The Best Indoor Flowering Plants Even Beginners Can Keep Alive

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Once you’ve put away your gardening tools for the season, you may wonder how you’ll survive until next spring. Flowering houseplants are the answer! With many colorful, inexpensive options with long bloom times, there’s one (or more!) you’ll want to add to your window sill immediately. Many blooming houseplants thrive for years with minimal care, while others shine for a just few months before fading (sometimes you can coddle them to rebloom, but, honestly, it’s often more work than it’s worth). No worries; place those past their prime in your compost pile.

Here are a few of our favorite blooming houseplants to brighten your home all winter:

During the growing season (usually from early spring until the first frost), your garden can be flush with color. Red roses, yellow daffodils, even lavender and cloves are ideal garden blooms. However, when the cold weather comes, we tend to crave color among the bare foliage, even while stuck inside due to the cold. Don't get us wrong, we adore our philodendron collections and sturdy low-light-friendly houseplants, but there's something about flowers that just provides joy. From the sturdy holiday cactus to the charming African violet, there are plenty of indoor flowering plants that bloom all year.

Unlike low maintenance houseplants which you can set and (almost) forget, indoor flowering plants require a bit more guidance. One important note is that it's best to purchase mature plants instead of seeds unless you have loads of patience and years to wait for them to flower (the amaryllis flower is an exception, which will bloom indoors from a bulb in a matter of four to six weeks ). But most flowering plants (and fruit trees_, have to grow to full maturity before they’ll bloom at all—and this can take nearly a decade. On the plus side, live plants provide instant gratification. Even better, flowering houseplants thrive for months and even years, almost always lasting longer than a fresh bouquet, so you'll get plenty of enjoyment out of them. Ready to make the jump? Read on for the 15 best indoor flowering plants to add to your greenery collection. We point out which are poisonous to pets to help you buy the best ones for your home.

Red Amaryllis in Wooden Planter

These stunning flowers come from bulbs sold in the fall. Put them in a bright spot; too little light causes them to flop over. Keep the soil evenly moist. Blooms occur about six weeks later and last for a month or more. You can try to get them to rebloom next year: Save the bulb, leave the foliage intact but cut the faded flower stalk, then move into shade outdoors after the last frost. In late summer, let the bulb go dormant, cut off the foliage, and don't water until November. Then start to water again, and cross your fingers!

Pet friendly: No

Begonia Plant Green Leaf Pink Flower

More often seen outdoors, flowering begonias can also be grown in indoor planters. We love them in a hanging basket to add color to empty corners. They'll survive in full sun but prefer growing in shaded areas that get a few hours of sunlight each day. Be sure to add flower food or fertilizer once a month, especially during colder seasons, for the most vibrant blooms.

Pet friendly: No (but the most toxic part is underground)

Pink Anthurium

The heart-shaped leaves and pretty red, pink, or white blooms of this plant make it a must-have. The flowers, which are actually modified leaves, show off for a couple of months. This sturdy plant is almost always in bloom.

Pet friendly: No

Orchid

Delicate-looking orchids are not as fragile as they appear. They'll bloom for months and can live for years with little care. They prefer bright, indirect light (an east- or west-facing window is best). Water once a week until it drains out of the bottom of the pot.

Pet friendly: Yes

Bromeliad

Bromeliads are fun and funky plants related to pineapples. The striking flower, or bract, is its calling card. It needs lots of bright, indirect light (it won't tolerate low light) and water every one to two weeks. Just let it dry out between waterings.

Pet friendly: Yes

Shamrock Plant

Shamrock plants bloom profusely with pretty little star-shaped flowers. The plant's foliage may be green or burgundy. Give it bright indirect light, and keep it slightly moist. Most species of shamrock, which grow from bulbs, go dormant a few times a year. Stop watering, and place the plant in a cool, dark place. When you see new growth, move your shamrock back into bright light and resume watering.

Pet friendly: No

Cyclamen

The heart-shaped leaves and butterfly-like flowers of this charming plant add plenty of color to winter days. Cyclamen need bright, indirect light and prefer to stay slightly moist. Like shamrocks, they go dormant. Put yours in a cool place, don't water it for two months, then bring it back into the light and start watering again. With any luck, it will rebloom. Or, if that seems like a lot of work, just enjoy it while in bloom, then compost it when it fades.

Pet friendly: No

Calamondin Orange Plant

This plant blooms flowers and bears fruit! The calamondin orange is a cross between a kumquat and mandarin. It has pretty, super-fragrant blossoms year-round, which then develop into one-inch oranges that are cute and edible. They're perfect for cocktails! Give it bright light—preferably from a grow light—and let it dry out a bit between waterings.

Pet friendly: No

Crown of Thorns

This handsome plant has thick, thorny branches, but it's easy to care for and has pretty red or pink flowers or bracts. Give it loads of bright light, or use a grow light. Because it's a type of succulent, it needs to dry out between waterings.

Pet friendly: No

Holiday Cactus

These old-fashioned favorites have been popular for decades (and they can actually live that long!). Their exotic-looking blooms come in an array of beautiful shades ranging from pure white to corals, pinks, and reds. Different species bloom at different times of the year, including Thanksgiving and Easter. They like bright indirect light. Water when the soil is dry, and don’t let water sit in the saucer.

Pet friendly: Yes

Kalanchoe

This succulent has glossy green leaves and bright red, yellow, pink, or orange flower clusters that last for weeks. It does best in bright indirect light and prefers to dry out between waterings. Cut off the flower head after it fizzles, then enjoy the foliage all year long—or compost it because these are tough to get to rebloom next year.

Pet friendly: No

African Violet

These dainty old-time favorites in purples, pinks, and whites bloom almost continuously. Some of these have been known to live for decades! They like to soak up indirect light on a window ledge facing south, east, or west. Keep the soil lightly moist, and don't let water drip on the fuzzy leaves because it will cause brown spots.

Pet friendly: Yes

Peace Lily

Shiny green leaves and spoon-shaped white flowers make this low-maintenance houseplant a classic. With the right conditions, these plants can last for many years with practically no care. Peace lilies prefer low to moderate light but tend to bloom better in bright filtered light. They like moist, not soggy, soil.

Pet friendly: No (all lilies are highly toxic to cats)

Flowering Maple

Also called abutilon, this plant has red, yellow, pink, or peach papery blossoms. The plants typically last a few years before getting leggy and unattractive. They like bright indirect light, preferably near a window with south or west exposure. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.

Pet friendly: No

Clivia

This elegant flower, a member of the amaryllis family, has long-lasting orange or yellow flowers and strappy, glossy leaves. It tolerates most light conditions. Let the plant dry out between waterings. It’s a long-lived plant, but getting it to rebloom can be tricky. Keep it outside in the fall, then move it to the coolest room in your house before the first frost. Keep it rather dry until midwinter, then gradually increase the water. You should have blooms in February or March.

Pet friendly: No (it's related to lilies)

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