Looking for a new houseplant? Here are our faves!

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Houseplants are a great way to infuse color, style and warmth to any room of the house. Whether it's a dark apartment with few windows or an easy-care plant because you always forget to water, we've rounded up the best indoor plants that won't be a pain to grow.

What Plants Are Best Suited To Indoor Rooms?

What is the Longest Lasting Indoor Plant?

What's your favorite indoor houseplant? Tell us in the comments, below!

String of Hearts

This trailing indoor plant happens to be a favorite of master gardener and Instagram influencer Melissa Lallo Johnson (@fancyflowerfarmer). "My string of hearts drapes over multiple levels of my bookshelves and then hangs freely around 5 feet down from the lowest shelf," she says.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright indirect light (about 4 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / neutral to acidic
Helpful Tidbits: This plant cannot thrive in direct sunlight and the leave will burn.

Staghorn Fern

This sculptural indoor plant rose to fame on Joanna Gaines's Instagram in 2022. You can also find staghorn ferns mounted on wood for a unique, living wall decoration. Want to try your hand at plant-parenting this beauty? Here's your guide to staghorn fern care.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10
Sun Exposure: bright indirect light (4 to 7 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: These plant grow best indoors and outdoors under warm and humid conditions.

Jade Plant

Succulents such as the popular Crassula ovata, known as jade plant, lucky plant, or the money tree, are perfect for houseplant newbies. They're extremely durable, need very little water, and remain green all year long. They'll also live for years and years, making them a great "first friend."

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 10
Sun Exposure: bright indirect light (4 to 6 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: moist / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs. It is also mildly poisonous to humans if it is consumed. Keep these plants in high places inaccessible to pets and small children.

Related: The Complete Guide to Growing Succulents

Calamondin Orange

It may be small, but it sure is mighty! This tree plant produces fragrant fruits, which you can harvest and use to make jams and other treats. Gift this to the home canner in your life and they'll return the gesture with jam for years to come.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade or direct sunlight (at least 6 hours is optimal)
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Water as needed only. Excess watering or under watering will likely kill the tree.

Paddle Plant

"This little-known succulent deserves to take American living rooms by storm," says Tovah Martin, author of The Unexpected Houseplant. Why? Paddle plant (aka Kalanchoe thyrsiflora or flapjack succulent) boasts wavy, red-tipped leaves that read as one massive bloom. It will add a touch of elegance to a living room or bedroom, and best of all, "It's also practically unkillable," Martin adds. To ensure proper drainage, place a layer of pebbles and activated charcoal in the bottom of your container before filling it with potting soil; then let the soil dry out a bit between waterings.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright light to full sun
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic to neutral
Helpful Tidbits: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Place plant in places inaccessible to pets.

Learn more: The Complete Guide to Growing Succulents

Passion Flower

Most gardeners think of flower vines as outdoor athletes, ready to be trained up exterior fences and walls. But climbers can also soften windows inside, so long as you provide them with something to scale (a few nails and fishing wire will do the trick). Tovah Martin, author of The Unexpected Houseplant, has even topped a potted indoor Passiflora caerula with an upside-down vintage egg basket to act as a tendril jungle gym.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic to neutral
Helpful Tidbits: Passion flower is toxic to humans and animals, but poisoning is rare due to its bitter taste. Keep plants away from small children and pets.

String of Pearls

This extraordinary plant will add even more lush greenery to the room as it grows. It's starting to compete with the fiddle-leaf fig as the "most Instagrammable" plant on the block.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / neutral to acidic
Helpful Tidbits: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Place plant in places inaccessible to pets.

Air Plants

These small indoor gems, which come in more than 600 varieties, can grow practically anywhere with bright indirect light. They don't need soil, just an occasional spritz of water from a spray bottle. Some varieties, but not all, also like a weekly soak. Display them on a shelf or in a shell, bowl, or terrarium. You can even attach them to a wreath as a living accent. Try one in the bathroom where it will love the extra humidity.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright indirect light
Soil Condition/Water pH: not applicable because they don't need soil / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Air Plants are considered completely non-toxic and safe to grow around humans and pets.

Related: 15 Best Bathroom Plants to Create Your Own Indoor Oasis

Ponytail Palm

Pet friendly and easy to care for—with a bulbous trunk that gives off bonsai vibes—what's not to love about this cute, slow-growing, and long-living palm? Nicknamed for its ponytail-like leaves, the Beuacarnea recurvata stores moisture in its base so it’s more forgiving if you forget to water for a week or two.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12
Sun Exposure: indirect bright to medium light
Soil Condition/pH: light soil mix and well-drained /neutral
Helpful Tidbits: Don't overwater the plant. Wait for the top layer (about 2 to 3 inches) of soil to dry out before watering it again.

Related: How to Grow and Care for Indoor Palm Plants

ZZ Plant

Yes, the ZZ plant is aesthetically striking, and yes, it tolerates incredibly low light levels. However, if it seems to be struggling, move it to a spot with more indirect light. Water sparingly, and only when the top few inches of soil are dry.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: medium to bright indirect light, tolerates low indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained /neutral to slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Water every 2 to 3 weeks and let the plant dry out between waterings.

Learn more: How to Care for a ZZ Plant, One of the Easiest Plants to Grow

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Once you know how to care for orchids, they're easy to grow. Their flowers last a long time, and if you are patient and provide the right conditions, they will put out new flower stalks.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright to medium indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / slightly acidic

Related: 22 Types of Orchids That Make Great Houseplants

English Ivy

Any conversation about hardy plants isn't complete without at least one nod to English Ivy. This unfussy beauty thrives in pots, hanging baskets, or mixed with other taller houseplants in a shared pot. It does have a few light requirements: You'll want to ensure that it has access to moderate light in the spring and summer, and bright light (or additional fluorescent light) in fall and winter. But beyond that, it's a safe bet for any newbie plant-owner.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright to moderate indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: moist and well-drained / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Place plant in places inaccessible to pets.

Snake Plant

No green thumb? No problem: The snake plant is practically indestructible. In fact, we'd be impressed if you managed to kill this one. It tolerates low light and can be left to dry between waterings.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Sun Exposure: bright light, tolerates low light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / slightly acidic to neutral
Helpful Tidbits: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs. Place plant in places inaccessible to pets.

Related: How to Care for a Snake Plant Even if You Don't Have a Green Thumb

'Nana' Juniper

This evergreen ground cover is a landscape staple but Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' can also thrive in the living room (the juniper sends down serious roots, so the trick is to find a container that allows them to stretch). To re-create this look from Tovah Martin, author of The Unexpected Houseplant, repurpose a two-foot-tall industrial cylinder with a drainage hole at the base.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: bright light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline
Helpful Tidbits: This is versatile and can tolerate a wide range of soil (from light to heavy)

Peperomia Obtusifolia

You definitely have room on your desk for this cute, pet-friendly plant with thick, glossy green leaves. We also love it in a small bathroom. Make sure to let the soil dry out before watering.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: bright indirect light; tolerates low indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich and light / slightly acid acidic

Related: 20 Pet-Friendly Houseplants You Can Grow Without Worry

Parlor Palm

While your plant might start out just a wee thing under one foot, over the years and with many repottings, your parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) can grow large—up to 6 feet tall, according to The Sill. It's pet-friendly to boot! Allow it to dry out between waterings.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11
Sun Exposure: medium to bright indirect light, tolerates low indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich and light / slightly acidic
Helpful Tidbits: Don't overwater the plant. Allow it to dry out between waterings.

Persian Shield

The gorgeous purple leaves of a Persian shield, or Strobilanthes Dyerianus, will brighten any room. Give it indirect light and moist soil.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10
Sun Exposure: indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: nutrient rich and well-drained / slightly acid
Helpful Tidbits: Water the plant evenly and maintain regular schedule.

Frizzle Sizzle

This quirky plant, which goes by the scientific name Albuca spiralis, is fun to grow and looks great even when it's not blooming. But when it does bloom you get beautiful flowers with delicate almost vanilla-like scents. It's drought tolerant and likes to start in partial sun.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10
Sun Exposure: direct sunlight (at least 1 to 2 hours)
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained / Alkaline, acidic, and neutral
Helpful Tidbits: Keep this plant away from cats and dogs. It is slightly toxic and cause upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Related: 12 Strange But Beautiful Houseplants You Never Knew Existed

Spanish Lavender

Colorful and sweet-scented, this plant may be just that special something your home needs. We love it in a bedroom—run your fingers through it before bedtime and the essential oils will help you relax. To care for lavender indoors, give it bright, direct light for a few hours every day, preferably in a south-facing window, and water when the soil is slightly dry. Don’t overwater it, though, or the plant will rot.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11
Sun Exposure: bright direct light
Soil Condition/pH: well-drained and light / slightly acidic to neutral
Helpful Tidbits: Keep this plant away from cats and dogs. It is toxic and will cause upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, and a loss of appetite.

Related: Best Bedroom Plants for a Prettier, Healthier Space

Salad Burnet

Expand your kitchen-herb vocabulary beyond the usual parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme with this green's crisp, cool cucumber flavor. "Sanguisorba minor (salad burnet) is ideal for cramped spaces because it exists in a kind of suspended animation, never growing too big or tall," says Tovah Martin, author of The Unexpected Houseplant. She gave the plant a dreamy yet practical home by lining a bird's nest with plastic and setting it on a cake platter to watch rogue water droplets.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: bright light
Soil Condition/pH: sandy, well-drained / acidic to alkaline

Related: Best Indoor Herb Garden Kits

Monstera Adansonii

Expect to pay top dollar for Monstera adansonii plants because they are rare (due to high demand and limited supply). Purchasing a mature plant is pricey and can cost well over $200 per plant. Plant cuttings are much more affordable and cost $3 to $25 -- though rooting a plant from a cutting is a little more work and they don't always take. But if you're willing to put in a little effort, you can save a lot of money!

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-12
Sun Exposure: moderate to bright indirect light
Soil Condition/pH: slightly damp and well-drained / acidic and neutral
Helpful Tidbits: These plants are mildly toxic to dogs, cats, and humans if it is consumed due to the insoluble oxalate crystals inside the plant. Put planters out of reach from small children and pets.

You Might Also Like

• 70 Impressive Tiny Houses That Maximize Function and Style

• 30+ Paint Colors That Will Instantly Transform Your Kitchen