38 Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants That Are Perfect for Beginners

All these plants are easy to care for

Houseplants famously double as decor since they add pops of color and offer a lived-in quality to your home. The good news is you don’t necessarily need a green thumb to care for every houseplant. Low-maintenance houseplants don’t require a lot of watering or certain environmental conditions, which makes them an obvious choice for beginners.

“You can essentially buy these plants and expect them to live a long time without much work on your end,” Jamie Mitri, founder and CEO of Moss Pure, says.

For those who want the perks of indoor plants without all the work, we've highlighted 38 low-maintenance indoor plants you can easily find to purchase and will instantly love.

Meet the Expert

• Jamie Mitri is the founder and CEO of Moss Pure, a maker of decor featuring living moss.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Commonly called the “money plant,” the jade plant (Crassula ovata) is known for its gleaming, dark green leaves. This might be why it has come to symbolize wealth and prosperity. It grows slowly, averaging about two inches in height per year.

Like most succulents, this plant doesn’t require a ton of water and does well in direct sunlight, making it great for beginners.

• Light: Six hours of direct sunlight a day

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 3 to 6 in. tall

Gasteria (Gasteria spp.)

Because of its looks, this spindly plant has a nickname of “ox tongue.” Like many succulents, this plant doesn’t require much water, making it an easy to maintain.

• Light: Full sun

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 4-24 in. tall

African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona)

Though it looks like a cactus, this low-maintenance plant is actually a succulent. The teardrop-shaped green leaves are covered in thorns, giving this plant a modern look. Like many of the other plants on this list, the African milk tree (Euphorbia trigona) loves a range of sunlight conditions. However, it can be toxic to pets and humans if digested.

• Light: Partial sun to bright, indirect light

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 6 to 9 ft. tall

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

Aloe vera is great for plant novices because this succulent requires little water. The plant has beautiful blooms in shades of yellow, red, or orange. However, despite all its perks, this plant is unfortunately toxic when eaten, so make sure to keep it away from pets and young children.

• Light: Six hours of direct sunlight

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 2-36 in. tall

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

This plant gets its name from its long slender leaves, which resemble a snake in a standing position. This plant works great for beginners because it tolerates low-light conditions and doesn’t need to be watered often. It can even survive drought-like environments.

• Light: Six hours of direct sunlight

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 2-36 in. tall

Black Rose Aeonium (Aeonium)

This succulent adds a bit of drama to any space. The dark leaves look almost black, hence the name, and resemble a rose. As with most succulents, these plants are great for beginners because they grow best in full sunlight, but are low-maintenance because they can enjoy indirect sun as well.

• Light: Six hours of direct or indirect sunlight

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 3 ft. tall

Purple Passion Vine (Gynura aurantiaca)

Its velvety, fuzzy purple texture is what gives this plant its name. However, the plant is very easy to care for if you leave it in bright, indirect sunlight.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Water when the soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: 1-2 ft high

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

A vining plant, most pothos varieties do well in low-light situations and only need to be watered once a week. That’s because the plants originally hail from rainforests, where they lived on the forest floor. This species comes in a range of colors to fit any home style, making it a great addition to any home.

• Light: Low or indirect light

• Water: Water once a week

• Mature Size: Vines can reach as long as 12 ft.

String of Pearls

This is a succulent plant that vines in long strings of leaves resembling pearls. You can place the plant in a hanging pot for a trailing look in almost any space. This low-maintenance plant is great for beginners because it can thrive in a range of light conditions.

• Light: Low to bright light

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: Vines can reach as long as 3 ft.

Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra 'Variegata)

This diminutive plant is cute with tiny green leaves that have a tinge of pink at the edges. Besides being beautiful, the elephant bush is easy to maintain, if it gets six hours of sunlight a day.

• Light: Full to partial sun

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 6 in. tall

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

The heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is a beautiful dark green plant with bronze specks. It does well in partial sun and because it's slow-growing, it only needs to be repotted every two or three years, which is a great feature for beginners.

• Light: Low light to partial sun

• Water: Water once a week

• Mature Size: 1-3 ft. tall

Raven ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Raven’)

Like many varieties of ZZ plants, the raven ZZ plant practically thrives under drought-like conditions and doesn't require much sunlight. A beautiful addition to any home, the plant is a deep purple that continues to darken over time.

• Light: Low light

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 30 in. tall

Cordyline (Cordyline terminalis)

This plant’s leathery, spikey leaves set it apart from other houseplants. And it comes in a range of colors, making it perfect for any home aesthetic. Cordyline thrives in a warm, humid environment and prefers having more sun. However, it's toxic to both cats and dogs.

• Light: Full sun

• Water: Water when the soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: 3-6 ft. tall

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

With plenty of varieties of Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema) to choose from, you can get a version of this easy-to-care-for plant in many different colors. The plant comes in shades of pink and green, white, silver, or yellow. The Chinese evergreen likes less water and can tolerate a range of sunlight conditions. The plant is toxic to dogs and cats.

• Light: Partial to full sun

• Water: Water when soil is dry

• Mature Size: 1–3 ft. tall

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

This hardy desert plant can go up to a month without water, making it a great low-maintenance plant. The ponytail palm also has a unique look with its strappy appearance, so it will liven up your interiors by creating instant visual interest.

• Light: Medium to bright light

• Water: Water once a month

• Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall

Wax Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens)

With dark waxy leaves, this plant is commonly called a “Wax Plant.” Wax begonias grow slowly, taking several months to mature, so they rarely need to be repotted, a great feature for houseplant beginners. Begonias are also toxic to pets.

• Light: Low to bright light

• Water: Water when the soil is dry

• Mature Size: 2 to 4 ft. tall

Cymbidium Orchid (Cymbidium spp.)

Cymbidium orchids, sometimes called boat orchids, are some of the easiest and prettiest orchids to care for. This is because they are cold-tolerant and don't mind a bit of frost. They also don’t require a lot of sun.

• Light: Partial

• Water: Keep soil moist

• Mature Size: 12-30 in. tall

Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)

Coleus can do well in the sun or tolerate shade outdoors, making it an easy-going plant to have inside. This plant is often bred to have different colors and patterns, so it can add a range of hues to your home. However, it is toxic to pets.

• Light: Full sun to shade

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall

African Violet (Streptocarpus)

Got limited space for a plant? The African violet has beautiful blooms but doesn’t grow very tall. Native to Africa, the plant can tolerate less water but prefers bright light.

• Light: Bright light

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 6 to 12 in. tall

Monstera Deliciosa (Monstera deliciosa)

Called the Swiss cheese plant, monstera deliciosa (Monstera deliciosa) is known for its big leaves. This plant is great for beginners because it can tolerate low light and less water, and unlike some tropical plants, it doesn’t need high humidity.

• Light: Partial

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 3 -15 ft. tall

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosumare)

With beautiful grasslike leaves, the spider plant (Chlorophytum comosumare) adds a pop of green to your home. It’s also an easy to care for houseplant, as it can handle periods of drought and a range of sunlight.

• Light: Partial sun to shade

• Water: Keep the soil lightly moist

• Mature Size: 1–2 ft. tall

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra Elatior)

Native to Japan and China, this verdant green plant does great in low-light conditions and has earned a reputation as being a hard-to-kill plant. The plant tolerates different indoor temperatures and irregular watering, so you can even set up a self-watering planter. It also grows very slowly, so you won't need to repot right away.

• Light: Partial light to shade

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 2–3 ft. tall

Holiday Cactus (Zygocactus or Schlumbergera)

This plant flowers red blooms in winter, right around Christmas. Though called a cactus, it hails from the Brazilian rainforest and can tolerate low light. But to grow flowers, it needs brighter light.

• Light: Partial light to bright light

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall

Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia spp.)

This plant comes in a variety of colors, from green to whiter shades. While this plant prefers warmer temperatures, it likes being in bright, indirect sunlight, so beginners can place this in a sunny window and forget about it. This plant is toxic to people and pets.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Keep the soil moist by watering twice a week

• Mature Size: 3–10 ft. tall

Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

A super slow-growing tree, the dragon tree is easy to care for because it is drought-tolerant and doesn’t need much water. Although it prefers bright, indirect light, it can handle a range of light conditions.

• Light: Full sun to partial shade

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 15–20 ft. tall

Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)

Pretty in purple, this plant offers a pop of brilliant color to a home. It also requires less upkeep, so provide it with a sunny spot and water occasionally, and you're all good to go.

• Light: Full, partial sun

• Water: Water when the soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: 0.5–1 ft. tall

Peace Lilly (Spathiphyllum spp.)

Peace lilies have large oval leaves and beautiful blooms that appear twice a year, even indoors. It prefers warmer spaces, so keep it away from drafts and colder rooms. Though beautiful, they are toxic to pets and people.

• Light: Partial sun

• Water: Keep soil moist

• Mature Size: 1–4 ft. tall

Prayer Plant (Maranta)

Known for its bright, beautiful leaves, the prayer plant is a popular houseplant. Any beginner can either hang the plant or set it near a window for indirect sunlight. It can also handle longer light conditions, but make sure it's not placed in direct sun, which will burn the plant’s delicate leaves.

• Light: Partial sun to indirect light

• Water: Keep the soil lightly moist

• Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall

Air Plants (Tillandsia stricta)

The great thing about air plants is you don’t need to water them, and you can put them in an open vessel or container. As long as they can pull enough moisture out of the air, you don’t need to soak them in water. If not, soak the plant in a bowl filled with water for 20 minutes every other week.

• Light: Bright to medium indirect light

• Water: Soak in water

• Mature Size: 2-12 in. tall

Peperomia (Peperomia spp.)

Tolerant of neglect, this plant only needs water occasionally, a great benefit for beginners. It grows slowly and doesn’t need frequent repotting. Place the plant in bright, indirect light for the best results.

• Light: Full or partial sun

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 6–12 in. tall

Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae genera)

It is easy to grow in many indoor conditions, and it can even grow without soil. The plant comes in brilliantly bright hues, but is slow-growing, taking years to reach maturity.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: Varies by genera and species

Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)

The polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) comes in a range of spotted shades, from pink to white. It is easier to care for because it can handle a range of light, such as bright, indirect light but it can handle partial sunlight as well. Plus, they remain on the smaller side even once mature.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Keep soil evenly moist

• Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall

Nerve Plant (Fittonia)

This vibrant houseplant is low maintenance, as long as you give it lots of light and humidity. The plant is slow-growing and doesn’t need lots of repotting.

• Light: Bright, indirect sun

• Water: Keep soil evenly moist

• Mature Size: 3–6 in. tall

Echeveria (Echeveria spp.)

Coming in a range of pastel hues, the Echeveria is a fast-growing succulent. Despite this, it is fairly low maintenance because it doesn’t need lots of water and prefers to be left in a sunlight-filled window.

• Light: Bright, indirect sun

• Water: Let the soil dry between waterings

• Mature Size: 2-24 in. tall

Spiderwort (Tradescantia)

Spiderwort (Tradescantia) grows rapidly outside, but when grown indoors, they are easy to contain. These plants do well in hanging containers because they can vine downward, like pothos.

• Light: Direct to bright indirect light

• Water: Keep soil consistently moist

• Mature Size: Varies

Pink Princess Philodendron

Like most philodendrons, this plant can do well in low-light situations, but bright indirect light keeps its pink plant colors vibrant. The plant also requires less water. For all its beauty, it is easy to take care of.

• Light: Bright, indirect light to low light

• Water: Water when soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: 4-5 ft. tall

Peperomia Rosso

This species of plant is one of the easiest to grow indoors. Just be sure to give it loads of indirect light. The peperomia rosso variety comes in a pretty fusion of red meets purple hues, offering a nice bit of unexpected color in a houseplant.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Water when soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: 8 inches tall

Moon Cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii)

The colorful red, orange, or yellow top of the moon cactus (Gymnocalycium mihanovichii) makes this plant unusual. But it is so easy to take care of because it doesn't need much water but prefers lots of sun.

• Light: Bright, indirect light

• Water: Water when soil becomes dry

• Mature Size: Varies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest plant to maintain indoors?

Cacti and succulents are the easiest. "These are sustainable and can survive any environmental condition without needing watering or sunlight," Mitri says.

Which plant requires least maintenance?

According to Mitri, it's the ZZ plant. This plant thrives in several environmental conditions: sunlight, no sunlight, water, no water.

"It can survive a long time without watering and being in drought conditions," she explains.

Which indoor plants need the least water?

This again goes to the ZZ Plant. "It doesn't need repotting regularly, and it's just an amazing plant that is difficult to kill and looks amazing in any space," Mitri says.

Read Next: 16 Low-Light Succulents That'll Grow Without Bright Light

Read the original article on The Spruce.