25 of the best house plants to grow

Before you buy your house plant, check which conditions it needs to grow well and whether you can provide those conditions in your home. Most indoor plants thrive in bright but indirect light – a few feet from a window is ideal. No house plant will be happy next to a radiator, open fire or air conditioning unit.

Brush up on how to care for your house plant, as all have slightly different needs. For example, indoor plants are often killed by overwatering. As a rule of thumb, water only when the top 1-2cm of compost is dry. Many plants also need humid conditions so mist plants regularly, spritzing them with a misting spray to raise the humidity levels in warm, dry rooms. Feed regularly (around once a month) with a specialist house plant feed during the growing season, from spring to autumn. Many house plants cease growing in the winter months, so need less feeding and watering at this time.

Choosing house plants

When choosing indoor plants to grow in your home, take time to work out which conditions you can provide for them. There's no point in buying sun-loving cactus plants if you have only dark rooms and north-facing windows to offer. Similarly, humidity-loving jungle plants are best grown in a bathroom and don't thrive in other, drier areas of the home. Do a bit of research – if you fall in love with a plant, find out how to grow it before taking it home, so you can give it the best chance of survival possible.

For help choosing pots for your house plants see our guide to 15 of the best indoor plant pots

Buy misting spray bottles on Amazon

Buy houseplant food on Amazon

More on growing indoor plants:

• Eight house plants to grow on a windowsill
• How to propagate clump-forming house plants
• 10 exotic house plants to grow

We've picked 25 of our favourite indoor plants below, listed below.

Spider plants

Spider plants (Chlorophytum) are easy to grow and will reward you with frequent offsets that can be grown on and given to friends. As well as the variegated varieties 'Vittatum' and 'Variegatum', you could also grow 'Lemon', which has fresh green foliage. They look fabulous in hanging containers. Grow out of direct sunlight, and water and feed regularly while in active growth.

Height x Spread: 0.5m x 0.3m

Buy spider plants from Primrose

Aspidistras

As a testament to their toughness, aspidistras are commonly known as cast iron plants. They're hardier than one might think, too, capable of surviving temperatures as low as -5ºC. Lush, broad leaves make them great foliage plants. Grow out of direct sunlight and feed and water regularly from spring to autumn.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.3m

Buy Aspidistras from Waitrose Garden

Monstera

One of the best-loved and most popular house plants, monsteras are exotic beauties that will reward the grower with broad leaves with little effort. Grow in a bright spot out of direct sunlight and water regularly while in active growth. Best grown with a moss pole so they can climb. Monstera adansonii is a smaller though no less attractive alternative.

H x S: 2m x 2.5m

Buy monstera from Waitrose Garden

Hoyas

These twining evergreen climbers bear clusters of richly scented flowers, and enjoy growing in bright shade in a free-draining soil. Hoya carnosa and Hoya kerrii are perhaps the most commonly grown hoyas, but there are many more exciting and easily grown types to branch out into, too.

H x S: 0.45m x 0.45m

Buy hoya from Waitrose Garden

Philodendron xanadu

One of many gorgeous philodendrons to grow as house plants, Philodendron xanadu is a clump-forming species with lobed leaves that enjoys growing in a shady location. Provide it with the humidity it enjoys by misting regularly. Other attractive philodendrons to grow include Philodendron scandens, Philodendron erubescens and Philodendron 'Imperial Red'.

H x S: depends on variety

Buy Philodendron xanadu from Waitrose Garden

Rubber plants

Rubber plants, Ficus elastica, are easy evergreens to grow with glossy leaves and a stunning architectural growth habit. There are several cultivars to choose from, such as the variegated 'Tineke', or 'Bali', which has deep green-purple leaves. It's far from the only ficus to grow, though. Others include the fiddle leaf fig, Ficus benghalensis and Ficus benjamina. Grow them in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 2.5m x 2m

Buy rubber plants from Primrose

Areca palm

With masses of upright, divided leaves, Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is bound to make a statement. For a similar look, you could also try growing Howea fosteriana or Chamaedorea elegans, which have slightly larger leaflets. Grow in bright light out of direct sunlight, water well when in active growth and give it a good mist regularly.

H x S: 2m x 1m

Buy chamaedorea elegans from Waitrose Garden

String of hearts

String of hearts, (Ceropegia woodii) is a trailing house plant, which makes a fabulous vertical accent for growing indoors. The stems can quickly reach over two metres in length and look lovely draping over the edge of a bookcase or mantelpiece. Very easy to grow, as long as it's not overwatered, it enjoys a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.1m

Buy Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii from Waitrose Garden

Pilea peperomioides

Pilea peperomioides is an easy-to-grow plant with distinctive round, succulent leaves. They're constantly producing offsets so you'll never be short of baby plants to give away as presents. Give it a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 0.3m x 0.3m

Buy Pilea peperomioides from Primrose

Snake plant

The upright, sword-shaped leaves of snake plants (Sansevieria) are instantly recognisable. Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii has creamy margins, while Sansevieria zeylandica has lovely striated leaves. Sansevieria masoniana 'Victoria' has much broader leaves. Great for a bright location out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 1m x 0.3m

Buy Snake plants from Waitrose Garden

Phlebodium aureum

The rabbit's foot fern, Phlebodium aureum, has gorgeous, glaucous leaves. These are produced from creeping rhizomes covered in lots of small hairs, giving them a furry appearance. Very easy to grow if grown in bright, indirect sunlight. Keep well watered and mist the leaves regularly.

H x S: 1m x 0.5m

Buy Phlebodium aureum from Waitrose Garden

Maidenhair fern

The maidenhair fern, Adiantum raddianum, makes a gorgeous, leafy house plant. Each frond bears small, delicate leaves held on contrasting dark stems. Thriving in a humid environment, it's perfect for a steamy bathroom.

H x S: 0.4m x 0.4m

Buy Maidenhair Ferns from Primrose

Streptocarpus

Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) makes a fantastic houseplant in the British Isles. They come in a huge range of flower colours, and bloom from spring to autumn. They’re easy to grow grow them on a bright window sill away from direct sunlight, and avoid over-watering.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.1m

Buy Streptocarpus from Dobies

Crassula ovata 'Gollum'

Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’, also known as the jade plant, is an unusual succulent with tubular, trumpet shaped leaves. It looks like a small tree, and the branching trunk becomes thick with age. It may produce clusters of small, star-like, white or pinkish-white flowers with pink stamens in winter.

H x S: 0.8m x 0.4m

Buy Crassula from Waitrose Garden

Deuterocohnia

Deuterocohnia are bromeliads, native to Argentina and Bolivia. They bear small, sharply pointed, toothed leaves in blue-green, with reddish tips. Grow in bright light and water regularly, reducing watering in winter.

H x S: 0.4m x 0.3m

Buy Deuterocohnia from Crafty Plants

Staghorn fern

Staghorn fern, Platycerium wandae, is an unusual house plant, native to lowland rainforests of New Guinea. An epiphyte, it has large, antler-like, lobed, leathery fronds.

H x S: 2m x 2m

Buy Staghorn fern from Waitrose Garden

Rhipsalis

There are several varieties of Rhipsalis, which are technically a cactus, but with a beautiful trailing habit, perfect for making indoor hanging displays. Grow in bright light and water sparingly.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.6m

Buy Rhipsalis from Waitrose Garden

Caladium Bicolor

Angel's wings. Caladium Bicolor, has beautiful heart-shaped green leaves in a variety of different colours. Grow caladium in bright light and water freely in summer, keeping the compost completely dry in winter.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.5m

Buy Caladium from Primrose

Alocasia cuprea

Alocasia cuprea bears large, leathery heart-shaped leaves in a variety of colours. Grow in bright light to partial shade, with a good degree of humidity - a bright bathroom is ideal.

H x S: 0.25m x 0.25m

Buy Alocasia from Primrose

Hippeastrum

Usually grown for Christmas, Hippeastrum (amaryllis) is a bulbous plant, bearing large, velvety flowers in a variety of colours. Plant in peat-free, multi-purpose compost around eight weeks before you want it to flower, and keep in a cool room with plenty of light to ensure it develops slowly, maintaining a strong flower shoot and leaves.

H x S: 0.75m x 0.2m

Buy Hippeastrum from Dobies

Fiddle-leaf fig

Fiddle leaf fig, Ficus lyrata, is a pricey plant that can be a little fickle – it has a habit of dropping its leaves if it’s not happy. This could be due to dry air, under- or overwatering, under- or over feeding, or sudden changes in temperature. Once you have found the right place for it – a bright spot, out of direct sun, in a warm room – leave it there, as it doesn’t like being moved. Wipe the leaves to keep them free of dust.

H x S: 2m x 0.5m

Buy Fiddle-leaf fig from Primrose

Purple shamrock

Purple shamrock, Oxalis triangularis, has purple leaves and pale pink, nodding flowers. It is a bulb and dies back in winter. It likes some humidity so is a good choice for a bathroom.

H x S: 0.5m x 2m

Buy Oxalis triangularis from Crocus

Succulents and cacti

Succulents and cacti are extremely popular and it’s easy to see why – they come in range of shapes, sizes and colours, such as the bunny-eared prickly pear cactus. Most will grow on a sunny windowsill and are low maintenance. Let the compost dry out between watering in summer. Find out how to make a succulent and cacti terrarium.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.3m

Buy cacti and succulents from Primrose

Air plants

Air plants don’t need compost – in nature, they take moisture from the air. They do need watering, however – either by regular misting, or by plunging in a bowl of water for around 30 minutes, allowing to drain well. A humid room, such as kitchen or bathroom, is ideal.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.2m

Buy air plants from Waitrose Garden

Crown of thorns

Crown of thorns, Euphorbia milii, is a pretty plant with fleshy leaves that seems to flower almost non-stop, given plenty of bright light. The flowers are actually coloured bracts that last for several weeks. It has fleshy leaves and stems, so doesn’t need too much watering. Wear gloves when handling – the plant has sharp thorns and also an irritant sap.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.5m

Buy Crown of thorns from Gardening Express

Clusia rosea

Clusia rosea, also known as the autograph tree, is a fast-growing house plant with evergreen leaves, but it can be kept at around 1.5m in height by pruning in spring. It grows well in warm, humid conditions, making it an ideal choice for a steamy bathroom or kitchen.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.5m

Buy Clusia rosea from Crocus