The Best Plants To Grow Indoors for a Lush Living Space

There was a time when houseplants were an afterthought, reserved for the occasional windowsill or forgotten corner. But now, bringing greenery indoors is one of the easiest ways to create a warm, inviting space. Whether you’re a seasoned plant parent or just getting started, this list of the best plants to grow indoors will help you fill your home with vibrant, thriving greenery—no green thumb required.

Plus, growing indoor plants has many benefits, including:

• Purifying the air
• Reducing stress and lowering blood pressure
• Acting as beautiful home decor
• Improving well-being

First, where can you even buy indoor plants? Thankfully, finding good house plants is an easy task to accomplish. 

My top recommendation is to purchase your house plants at a local garden center or nursery because the staff know about the plants and can thoroughly answer questions you may have. 

My next choice for finding house plants would be large stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. While you can find good plants there, it’s harder to find knowledgeable staff should you have questions.

Finally, you can find plants to grow indoors at online plant stores. However, I don’t prefer this method since they need to be shipped and could get damaged in the process.

Which House Plants Need The Least Amount Of Light?

Homes don’t often have the best levels of light for many plants. Here’s a list of indoor plants that can tolerate very low levels of light:

• ZZ Plant
• Snake Plant
• Peace Lily
• Chinese Evergreen
• Pothos Ivy
• Chinese Money Plant

Finding enough light for indoor plants can be tough in some homes. That’s why I’m including this list – if you have a low-light home, you can probably grow these plants without a problem. 

However, if you wanted to try to grow plants that need more light, you would likely need to invest in grow lights for indoor plants.

Snake Plant

Snake Plants (aka Mother-in-law’s tongue) are not nearly as scary as the name makes them sound! This plant has tall vertical, stiff, variegated leaves that make a striking-looking addition to any room.

The major bonus of this houseplant is that it likes to live on the dry side and can go a month between waterings and even does well in low light settings.

• Light Requirements: Tolerates low to bright indirect light; adaptable to various lighting conditions.
• Watering: Requires infrequent watering; allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Humidity: Handles low humidity well; suitable for dry environments.
• Temperature: Prefers 70–90°F (21–32°C) but can withstand cooler temperatures.
• Pet-Safety: Toxic if ingested.
• Unique Feature: Known for filtering indoor air pollutants and enhancing air quality.

Monstera Deliciosa

With its large, dramatic leaves and natural holes (“fenestrations”), the monstera deliciosa is a stunning statement plant that brings a tropical feel to any indoor space. It’s easy to care for and adapts well to different conditions, making it a favorite among houseplant enthusiasts. Given the right support, it will even climb, creating a lush, jungle-like display in your home.

• Light Requirements: Thrives in bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; water when the top 2 inches are dry.
• Humidity: Prefers high humidity; mist leaves regularly or use a humidifier.
• Temperature: Optimal range is 65–85°F (18–29°C).
• Pet Safety: Toxic to pets.
• Unique Feature: Benefits from a moss pole or trellis to support its climbing nature.

Pothos

If you’re looking for a plant that practically thrives on neglect, pothos is the perfect choice. This vining plant is one of the easiest to grow, making it great for beginners. Its cascading vines look beautiful in hanging baskets, and it can survive in a variety of lighting conditions. Many people love pothos for its air-purifying properties, helping to improve indoor air quality.

• Light Requirements: Grows well in low to bright indirect light; highly versatile.
• Watering: Allow soil to dry out between waterings; overwatering can lead to root rot.
• Humidity: Tolerates a range of humidity levels; average household humidity is sufficient.
• Temperature: Prefers 60–80°F (16–27°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Vining plant that can be trained to climb or trail; ideal for hanging baskets or shelves.

ZZ Plant

It may have a funny-sounding name, but this popular houseplant thrives on neglect. Its striking dark green rubbery leaves do well in medium to low light, and you can go easy on the watering by letting it dry out before giving it a good drink. 

This ultra-low maintenance plant is one of the best indoor plants to grow in pots anywhere in your home.

• Light Requirements: Performs well in low to bright indirect light; very adaptable.
• Watering: Drought-tolerant; water sparingly and allow soil to dry out between waterings.
• Humidity: Handles low humidity environments; no special requirements.
• Temperature: Ideal range is 65–75°F (18–24°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Resilient against neglect; suitable for beginners and busy individuals.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies have beautiful green leaves with soft, curvy white blooms. Their name is fitting as they look peaceful and elegant and brighten up any room while also filtering the air. 

They aren’t fussy plants and do well in low-light environments, but they do like to drink a good amount of water. They’re some of the best plants to grow indoors for people who tend to overwater.

• Light Requirements: Prefers low to medium indirect light; avoid direct sunlight.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist; water when the top inch feels dry.
• Humidity: Enjoys high humidity; mist regularly or place near a humidifier.
• Temperature: Thrives in 65–80°F (18–27°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Effective at removing common indoor pollutants from the air.

Aloe Vera

The aloe vera plant is not only an attractive houseplant but also a practical one, known for its soothing gel that can treat minor burns and skin irritations. It’s an easy-care succulent that thrives in bright light and requires very little watering, making it a great choice for busy plant owners.

• Light Requirements: Requires bright, indirect light; can tolerate some direct sunlight.
• Watering: Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Humidity: Prefers low humidity; well-suited for dry indoor air.
• Temperature: Optimal range is 55–80°F (13–27°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic (if ingested).
• Unique Feature: Gel inside leaves has soothing properties for minor burns and skin irritations.

Ponytail Palm

The slow-growing ponytail palm loves a good sunny window and dry soil. The plant’s name comes from its shape: a thick stalk sprouting skinny leaves that drape downward. The non-fussy ponytail palm is one of the best plants to grow indoors, thanks to its low-maintenance nature.

• Light Requirements: Thrives in bright light; can adapt to lower light conditions.
• Watering: Low water needs; allow soil to dry out thoroughly between waterings.
• Humidity: Tolerates low humidity; does well in average household conditions.
• Temperature: Prefers 60–80°F (16–27°C).
• Pet-Safety: Non-toxic.
• Unique Feature: Slow-growing; ideal for indoor settings with limited space.

Rubber Plant

The rubber plant should really be named the “easy plant” because I’m just not sure there is an easier plant to grow indoors. It likes life on the dry side in bright to medium indirect light and provides a stunning pop of color with its deep green leaves.

• Light Requirements: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some low light.
• Watering: Allow the top few inches of soil to dry before watering; avoid overwatering.
• Humidity: Adaptable but prefers moderate humidity; misting can help in drier environments.
• Temperature: Ideal range is 60–75°F (16–24°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Can grow into a small indoor tree with proper care and occasional pruning.

Chinese Evergreen

This is one of the best plants to grow indoors because it’s so hard to kill! I love the large number of fun varieties you can find including stripes and speckles. The Chinese Evergreen prefers medium to low light and a good drink only once its soil dries out.

• Light Requirements: Tolerates low to medium indirect light; avoid direct sun.
• Watering: Keep soil lightly moist; allow the top inch to dry between waterings.
• Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity but adapts well to normal household conditions.
• Temperature: Thrives in 65–80°F (18–27°C).
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Known for removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene from indoor air.

Jade Plant

Succulents, like the jade plant, are about as low-maintenance as plants can be, which is why I like recommending them as some of the best house plants. 

Their round, green leaves hold water, so you don’t need to water them often. Plus, they grow slowly and thrive in bright indirect light but will tolerate medium light as well.

• Light Requirements: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sun.
• Watering: Water sparingly; allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
• Humidity: Thrives in low humidity; does well in dry indoor air.
• Temperature: Prefers 65–75°F (18–24°C) but can tolerate cooler temperatures.
• Pet-Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Known as a symbol of good luck and prosperity, making it a popular housewarming gift.

Christmas Cactus

Here’s another succulent, but it’s one of my favorites because of the beautiful red, pink, purple, or white flowers that bloom around the winter holidays. Their segmented leaves hold water, so keep the soil on the dry side. 

As far as lighting is concerned, they like bright, indirect light all year round except for around the holidays. In order to trigger them to bloom, pull them away from the window and put them in a darker part of the house.

• Light Requirements: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate low light.
• Watering: Water when the top inch of soil is dry; avoid letting it sit in standing water.
• Humidity: Enjoys higher humidity; occasional misting can help.
• Temperature: Thrives in 60–70°F (16–21°C); cooler nighttime temps encourage blooming.
• Pet Safety: Non-toxic.
• Unique Feature: Unlike most cacti, it prefers humid conditions and can bloom for several weeks with the right care.

Yucca

The winning formula for a happy yucca is sun, sun, and even more sun. As a succulent, it only needs water a couple of times a month. Grow these indoor plants in deep pots to prevent the top-heavy stems from pulling the plant over.

• Light Requirements: Prefers bright, indirect light to full sun.
• Watering: Extremely drought-tolerant; water only when the soil is completely dry.
• Humidity: Prefers low humidity; thrives in dry indoor air.
• Temperature: Does well in 60–80°F (16–27°C).
• Pet Safety: Toxic.
• Unique Feature: Its woody trunk and spiky foliage give it a bold, sculptural look, making it a great choice for modern interiors.

Chinese Money Plant

This low-maintenance house plant isn’t fussy and only needs some water once a week and a spot in low light to grow. Reminiscent of the spider plant, the Chinese Money Plant also has baby offshoots which you can plant to easily grow new money plants for your home or give to loved ones.

• Light Requirements: Prefers bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight.
• Watering: Water when the top inch of soil is dry; avoid overwatering.
• Humidity: Prefers moderate humidity but adapts well to average indoor conditions.
• Temperature: Thrives in 60–75°F (16–24°C).
• Pet Safety: Non-toxic.
• Unique Feature: Known for its fast-growing pups, it is one of the easiest houseplants to propagate and share.