Best Flowering Houseplants – Beautiful Indoor Plants That Bloom

When the weather outside is too cold for gardening, flowering houseplants bring a touch of the garden indoors. From cheerful African violets and orchids to unusual plants with colorful or fragrant flowers, there are plenty of indoor plants that bloom to brighten your home.

Some flowering houseplants bloom repeatedly, while others put on a spectacular seasonal display. Their needs vary, too, so choosing the right plant for your light and growing conditions can make all the difference.

I’ve gathered some of my favorite flowering houseplants below, including popular favorites that are easy to grow, seasonal bloomers, and less-common plants worth seeking out. I hope you find one that brings that same feeling to your home!

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through an affiliate link.

My first attempt at gardening actually started with indoor plants. I remember coming home one day to the wonderful aroma of the open blossoms on a dwarf orange tree. I’d been admiring its pretty flowers for weeks, but the fragrance was an unexpected bonus. The smell greeting me when I walked through the door is something I’ll always remember.

That experience taught me that a flowering houseplant can be about more than just pretty flowers. It can bring color, fragrance, and a little bit of the outdoors into everyday life.

Choosing a flowering houseplant for your home

Not sure which flowering houseplant is right for you? These quick picks will help you find a great match based on your space, light, and the type of blooms you love.

• 🌤️ Best for bright light: Amaryllis
• 🌥️ Best for lower light: Peace lily
• 🪴 Best for hanging baskets: Goldfish plant
• 🌺 Best for unusual flowers: Bat flower plant
• ❄️ Best for winter color: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

23 Flowering houseplants to grow indoors

From familiar favorites like African violets and orchids to unusual choices like the bat flower plant, these flowering indoor plants offer a wide range of flower colors, growing habits, bloom times, and light requirements.

African violet (Streptocarpus ionanthus – formerly Saintpaulia inonantha)

Despite their common name, African violets have no relation to true violets. They are more closely related to gloxinias. To learn how to grow this small flowering houseplant, see my guide to the care of African violets.

• ☀️ Light: Moderate, bright indoor light
• 💧 Water: Water when the soil is dry about 1 inch down
• 🌸 Bloom: Year-round blooms in shades of red, white, pink, blue, and purple
• ⭐ Best for: Window sills and small spaces

Buy African violets in many colors on Etsy.

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

If you are looking for a plant with a bright, waxy, long-lasting display, anthurium – also called flamingo flower – is a great choice. The big, heart-shaped shields are called spathes. The flowers are actually quite small, bumpy, and are located in the center of the spathe. You can learn how to care for anthurium in my guide.

• ☀️ Light: Likes bright, filtered light but will tolerate low light conditions
• 💧 Water: Water just enough to keep the soil slightly moist
• 🌸 Bloom: Long-lasting display in a wide range of colors, from red, pink, and white to hard-to-find black
• ⭐ Best for:  Adding a tropical look to indoor rooms

Purchase anthuriums at Mountain Crest Gardens.

Begonias (Begonia spp.)

Begonias are available in an enormous variety of forms, flower colors, and foliage types. Angel Wing begonias, such as this spotted-leaf variety, are especially attractive for their colorful flowers and striking foliage. Dragon Wing begonias have a very different appearance, with clusters of flowers above glossy green leaves. My guide to growing begonias discusses the care of all types of begonias.

• ☀️ Light: East-facing windows are ideal
• 💧 Water: Water when the soil is dry about an inch down
• 🌸 Bloom: Continuous flowering from spring through fall
• ⭐ Best for: Hanging baskets and tall planters

Shop for begonia plants here.

Florist Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)

This vibrant, easy-care indoor plant acts as a living display since its flowers last up to several months. Check out my tips for the care of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana here.

• ☀️ Light: Bright light indoors
• 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings
• 🌸 Bloom: Pure white, pink, red, orange, and yellow
• ⭐ Best for: Adding long-lasting color during the holidays

Shop for Kalanchoe blossfeldiana live plants on Etsy.

Phalaenopsis orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)

These tropical flowering plants are known as moth orchids because the blossoms resemble moths in flight. They are one of the most popular blooming indoor plants. You can learn how to grow and care for Phalaenopsis orchids in my growing guide.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light gives the best blooms
• 💧 Water: Allow the soil to dry out slightly before you rewater
• 🌸 Bloom: They bloom for 2-3 months starting in late winter or early spring
• ⭐ Best for: Add an elegant, long-lasting display to offices, living spaces, and tabletops

See a wide range of Phalaenopsis orchids here.

Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)

Peace lilies are very popular because they are one of the few flowering indoor plants that can adapt to lower light conditions. Find out more about their growing conditions, light tolerance, and ease of blooming in my guide to the care of peace lilies.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light is best, but they can tolerate lower light
• 💧 Water: Add water when the top inch of soil is dry; peace lilies will droop to tell you they need more water
• 🌸 Bloom: White flowers appear throughout the year; heaviest in spring and summer
• ⭐ Best for: Adding elegant, white blooms in low-light rooms

You can buy peace lily plants in various sizes on Etsy.

Hoya (Hoya spp.)

The leaves of this trailing indoor plant are waxy and store moisture, giving it the common name wax plant. If you like dramatic flowers, this is the plant for you. The blooms are fragrant, star-shaped, and form into a large cluster. They can be trained to follow an arch or wreath form.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light
• 💧 Water: Let the soil dry somewhat between waterings
• 🌸 Bloom: Usually summer; mature plants can rebloom later in the year
• ⭐ Best for: Flowering houseplants for hanging baskets and trailing displays

See hoya plants for sale on Mountain Crest Gardens.

Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)

The lipstick plant gets its common name from the red flower buds that emerge from dark, tube-like calyces, looking just like a tube of lipstick. 

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; gentle morning sun is helpful for flowering
• 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry; keep it moist but never soggy
• 🌸 Bloom: Red tubular blooms; normally flowers in summer
• ⭐ Best for: Hanging baskets and trailing displays

Check out lipstick plants for sale here.

Gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa)

Gloxinias bloom naturally in summer, but you can often find them forced into bloom for the holidays. Wonder what happens after flowering? Check out my guide to the care of gloxinia, which talks about dormancy and reblooming.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; protect it from strong afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist while actively growing; avoid wet soil and water on the leaves
• 🌸 Bloom: Large, velvety flowers in shades of purple, pink, red, blue, or white; normally blooms in summer
• ⭐ Best for: Showy, colorful flowers and seasonal indoor displays

Etsy has a wide range of gloxinia plants for sale in various colors.

Urn bromeliad (Aechmea fasciata)

Aechmea fasciata is one of the most recognizable bromeliads, with a long-lasting pink flower bract and small flowers emerging from it.  See how long my urn bromeliad flowers lasted in this post. You won’t believe how long I got to enjoy its flowers!

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; gentle morning or filtered sunlight is fine
• 💧 Water: Keep the potting mix lightly moist and add fresh water to the central cup, changing it regularly
• 🌸 Bloom: Very long-lasting pink bracts with small purple flowers; usually blooms when the plant reaches maturity
• ⭐ Best for: Tropical color and a striking architectural flower display

Buy Aechmea fasciata pups on Etsy. These plants are not yet in flower and can take 3–4 years to reach maturity and bloom, but the wait is worth it! These are some of the most reasonably priced Aechmea fasciata plants I’ve found online.

Florist Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)

Florist cyclamen is a flowering houseplant that actually likes cool temperatures. Since it is often available during the winter and holiday season, this makes it the perfect choice for gift-giving. For more information on growing this pretty indoor plant, check out my guide to growing florist cyclamen.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; a cool, sunny window is ideal, but protect it from strong afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Add water when the soil surface feels dry; it’s best to water from the bottom, rather than the center of the plant
• 🌸 Bloom: Shades of pink, red, purple, or white, mainly in fall through spring
• ⭐ Best for: Adding colorful winter blooms to a cool, bright room

Shop for this blooming indoor plant at Garden Plant Nursery.

Clivia (Clivia miniata)

Clivia, also known as bush lily, is a plant you keep for years and can eventually divide into more plants. It does not grow from true bulbs. Instead, it grows from semi-epiphytic roots that store water and nutrients.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; it can tolerate gentle morning sun, but protect it from strong afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings
• 🌸 Bloom: Flowers come in vibrant colors, from bright orange to red, yellow, or cream
• ⭐ Best for: Dramatic winter to spring color and long-lived blooming houseplants

Buy live clivia plants on Etsy.

Calla lily (Zantedeschia spp.)

What looks like large colorful petals are actually modified leaves called spathes. The narrow, spiky center is the actual flower. To learn more about growing this stunning plant, see my guide to growing calla lilies.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; protect the plant from strong afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist while the plant is actively growing; avoid soggy soil
• 🌸 Bloom: Elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers in white, yellow, pink, purple, or red; blooms from spring into summer
• ⭐ Best for: Long-lasting flowers and colorful indoor displays

You can purchase live calla lily plants on Etsy.

Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii)

The flowers of crown of thorns are actually tiny, and the colorful bracts that surround them provide most of the show. The plant gets its common name from a Christian legend about flexible, thorny stems that were used to weave the crown placed on Jesus’ head during his crucifixion. While it looks like a cactus, the plant is actually a member of the spurge family, a tropical succulent shrub.

• ☀️ Light: Bright light with several hours of direct sun is best for strong growth and flowering
• 💧 Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings, then water thoroughly; avoid soggy soil
• 🌸 Bloom: Tiny flowers surrounded by colorful bracts in shades of red, pink, yellow, or white; it can bloom repeatedly
• ⭐ Best for: Sunny windows and colorful blooms with an unusual, sculptural shape

Shop for crown of thorns plants here.

Goldfish plant (Nematanthus spp.)

The adorable flowers on this blooming indoor plant look exactly like goldfish. In the wild, goldfish plants are epiphytes – they grow on the surfaces or branches of trees and other plants, rather than rooting in the ground.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; gentle morning sun encourages flowering; avoid direct afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy; water when the top inch of soil feels dry
• 🌸 Bloom: Bright orange, yellow, or red flowers are shaped like tiny goldfish; they bloom in spring and summer
• ⭐ Best for: Hanging baskets and trailing displays

Get live goldfish plants here.

Oxalis (Oxalis spp.)

Oxalis plants (also known as false shamrocks) are nyctinastic – they look like they are going to sleep at night, since their leaves close up. If you’d like to grow your own oxalis plant, you can learn more about caring for it in my guide to growing oxalis.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; it flowers best with gentle morning sun
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil lightly moist when the plant is actively growing; water when the top inch of soil feels dry
• 🌸 Bloom: Small, delicate flowers in shades of white, pink, yellow, or purple bloom in spring and summer
• ⭐ Best for: Colorful foliage and delicate flowers for a cheerful windowsill display

You can buy several types of oxalis plants on Etsy.

Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)

Zebra plant is a tropical flowering houseplant known for its bold, white-veined leaves and bright yellow flower spikes. The flowers stand out beautifully against the dark green foliage. My guide to growing zebra plants has tips for keeping this tropical beauty happy indoors.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; the plant flowers best when it gets gentle morning sun, but protect it from strong afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist when the plant is actively growing, but don’t let it dry out completely
• 🌸 Bloom: Bright yellow flower spikes rise above the boldly striped foliage; it normally blooms in summer or fall
• ⭐ Best for: Dramatic flowers and striking foliage in a warm, humid room

See this stunning flowering houseplant on Etsy.

Miniature rose (Rosa hybrids)

In comparison to other houseplants that bloom, miniature roses need much more sun to thrive indoors. These flowering house plants really benefit if you place them outdoors for a few months when the weather is warmer.

• ☀️ Light: Very bright light with several hours of direct sun is best; a sunny south- or west-facing window is ideal
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy; water when the top inch of soil feels dry
• 🌸 Bloom: Small, classic rose-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, white, yellow, or orange in spring through early fall
• ⭐ Best for: Bringing the look of a rose garden indoors in a compact-size plant

You can buy miniature roses on Edmunds Roses.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)

One of my favorite ways to enjoy amaryllis bulbs indoors is to force them for the holidays. Their beautiful, big blooms add a pop of color to any holiday setting. If you’d like to try forcing amaryllis, be sure to check out my guide for step-by-step instructions.

• ☀️ Light: Bright light, including some direct sun
• 💧 Water: Water regularly during active growth but sparingly thereafter
• 🌸 Bloom: Depending on when bulbs are forced, they can bloom in winter to early spring
• ⭐ Best for: Dramatic seasonal flowers

Check out the wide variety of amaryllis bulbs for forcing on Etsy.

Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera and Rhipsalidopsis )

Christmas cactus, Thanksgiving cactus, and Easter cactus are closely related holiday bloomers that bring a pop of color to the home for these three major holidays. They differ slightly in leaf structure and flower shape, but all are beautiful and easy to grow.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; protect the plant from afternoon sun
• 💧 Water: Add water when the top inch of soil feels dry; avoid soggy soil
• 🌸 Bloom: Colorful flowers in shades of pink, red, white, orange, or purple, blooming in fall, winter, or spring, depending on type
• ⭐ Best for: Seasonal indoor color and long-lasting flower displays

Etsy has a nice range of holiday cactus and Easter cactus for sale.

Episcia (Episcia spp.)

Sometimes called flame violet, Episcia is related to African violets but has a distinctly different growth habit. Its colorful tubular flowers appear against attractive foliage, and several varieties produce runners that make the plant especially pretty in a hanging container.

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; protect the delicate leaves from strong sunlight
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season; allow excess water to drain
• 🌸 Bloom: Tubular flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, or white; flowers appear repeatedly during the growing season
• ⭐ Best for: Colorful flowers for trailing or cascading displays

Buy this hard-to-find flowering plant on Etsy.

Ornamental pepper plant (Capsicum annuum)

The colorful peppers of this ornamental plant are technically edible, but are not very tasty. Also, they may have been treated with products not labeled for food crops, so check with the grower before eating them. They are often seen for sale in the fall, since many people use them when decorating their homes with fall greenery.

• ☀️ Light: Bright light with several hours of direct sun is best for healthy growth, flowering, and fruit production
• 💧 Water: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry; avoid soggy soil
• 🌸 Bloom: Small white flowers appear in summer, followed by colorful ornamental peppers in shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, or cream
• ⭐ Best for: Bright seasonal color and an unusual indoor plant display

You can buy ornamental pepper plants here.

Black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri)

With its dramatic dark flowers and long, whisker-like bracts, the black bat flower (also known as bat head lily) is one of the most unusual flowering plants you can grow indoors. It is a demanding plant because of its humidity and temperature needs, but its otherworldly appearance makes it a fascinating choice for adventurous houseplant growers. It’s the perfect plant for a goth garden!

• ☀️ Light: Bright, indirect light; protect it from strong sun, especially during the hottest part of the day
• 💧 Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy, and don’t allow it to dry out completely
• 🌸 Bloom: Unusual dark purple to nearly black flowers with long, whisker-like bracts; usually blooms in summer
• ⭐ Best for: Unusual flowers and a dramatic tropical indoor display

Shop for black bat flower plants here.

Do flowering house plants bloom all year?

No, most flowering houseplants don’t bloom continuously throughout the year. Just like outdoor flowering plants, they have a season when flowers are the norm. However, some plants, such as African violets, wax begonias, and crown of thorns, can bloom repeatedly.

Several other indoor plants, like bromeliads, anthuriums, and moth orchids, will bloom for very extended periods under the right conditions.

Tips for getting flowering house plants to bloom

For the most continuous blooms, give your plants bright light and avoid over-fertilizing.

• Give the plant the light it needs – most flowering plants do best in bright, indirect light.
• Don’t water too much – this can lead to root rot.
• Fertilize appropriately during active growth; over-fertilizing can lead to leafy growth instead of flowers.
• Avoid cold drafts and big temperature changes.
• Deadhead spent blooms after flowering.
• Some plants need a temperature or day-length change to initiate flowers.

Flowering houseplants and pets

If you share your home with curious cats or dogs, it’s a good idea to check the safety of a flowering houseplant before bringing it home. The ASPCA maintains a Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database with separate lists for dogs, cats, and horses, so you can check a plant by its common or scientific name. 

Keep in mind that even plants listed as non-toxic can cause vomiting or other gastrointestinal upset if pets eat them, so “non-toxic” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe to eat.” 

Before buying one of the flowering houseplants in this list, check the ASPCA plant database for the specific plant and your particular pet.

Flowering houseplants printable

You can print the flowering houseplants printable as high-resolution JPGs or PDFs by using the links below:

• Get the high-resolution flowering indoor plants printable (JPG)↗
• Get the PDF flowering indoor plants printable (PDF)↗

Printing instructions:

• Select portrait orientation and “fit to page” in your printer settings for a full-page printout.
• You can also print out the flowering houseplants identification printable from the project card at the bottom of this page. Scroll down to the card and press “print”.

Share this list of flowering indoor plants on X

If you enjoyed finding out which flowering houseplant is perfect for you, why not share this list with a friend?

🌸 Want more flowers indoors? 🌿 From African violets and orchids to holiday cactus, miniature roses, goldfish plants & even a Black Bat Flower 🦇, these flowering houseplants bring color and personality to your home!🌺 Find your… Share on X

Pin this guide to houseplants that flower

Would you like a reminder of this list of blooming indoor plants? Pin this image to one of your gardening boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

You can also watch this YouTube slideshow video about common flowering houseplants!

Admin note: This list of indoor flowering plants first appeared on the blog in January 2018. This post has been updated with new photos, more plant ideas, a printable, and a slideshow video.

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