Choosing your first houseplant can feel a little overwhelming, especially when every plant at the garden center looks like it would be easy to grow. These easy houseplants are forgiving, adaptable, and great choices for beginners just starting to grow indoor plants.
I’ve chosen these 24 plants because they are genuinely good choices for new indoor gardeners. You’ll find familiar plants you can easily spot at garden centers and big-box stores, along with a few favorites that are worth seeking out. Whether you have a sunny windowsill, a lower-light room, or simply tend to forget to water, there’s an easy plant here for you.
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Which easy houseplant is right for you?
Not sure where to start? Here are my quick picks. You can also browse many more options below.
- 🌿 Best houseplant for beginners overall: Pothos
- 🌱 Hardest to kill: Snake Plant
- 💧 Best for forgetful waterers: ZZ Plant
- 🌤️ Best for lower light: Chinese evergreen
- 🌸 Best flowering beginner plant: Peace Lily
- 🪴 Best trailing plant: Pothos
- 🏠 Best for small spaces: Watermelon peperomia
- 🌴 Best unusual houseplant: Ponytail palm
Pet safety note: If you share your home with cats or dogs, check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic plants before bringing a new houseplant home. Plant toxicity can vary by species, and even non-toxic plants may cause stomach upset if eaten.
24 of the best easy houseplants for beginners
Here are 24 houseplants that are forgiving, rewarding, and good choices for someone just getting started with indoor gardening.
1. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata – formerly Sansevieria)
Snake plants are about as forgiving as houseplants get, tolerating a range of indoor light conditions and periods of neglect. Their upright, sword-shaped leaves also make them a great choice when you want an attractive plant without a lot of fuss. My snake plant guide takes you deeper into choosing these beginner houseplants with watering, propagation, and other growing tips.
- ☀️ Light: Low to bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out well between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who tend to forget to water
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
You can buy a variety of snake plants on Mountain Crest Gardens.
2. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos is one of the easiest houseplants for beginners, with trailing vines that grow quickly in a variety of indoor conditions. It’s also one of my favorite plants to propagate, and you can easily grow new plants from cuttings.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; adapts to lower light
- 💧 Water: Let the top inch or two of soil dry out before watering
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a fast-growing trailing plant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Purchase these easy indoor hanging plants on Etsy.
3. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are great beginner houseplants because they are tough, easy to care for, and forgiving if you forget to water them. They produce long, arching stems covered with baby plants. Once your plant starts producing babies, you can easily propagate them into new plants.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an easy plant to propagate
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Buy spider plants on Mountain Crest Gardens.
4. ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ plants are among the easiest houseplants to grow, with glossy foliage and thick underground rhizomes that store water. They tolerate lower light and can go surprisingly long between waterings, making them an excellent choice for beginners. Read my ZZ plant care guide for detailed growing, propagation, and troubleshooting tips.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out thoroughly before watering
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who tend to forget to water
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
See these easy plants for indoors on Etsy.
5. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf philodendron is a forgiving, fast-growing houseplant with heart-shaped leaves and long trailing vines. It adapts well to typical indoor conditions and is easy to propagate from stem cuttings, making it a great choice for beginners. Learn more about this easy-care indoor plant in my heartleaf philodendron care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil feel dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an easy trailing plant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Shop for this easy hanging indoor plant here.
6. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Peace lilies are beautiful flowering houseplants with glossy green foliage and long-lasting white blooms. They can tolerate lower light than many flowering plants, making them a good choice for beginners who want a plant that can bloom indoors. Read my peace lily care guide for detailed growing and flowering tips.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an easy flowering houseplant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Get this beginner-friendly flowering plant here.
7. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Aloe vera is an easy-care succulent that needs surprisingly little attention. Its thick, fleshy leaves store water, making it a great choice for beginners who would rather underwater than overwater their houseplants. Learn more about this succulent in my aloe vera care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out completely between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a low-water succulent
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
8. Watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia)
Watermelon peperomia is a compact, easy-to-grow houseplant with striking striped leaves that resemble a watermelon rind. It adapts well to typical household conditions and is a great choice for adding interesting foliage to a shelf or tabletop. Check out my watermelon peperomia care guide for growing tips.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil is dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a compact, colorful foliage plant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Shop for a watermelon peperomia on Etsy.
9. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema spp.)
Chinese evergreen is a beautiful foliage plant with patterned leaves that can brighten up a lower-light room. It is tolerant of less-than-perfect conditions, making it a good choice for beginners who want an attractive indoor plant that doesn’t need a lot of care. This plant is widely considered a lucky plant in Asian cultures.
- ☀️ Light: Low to bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners looking for an attractive low-light plant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Mountain Crest Gardens has a great range of Chinese evergreen plants for sale.
10. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Lucky bamboo is an easy-care indoor plant with slender green stems that can be grown in water or soil. It is a popular choice for beginners and is also traditionally associated with good luck and prosperity. Get growing tips in my lucky bamboo growing guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Keep the roots moist when growing in soil, or keep the water fresh when growing in water
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an easy plant with a little good luck
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
You can buy lucky bamboo plants on Etsy.
11. African violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus – formerly Saintpaulia ionantha)
African violets are compact flowering houseplants that can bloom repeatedly indoors, making them a rewarding choice for beginners who want flowers on a windowsill. Their fuzzy leaves and colorful blooms add plenty of interest without taking up much space. My African violet care guide has lots of tips for keeping this little plant blooming.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the soil surface begins to dry; avoid getting water on the leaves
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a small flowering houseplant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Purchase African violets in many colors on Etsy.
12. Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera spp.)
Holiday cactus is a rewarding indoor plant that produces colorful blooms around the holidays and can flower again for years with the right care. Christmas cactus and Thanksgiving cactus are closely related, making them a fun choice for beginners who want to grow flowers indoors. Learn how to grow Christmas cactus and encourage it to bloom again in my detailed care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a flowering plant that can bloom year after year
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs. Eating large amounts may cause stomach upset.
Shop for holiday cactus plants in many colors.
13. Wax begonia – (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)
Wax begonias are easy-care flowering plants with colorful blooms and attractive foliage, making them a good choice for beginners who want flowers without a complicated care routine. There are many types of begonias, and some have more specific needs, so wax begonia is a particularly good choice for new plant owners. Discover how to grow wax begonia and other begonias in my begonia growing guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an easy flowering plant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
14. Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)
Anthurium, also called flamingo flower, is a tropical flowering houseplant with glossy green leaves and colorful, long-lasting blooms. With the right light and watering routine, they can flower repeatedly indoors, making them a rewarding choice for beginners who want something a little more exotic. Discover growing tips for this easy-care tropical plant in my anthurium growing guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want colorful flowers and tropical-looking foliage
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Shop anthurium for sale on Mountain Crest Gardens.
15. Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Ponytail palm is an easy-to-grow houseplant with a bulbous trunk and long, arching leaves that give it a tropical, almost whimsical look. It stores water in its swollen trunk, so it is forgiving if you occasionally forget to water. Get growing tips for this unusual-looking plant in my ponytail palm care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out well between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an unusual, drought-tolerant houseplant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
See this unusual houseplant on Etsy.
16. Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Dracaena marginata is a tall, graceful houseplant with slender stems and tufts of narrow, arching leaves. It tolerates some neglect and adapts well to typical indoor conditions, making it a good choice for beginners who want a larger plant without complicated care.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a tall, architectural houseplant
Get Dracaena marginata plants here.
17. Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans)
Corn plant is a classic indoor favorite with tall stems and long, arching leaves. It’s a good choice when you want an easy plant that adds height to a room. See how to grow this dracaena in my corn plant care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Let the soil dry before watering
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a tall, easy-care houseplant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Check out this selection of corn plants on Etsy.
18. Rubber tree plant (Ficus elastica)
Rubber trees are handsome, easy-to-grow houseplants with large, glossy leaves that make a strong statement indoors. They can grow into substantial plants over time, so they’re a good choice when you want something with a little more presence.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a bold, larger-leaf houseplant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
See a variety of rubber tree plants on Etsy.
19. Money tree plant (Pachira aquatica)
Money tree is an attractive indoor plant with a distinctive braided trunk and lush green leaves. It is a popular choice for beginners and is also associated with good luck and prosperity, making it a fun addition to an indoor garden. Get growing tips in my money tree care guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want an attractive, larger houseplant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Get this beginner-friendly here.
20. Umbrella plant (Schefflera arboricola)
Umbrella plant is an easy-growing houseplant with glossy, divided leaves that grow in clusters resembling little umbrellas. It can grow into a substantial indoor plant, and it also responds well to pruning, making it versatile for different spaces. Find out more in my umbrella plant growing guide.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a versatile, leafy houseplant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Shop for umbrella plants on Mountain Crest Gardens.
21. Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Parlor palm is a classic indoor palm with graceful, feathery fronds that add a soft tropical look without taking up as much space as larger palms. It is a forgiving choice that adapts well to typical indoor conditions, making it a good option for beginners.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry slightly between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a graceful, classic houseplant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
See parlor palms for sale on Etsy.
22. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Monstera, also called Swiss cheese plant, is a popular houseplant with large, glossy leaves that develop distinctive splits as the plant matures. It is a relatively forgiving plant that can grow quickly in the right conditions, making it a fun choice for beginners who want a dramatic statement plant.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a dramatic, fast-growing houseplant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Purchase monstera plants here.
23. Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
The arrowhead plant is an attractive tropical houseplant with arrow-shaped leaves that can become wonderfully full and trailing as it grows. It is adaptable and easy to grow indoors, making it a good choice for beginners who want something a little different. My arrowhead plant growing guide gives tips for the care of this lovely plant.
- ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry slightly between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a versatile trailing or climbing plant
🐾 Pet note: Toxic to cats and dogs.
You can buy arrowhead plants here.
24. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Cast iron plant is one of the most forgiving houseplants you can grow, with broad, glossy leaves and a reputation for handling less-than-perfect conditions. It is especially useful for darker rooms and is a great choice for beginners who want a plant that doesn’t demand constant attention.
- ☀️ Light: Low to bright, indirect light
- 💧 Water: Let soil dry between waterings
- ⭐ Best for: Beginners who want a tough, low-light plant
🐾 Pet safe: Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Etsy has a nice range of cast iron plants for sale.
A shopping tip: Cast iron plants are often sold as shade plants, so you may find them with shade outdoor plants rather than in the houseplant section.
Easy houseplants printable
- Get the high-resolution easy houseplants printable (JPG)↗
- Get the PDF easy houseplants printable (PDF)↗
Printing instructions:
- Select portrait orientation and “fit to page” on your printer settings for a full-page printout.
- You can also print out the list of beginner houseplants from the project card at the bottom of this page. Scroll down to the card and press “print”.
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🌿 Ready to grow your indoor garden? These 24 easy houseplants for beginners are forgiving, beautiful, and actually easy to grow! From pothos and snake plants to peace lilies, palms, and more, there’s a perfect plant for every… Share on XPin this post for the easiest houseplants for beginners
Would you like a reminder of this list of easy houseplants to grow? Pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
Admin note: This list of the best easy houseplants to grow first appeared on the blog in October 2014. This post has been updated with new photos, more easy indoor plants, a printable, and a slideshow video about beginner houseplants.
Easy Houseplants for Beginners Printable
Create your own houseplant care card with this printable guide to 24 easy houseplants for beginners. Keep it handy to remember which plants thrive in your home and find the right ones for your indoor garden.
Materials
- Computer paper
Tools
- Computer
- Printer
Instructions
- Load your paper into your printer.
- Using the print function on this card will give you an easy houseplants printable that fills about ¾ of an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of paper.
- Choose portrait layout and, if possible, "fit to page" (or 125%) in your settings.
- Prefer full-page printing? You can also print the guide as a high-resolution file using your browser’s print feature: (PDF) | (JPG).
- Please note that creating free printables can be a time-consuming process. This easy houseplants guide is for personal use only. If you are sharing it (and thank you for that!), please link directly to this post, rather than to the actual image. We appreciate your help in supporting the site.
- This list of easy houseplants may not be used for any retail purpose or for mass distribution.
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Sandy_of_WV
Wednesday 14th of August 2013
Thanks so much for doing research on these plants. I have acquired them through funeral dish gardens over the past few years from various passing's --and inherited my dad's green-thumb -- with your article I will be able to take better care of them. Never knew before as the florist don't give you the care instructions but they all seem very healthy and growing without too many problems. Thanks again for posting a great post and for My Honey's Place for re-posting your page/post to hers.
admin
Wednesday 14th of August 2013
Hi Sandy. I am glad you found my article helpful.
Carol