 5-inch-long section of stem, remove the bottom leaves, and pot it up in moist soil. If you keep it moist, the cutting should root in a couple of weeks.
Here's a tip: Spider mites love to attack ivy. Help prevent them by periodically washing your ivy in the shower or bathtub with room-temperature water.
Why We Love It: It's a versatile vine plant with deep green or variegated leaves. We especially love using it to create topiaries.
Name: Hedera helix
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-70 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: Climbs or trails to 6 feet or more
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Zeezee Plant
Sometimes called eternity plant because it lasts so long, succulent zeezee plant tolerates low light and neglect. The thick, fleshy leafstalks are so durable that you might even think it's plastic. It is a slow grower, so purchase a large plant if you want a big specimen. Cut stems remain green and healthy in appearance for several weeks, even without water.
Why We Love It: This plant is so easy it's almost a challenge to kill it.
Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by children or pets.
Spider Plant
You may remember this from your grandmother's house; spider plants have been grown for years and are still popular today. Look for a number of varieties -- from types with plain green leaves to others that offer foliage marked with cream or white stripes. All make handsome hanging plants that develop plantlets at the ends of arching stems. These babies readily root in water or potting soil to start new plants.
Why We Love It: It offers tons of old-fashioned appeal and an easy-care nature.
Name: Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Size: To 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide
Arrowhead Vine
One of the most common houseplants, arrowhead vine features distinctly arrow-shaped leaves (hence the moniker). Unlike a lot of plants, there are many different varieties from which to choose. Most have variegated foliage; depending on variety, the leaves may be green with white markings or bronzy-green with pink tones. Young plants form a mound about a foot high, but stems begin to vine as they mature, so you can grow them upright on a pole or let them trail in a hanging basket.
By the way, you may also see this plant sold as Nepthytis.
Why We Love It: The colorful leaves keep their variegation -- even in low-light spots, so this is a top pick for dressing up just about any corner of your home.
Name: Syngonium podophyllum
Growing Conditions: Low to medium light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
Note: All parts of this plant can cause irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Hoya
Hoya, or wax plant, has waxy green leaves and waxy fragrant pink flowers. Golden wax plant (pictured) adds creamy leaf variegation to the plant's appeal. You can let the plant climb, train the stems onto a topiary, or allow them to trail in a hanging basket.
Why We Love It: Wax plant offers beautiful flowers (that are often powerfully fragrant). It's also a low-water plant, so it doesn't mind if you forget to water it from time to time.
Name: Hoya carnosa
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 55-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: Can climb or trail to 4 feet or more
Rubber Tree
An old-fashioned classic, rubber tree gets its name from the sticky, milky sap it exudes if injured. It eventually grows into a large tree, but you can easily keep it shorter by pruning back long stems, causing it to branch into a multi-stemmed shrub.
Note: In frost-free areas, you may see rubber trees as a full-size shade trees outdoors.
Why We Love It: Its big, dark green shiny leaves definitely make a statement. The older plants get, the larger they become -- a good-sized rubber tree makes a big, dramatic accent in any room.
Name: Ficus elastica
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-80 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Note: The milky white sap may cause irritation to people with sensitive skin.
Green Dracaena
Some varieties of green dracaena, such as 'Janet Craig' have solid green leaves. Others such as 'Warneckii' (pictured), bear white, cream, gold or chartreuse stripes on their foliage. All form compact rosettes when young, but eventually become striking upright foliage plants. They tolerate low light, but produce better color in medium to bright light.
Why We Love It: It's a durable, upright plant with good-looking leaves.
Name: Dracaena deremensis
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Boston Fern
Boston fern's arching, lacy fronds make it well suited to hanging baskets or for display on a pedestal. Don't let its delicate appearance mislead you, though: This tough plant that will live for decades if you keep it moist and give it moderate light and enough humidity. The variety 'Dallas' is more compact and more tolerant of dry air.
Why We Love It: Boston ferns create a classic feel in any room. Their beautiful, arching fronds work well with any decorating style -- but especially cottage and country.
Name: Nephrolepis exaltata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep evenly moist
Size: To 4 feet tall and wide
Pothos
This low-maintenance vine is also commonly called pothos, and is often confused with heartleaf philodendron. Like philodendron, devil's ivy has heart-shape leaves and can be grown as a mounding tabletop plant, in a hanging basket, or trained upright on a pole. It's not fussy about how much light it gets, but the brighter the spot, the more variegation you'll see in the leaves.
Why We Love It: Devil's ivy is one of the more versatile houseplants you can grow. It looks great trailing out of a hanging basket, climbing up a pole or other structure, or just left to crawl over a tabletop or mantel.
Name: Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'
Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil moderately dry
Size: Trailing plant 8 feet long
Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause severe irritation of the lips, tongue, and throat if eaten or chewed by pets or children.
Cast-Iron Plant
One of the toughest you can grow, cast-iron plant withstands neglect, low light, low humidity, and a wide range of temperatures. It grows slowly so purchase a plant that is large enough for the space in which you intend to use it. Several varieties have white or yellow variegation on their leaves.
Why We Love It: This plant really lives up to its name: It's nearly indestructible.
Name: Aspidistra elatior
Growing Conditions: Low light; 45-85 degrees F.; keep evenly moist during active growth, barely moist in fall and winter
Size: To 2 feet tall and wide
Croton
While this showy shrub survives in low light levels, its foliage shows the best color in bright spots. Its gold, pink, and orange tones glow when backlit from a sunny window. Wash the leaves occasionally to maintain their shine and keep it looking dramatic.
Why We Love It: It has beautiful, leathery leaves with exotic and colorful markings.
Name: Codiaeum variegatum pictum
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Note: This plant is poisonous and can make children or pets sick if they chew on it or eat it.
Dracaena
This plant is as impressive as its name. It bears tufts of long, narrow, deep green leaves edged in red at the tips of woody gray stems. Young plants are shrubbier, but soon grow more upright. The variety 'Tricolor' has pink-and-cream leaf margins, and is sometimes known as rainbow plant.
Why We Love It: Its grassy leaves on tall stems give it a festive appearance.
Name: Dracaena marginata
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75 degrees F.; allow the soil surface to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 2 feet wide
Note: This tree is poisonous if eaten or chewed on by dogs.
Jade Plant
If watering is an issue, jade plant may be for you. This slow grower can survive for decades if it has bright light and stays dry. It combines well with cacti and other succulents. It appreciates normal room temperatures during the growing season, but grows best if you keep it on the cool side and just moist enough to prevent leaves from shriveling through winter.
Why We Love It: It's a low-water, treelike plant with interesting, gnarly branches and succulent, fleshy leaves.
Name: Crassula ovata
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 55 degrees F. in winter; keep moderately dry
Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet tall
Ponytail Palm
Despite its common name, this plant is a succulent rather than a true palm. Its graceful arching leaves are always attractive and its swollen trunk looks great, too. (The trunk holds moisture for the plant.) Keep your ponytail palm in a container only a couple of inches wider than its trunk base to control its size. It is sometimes sold as Nolina recurvata.
Why We Love It: Because the trunk actually stores moisture, ponytail palm can survive for long periods without watering.
Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75 degrees F., 50-55 degrees F. in winter; allow the soil to dry between waterings
Size: To 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide
Schefflera
Also commonly called umbrella tree, this plant offers glossy foliage with leaflets that radiate out from a central spoke, similar to the ribs of an umbrella. A close relative, dwarf schefflera (Schefflera arboricola) has smaller, thicker leaflets and shorter stems. Both are sometimes classified in the genus Brassaia.
Why We Love It: Its large glossy green leaves create instant tropical flair.
Name: Schefflera actinophylla
Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; keep the soil evenly moist
Size: To 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide
Crown of Thorns
Even when not in bloom, Crown of Thorns, makes an attractive houseplant because of its gray-green stems punctuated with small sharp thorns. The most common flower is red, but new varieties are available with cream, white, pink, or yellow flowers and fewer thorns. Crown of Thorns flowers (which are actually bracts that surround the plants tiny flowers) appear throughout the winter, making it an ideal plant for holiday decorating.
Why We Love It: As long as it gets enough light, this plant can take a lot of neglect.
Name: Euphorbia milii
Growing Conditions: Bright light; 60-75 degrees F.; cooler temps near 55 degrees F during the winter will promote increased flowering
Size: 18-24 inches tall
Calathea
Prized for its attractively mottled leaves, Calathea, occasionally called prayer plant, makes a handsome addition to any room in your house. There are a number of varieties available, some with rose, white, or yellow leaves. Each one also has a different leaf pattern of colorful spots or blotches. In very warm, frost-free climates, Calathea also can be grown outdoors in the landscape.
Why We Love It: This plant provides lots of color even when grown in low-light conditions.
Name: Calathea concinna
Growing Conditions: Low light; water every two to seven days; 65-75 degrees F; avoid direct sunlight.
Size: 6-24 inches tall
Weeping Fig
The go-to plant for interior designers, Weeping Fig, produces quantities of shiny green leaves on delicately pendulous branches. They also are available in a braided form where several young trees have been trained together to form one spectacular trunk. Weeping figs can be grown outdoors in frost-free regions. In the North, they enjoy a summer vacation in a protected location outdoors.
Why We Love It: The braided trunk adds an extra architectural element.
Name: Ficus benjamina
Growing Conditions: Bright indirect light; allow the soil to dry out between waterings; 60-75 degrees F; keep away from cold drafts
Size: 4-15 feet tall indoors
Note: Plants might drop leaves if moved to a different location but will recover with time.
Columnea
Often called goldfish plant because of its bright orange tubular blooms, Columnea has trailing branches that make it an ideal candidate for hanging baskets. The plants are easy to care for and have few insect or disease problems. Flowers appear in the spring and summer, but even when not in bloom the plant still looks great with rich, dark green foliage.
Name: Columnea gloriosa
Growing Conditions: Bright light; keep out of full sun; keep soil slightly moist during the summer and feed weekly with a weak liquid fertilizer; stop feeding during the winter and let the soil dry out slightly before watering; 60-75 degrees F.
Size: 18-24 inches long; pinch occasionally to keep the plant compact
Succulents
Do you forget to water your houseplants? If so, consider growing succulents. These tough-as-nails plants place few demands on their owners. All they ask is for a sunny spot and an occasional sprinkle of water. Succulents come in a wide assortment of species and varieties, but two of our favorites include Flapjacks and Candelabra Tree. Both are architecturally interesting and will last for years with little attention from you.
Name: Flapjacks (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora); Candelabra Tree (Euphorbia similis)
Growing Conditions: Full sun; water every week to ten days during the summer; once a month in winter, 60-75 degrees F.
Size: 1-4 feet tall
Note: Euphorbias have sharp spines. Keep the plants out of reach of children.
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