The best houseplants: a concise orientation before we get practical.
I’m not a natural plant parent—trust me, I’ve killed more plants than I care to admit! For a while, I was stuck with frail, half-dead plants all over the house (what kind of decor is that?!). But once I took the time to figure out which plants actually fit into my lifestyle, I suddenly found myself with a very green thumb!
When it comes to buying houseplants, don’t just pick the prettiest one at the store based on aesthetics alone. Every home is different, and so is each plant owner. Your plants need to match both your lifestyle and your indoor environment.
For example, some plants barely need any watering but absolutely love soaking up the sun. Others are more laid-back about light but need more frequent watering. Any plant can be easy when it’s in the right conditions, but even the hardiest plant can become a struggle if it’s in the wrong environment.
And let’s talk about the most common mistake new plant parents make—overwatering. We’ve all been there, thinking our plants need “just a little more love” when really, they’d prefer a little more space to breathe!
So, before you dive into plant parenthood, use my list of the best houseplants for beginners below to give yourself the best chance at success.
And if you’re worried about that infamous black thumb, don’t worry! Check out my guide to caring for your plants here: How to Care for Plants When You Have a Black Thumb.
My Top 8 Beginner Houseplants
Without further ado, here’s my complete guide to the best houseplants for beginners!
1. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The spider plant is one of the best houseplants, period! With its long, arching green leaves and adorable baby plantlets (called “spiderettes”) that dangle down like a waterfall, this plant adds instant charm to any room. It even produces tiny white flowers!
Typically growing 12–18 inches tall and wide, spider plants are perfect for hanging planters or placing on high shelves, letting their trailing leaves show off.
These beauties blend perfectly with minimalist, boho, and modern decor styles. Whether you want to add a little greenery to your kitchen, bedroom, or living room, the spider plant fits right in.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Thrives in bright, indirect light but is perfectly happy in low-light conditions.
- Pet-friendly! Safe for kids and furry friends.
- Can handle some neglect—if you forget to water it, no biggie. Just water when the leaves start looking pale.
- Very minimal pruning needed.
- They reproduce quickly, and you can often find people giving away spiderettes on Facebook!
- Extremely hardy, making it super forgiving for first-time plant parents.
Basically, spider plants are almost indestructible and super easy to look after, especially as a first-time plant parent.
2. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata or Dracaena trifasciata)
If you’re looking for a plant that practically thrives on neglect, the snake plant is going to be your new best friend!
With its tall, sword-like leaves that stand upright, this plant is an architectural dream. The leaves come in striking shades of green with gray or yellow striping, making it both bold and sleek.
It can grow anywhere from 1 to 4 feet tall, but it’s pretty narrow, so it’s a great addition to small spaces like corners, hallways, or entryways. These hardy plants are eye-catching statement pieces that work well with modern, industrial, or minimalist decor styles.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- It can handle almost any light condition—from bright indirect light to low light and even artificial lighting.
- It only needs watering once a month! Snake plants are drought-tolerant and can go weeks without a drop.
- The margin of error with watering is huge. Even if you overwater it, you can often save the plant or propagate the healthy parts.
- Slow-growing with minimal pruning needed—so it won’t outgrow its space any time soon.
- Extremely durable and tolerant of neglect.
Snake plants are almost indestructible! They’re good houseplants for beginners who want a stylish plant that’ll keep thriving with minimal effort.
3. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
The jade plant is a charming little succulent that’s hardy, forgiving, and perfect for anyone starting their plant journey.
With its thick, fleshy, oval-shaped leaves that are bright green (and sometimes tinged with red!), this plant almost looks like a tiny tree. The branches are thick and woody, giving it a sturdy, miniature tree-like appearance that only gets more charming as it grows.
Or my favorite type of Jade, the Trailing Jade Plant (Kleinia petraea) has less thick leaves with a little point at the tips.
While it typically reaches 2–3 feet tall and wide, it grows slowly and stays nicely compact when kept in smaller pots indoors.
It’s perfect for small spaces like desktops, windowsills, or cozy corners, and works for all decor styles from modern and minimalist to rustic.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Thrives in bright, direct sunlight but can still adapt to lower light conditions.
- It stores water in its leaves, so it can go a long time without watering.
- Grows slowly, so you won’t need to worry about frequent pruning or repotting.
- Incredibly durable and drought-tolerant.
In a nutshell, jade plants are the best low-maintenance plants for anyone who might not have the time to fuss over their plants. With their slow growth and charming look, they’re ideal for adding a touch of greenery to your home without a lot of upkeep.
4. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Another popular choice is aloe vera. And for good reason! This plant has thick, fleshy leaves that grow in a pretty rosette shape. The leaves are a lovely shade of green or gray-green with serrated edges, and under the right conditions, you might even see tall spikes of yellow or orange flowers.
Aloe vera usually grows about 1–2 feet tall and wide, so it’s compact enough to fit in sunny spots around your home.
Its clean, spiky look works beautifully in minimalist or modern decor. Plus, it’s perfect for placing on sunny kitchen counters, bathroom shelves, or window sills where it can soak up some rays.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Doesn’t need much water, since it stores water in its thick leaves.
- Grows slowly and requires little to no pruning.
- Highly durable and resilient, especially in dry environments.
- Unlike some sharp cacti, aloe vera is user-friendly, adding greenery without the worry of poking yourself.
- Not only is it easy to care for, but it also has medicinal uses—aloe vera gel is great for soothing burns!
Aloe vera is a popular houseplant for beginners thanks to its low-maintenance nature and drought tolerance. It thrives in bright light and doesn’t demand much attention.
5. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum or Devil’s Ivy)
Pothos is practically indestructible! It’s the perfect plant for anyone new to houseplants because it’s so easy to care for.
With its heart-shaped leaves that come in various shades—green, variegated with white or yellow, and even neon—this plant adds instant jungle vibes to any space.
The trailing vines can cascade beautifully from hanging baskets or climb up a trellis, making it one of the most versatile plants to display. Its vines can grow up to 10 feet or more indoors, but you can easily trim it to keep things compact.
Pothos plants fit perfectly in boho, tropical, or modern interiors, adding lush greenery without taking up much floor space.
Pothos is one of the very best houseplants out there, especially for beginners!
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Thrives in bright, indirect light but also tolerates low light.
- Drought-tolerant—it can go without water for a while.
- The plant tells you when it’s thirsty! Its leaves will droop slightly when it needs water.
- Extremely durable, surviving low light, infrequent watering, and a range of indoor conditions.
- A great plant for propagation—cut off a vine and grow a new plant in just a glass of water!
Plus, its fast-growing vines give you a lush, tropical look with almost no effort. You can even experiment with propagating new plants, so you’ll never run out of greenery!
6. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ plant is the definition of low-maintenance!
With its glossy, dark green leaves arranged in a symmetrical, feather-like pattern on upright stems, this plant has a polished, modern look that’s perfect for any room. Its oval-shaped leaves reflect light beautifully, adding a sophisticated touch to your home.
Whether you place it in a corner, on a tabletop, or even on the floor, the ZZ plant’s compact size (usually around 2–3 feet tall) makes it a striking yet manageable plant.
This sculptural beauty fits effortlessly into modern, minimalist, or office settings, adding a touch of greenery without overwhelming the space.
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Thrives in low-light environments, making it perfect for offices or rooms without much natural light.
- Very low water needs—water only once a month and let the soil dry out completely between waterings. It stores water in its thick roots, so it’s drought-tolerant.
- Slow-growing with minimal pruning required.
- Incredibly durable and can tolerate long periods of neglect, low light, and irregular watering without any fuss.
The ZZ plant is one of the easiest houseplants to care for, thanks to its extreme tolerance of low light and infrequent watering. It’s a fantastic choice for beginners or anyone who wants a low-maintenance, resilient plant with a sleek and modern look.
Learn how to root zz plant stem cuttings in water, and successfully propagate this wonderfully low-maintenance houseplant.
7. Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Meet one of my all-time favorite houseplants: the Monstera Deliciosa! I can’t get enough of these stunning plants, and if you’re a fan of bold, dramatic leaves, you’ll fall in love with them too.
The large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves, with their distinctive natural holes (or “fenestrations”), add an instant jungle vibe to any room. Whether climbing up a moss pole or trailing elegantly, the Monstera’s vine-like growth makes it a statement piece.
Monstera is perfect for filling empty corners or creating a focal point in your living space. Its tropical look fits beautifully with boho, eclectic, or modern decor, and indoors, it can grow up to 6–8 feet tall, making it a larger plant that demands some space but rewards you with breathtaking beauty.
Oh, and did I mention it’s super easy to propagate? I regularly take cuttings and root them in jars of water. Every time a new plantling is born, I’m excited to pot it and watch it thrive!
Why It’s Great for Beginners:
- Thrives in bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels.
- It prefers regular watering but can bounce back from a missed watering here and there.
- It’s a resilient plant that can handle occasional care lapses, as long as you avoid overwatering.
- Perfect for propagation! You can easily grow new plants from cuttings.
Monstera Deliciosa is one of the best houseplants for beginners because it’s resilient and one of those fast growers! I’ve starved mine, knocked it over, and relocated it many times and it’s still going. It’s definitely a good first plant!
8. The Easy Way: Artificial Plants
Artificial plants have come a long way from the obviously fake greenery we used to see. These days, they’re made from materials like plastic, silk, or fabric, and many are so realistic that you’d never know they weren’t the real deal!
Available in all shapes and sizes, from cute little succulents to big leafy trees, faux plants an excellent choice if you want to add greenery to those spots in your home where real plants just won’t thrive.
For example, I’ve placed a faux olive tree in a dark corner where no real plant of its size could survive. And I have a beautiful faux magnolia cutting brightening up my office nook, which gets zero sunlight. They’ve become my go-to for decorating tricky spaces where real plants would struggle.
Whether your schedule is packed or your home’s lighting isn’t plant-friendly, faux greenery will always look fresh and fabulous. If you’re willing to invest in high-quality options, you can find stunning faux plants that bring life to even the darkest corners of your home!
Honorable Mentions
While the houseplants I’ve highlighted are my top picks for beginners, there are plenty of other fabulous, low-maintenance options out there!
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): Nearly indestructible, thrives in low light and neglect.
- Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Low-maintenance, purifies air, and thrives in low light.
- Philodendron (Philodendron spp.): Fast-growing and adaptable to a variety of light conditions.
- Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): Easy to care for with attractive glossy leaves, tolerates low light.
- Dracaena (Dracaena marginata): Thrives in low light and is very low-maintenance.
Which Are The Best Houseplants For You?
Choosing beginner-friendly houseplants really does make all the difference. Stick to low-maintenance, adaptable plants to build your confidence. Remember, it’s all about matching the plant to your space and routine.
And if you’re ready to take your houseplant game to the next level, check out my tips for decorating with houseplants. With the right plants and a little care, you’ll be well on your way to creating your very own indoor oasis and becoming the good plant parent you’ve always wished you could be!
