25 Beautiful House Plants For Unique Rooms

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In the digital age of Zoom meetings and interviews, webinars, and social media posts related to working-from-home scenarios, indoor houseplants have started to see a spike in interest as decor items. Numerous articles online can be found devoted to just the topic.

They’re beautiful, add color and depth to a room, and, best of all, they’re good for us: Studies have shown that indoor houseplants aid in removing harmful chemicals from the air known as volatile organic compounds.

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So whether you’re new to indoor gardening or have been doing it for years, this cost-effective way of adding variety to your work or living space is not going away. But what are the best ones, you might ask?

The next time you watch the news, you’re likely to see the guest interviewee with a background that includes a bookshelf, tasteful artwork, and a houseplant. It tells the viewer I care for nature and living things and that I’m well-educated. That aside, why else have people always collected houseplants?

Therefore, let’s explore some of the 25 more popular and trending indoor houseplants you can find and their attributes. Please read on to learn more, and let’s have some fun together along the way:

Snake Plant

Starting off the list is a plant capable of thriving in almost every situation. Bar, you are getting too overzealous with the H20; it’s a plant similar to Die Hard’s John McCane; it’s hard to kill. Its blade-like leaves come in a variety of patterns and colors. Additionally, its hardy character is perfect for those who prefer the minimum-fuss approach to sustaining life.

Zebra Haworthia

The Zebra Haworthia is another plant that doesn’t require much watering or attention. It has fleshy upright leaves and, similar to its animal namesake, has a white stripe pattern. This pointy sweet succulent prefers sunshine or brightly lit interiors like a sun-starved Brit on holiday. However, reduce UV light exposure if the leaf tips start going brown.

ZZ Plant

Like a sullen teenager who wants to be left alone, the ZZ plant (real name = Zamioculcas Zamiifolia) shows similar trends. This no-fuss houseplant prefers low-light conditions. Its dark green and thick leaves only grow up, and for those with small living spaces, it is ideal for not taking up much space.

Heartleaf Philodendron

Conversely, this plant needs space to stretch its legs as it prefers to trail along the edges of balconies or spillover ledges. It grows best with light watering and bright indirect lighting. To encourage thicker growth on the top, give the sides a quick trim to reduce how much space it takes up.

Purple Shamrock

You might consider getting this one if you’re looking for a fun and interactive plant in tune with day/night cycles. It enjoys bright, indirect sunlight during the day and then “goes to sleep” at night. Its dark-colored leaflets resemble little butterflies which open and fold depending on the time of day.

Take care, though, in giving it too much sunlight, and just before spring, give it a trim to encourage new growth.

Spider Plant

This plant compliments white containers, as the green strappy leaves love to spill over edges, making for beautiful contrasting colors. This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a tough hanging plant. They prefer indirect sunlight, so sparingly place them in the shade and water. You can also use the roots to grow new plants that are easily transferable to new containers.

Golden Pothos

Little light? No problem with this adaptable plant. Its green leaves are shaped like hearts and come in colorful yellow and white pattern schemes. They’re also good air purifiers, making them ideal for living or workspaces where natural light is unavailable. Water once a day, making sure the soil is dried first.

Monstera Deliciosa

Otherwise known as the Swiss cheese plant for its leaf holes, this trendy indoor houseplant is all the rage, particularly for its relatively large and green tropical-looking leaves.

It’s a great space filler and looks well-positioned in the corner of a room. Likewise, it looks good on top of a bookshelf. It, too, prefers bright and indirect sunshine and benefits from the occasional watering.

Lucky Bamboo

Known for its strength and durability, Lucky Bamboo can survive almost all conditions and grows in either dry soil or water. Nurseries tend to sell them with the stalks either curled or braided together, making them ideal gifts. Ideally, it prefers bright sunlight to thrive, and yellowing leaves could signify it needs more light.

This flowering plant originates from central Africa, in case you think there are Asian connotations. It’s from the Dracaena sanderiana species, and Lucky Bamboo is just a marketing name.

Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Another excellent space filler can grow between 12-15 m tall (39-50 feet) and has huge green flowering leaves. It’s perfect next to stairways or spaces with large ceilings.

It originates from western Africa and is tropical, requiring regular watering, provided the soil is dry. Keep it away from drafts or air-conditioning systems, which prohibit its growth and cause damage.

Peperomia

On the smaller side, this colorful indoor houseplant loves to sparkle, especially in the mornings, when it catches the first rays of the rising sun. Therefore, place it on a windowsill that faces east if possible. Its textured leaves have distinct green and, in some cases, white markings.

Known as radiator plants and originating from South and Central America, there are more than 1500 species records.

English Ivy

As the name might hint at (found in northern Europe mainly), this plant is more comfortable in cooler, low light, and damp conditions. It prefers temperatures around 15-20 degrees Celsius (45-65 Fahrenheit) and moist soil.

It makes for a great hanging plant if it has the space and will quickly climb upwards. Cuttings from the root can be planted elsewhere and will soon grow too.

Aloe Plant

Considered an invasive species in many parts of the world, this doesn’t stop making for an excellent indoor houseplant. Its medicinal and skincare applications are well documented, due to many factors, including its fleshy leaves’ ability to store water internally for long periods.

For this reason, it makes it the ideal lock-up and goes summer house-only plant as it requires minimal upkeep. It prefers dry conditions and plenty of sunshine, so it would benefit from being placed on a window sill or balcony. Water occasionally when at home, but it can go for long periods without H20.

Clivia

If you’re overwatering it, this pot plant communicates with you by giving off bright orange and yellow spots on its green leaves. This flowering plant comes from native southern Africa, so it prefers bright and indirect light, with occasional watering.

As temperatures cool, it flowers bright orange and yellow petals amongst its green strap-like leaves. It’s ideal for homes or gardens that receive regular drafts, and the leaves remain evergreen year-round.

Christmas Cactus

As the name suggests, it’s often sold at grocery stores around the holidays. Its main drawcard is the flowering of white, pink, yellow, red, or purple petals.

This blooming will last for several days or weeks, and during this time, it prefers to be placed in direct sunshine until the flowers fade and die or the weather dips below 20 degrees Celsius (55 Fahrenheit). Exposure to shade and lower temperatures will then trigger another flowering.

Originating from Brazil, it needs regular watering, provided the soil is dry.

Peace Lily

No, this isn’t some flower-child houseplant, harking back to the ’60s and hippies. Originating from tropical regions across South America, Central Africa, and Asia, it is linked in name to a pig’s ear in certain areas due to the shape of its flowers.

It prefers low humidity and minimal bright light to thrive—just enough for its exquisite white flowers to bloom.

It also requires regular watering; otherwise, the leaves will start to brown. Its contrasting green and white colors make great room additions to offset neutral colors when in bloom.

Jade

Jade is known for its longevity and can even outlive your pet if adequately looked after. Being succulent, it retains water inside its shiny green leaves. For this reason, it’s the perfect low-maintenance, minimalist tree. It’s small and looks great in a container offset by white pebbles.

It often sprouts small white or pink flowers and originates from southern Africa.

Commonly referred to as the lucky plant or money tree, it is Chinese folklore that owning it will bestow good fortune and wealth. Avoid overwatering and ensure it gets adequate light.

Prayer Plant

Like the rising and bowing practice during prayer and worship, the Maranta leuconeura (aka Payer Plant) rises and falls during the day. It comes to a final upright position in the evening during this process, showing off its strikingly marked evergreen oval leaves. Make sure to position the plant in indirect light and keep the soil consistently moist, never letting it dry.

If you spot brown tips on the ends of leaves, this is a sign that the plant is receiving too much sunlight. Its leaves with red markings, offset by a light green center, are visually stunning.

Purple Secretia

Otherwise known as the purple heart, its leaves shimmer in the sunlight with a silvery-purple color that enhances the quality of lance-shaped leaves. They look great as a color additive in an otherwise green garden due to their heavy and impactful presence.

They also make for a lovely hanging basket plant or trailing along a ledge or balcony. They prefer bright but indirect light to optimize the leaf color; keep the soil evenly moist.

Rubber Plant

With the species name of Ficus elastica, it’s not hard to see how the name for the Rubber Plant originated. Here’s another excellent space filler option that can grow up to 2.4 m (8 feet) tall, start life on a desk, and transition to filling in corner space.

Ensure you give the plant a bright spot out of direct sunlight and watch it grow. Likewise, ensure you keep the soil moist in the growing season (summertime) and water once or twice a month once the plant has gone dormant in the fall.

Dumb Cane

This plant is undoubtedly no dunce sitting in the corner. Instead, with low-hanging flowering plants, it gives off a tropical feeling. These variegated white center, green outer leaves can reach up to 30 cm (one foot) long. More interestingly, the display patterns can vary with attractive speckles and stripes. Please place it in indirect sunlight for optimal growth conditions and water twice a week.

Maidenhair Fern

This indoor houseplant needs a little more TLC to reach its maximum potential. You need to water and mist it almost daily, meaning it’s probably not the best choice for someone who travels a lot. This is because of the plant’s humid origins and preference for being wet.

It doesn’t mind being indoors during low light conditions but will quickly die if not properly looked after—this is a plant that loves water, so keep its soil damp. This plant is ideal for someone who enjoys putting in the effort to reap the green rewards.

Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese Evergreen leaves can have pink, white, red, or silver drops of color in them, particularly around the edges. This plant’s ability to thrive equally well in a brightly lit room or on a desk beneath fluorescent lights makes this plant unique. Furthermore, allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Arrowhead Vine

Another plant enjoys sunrises and would prefer if you positioned it at an east-facing window. Here, you, the owner, take control of the growth and the plant’s shape. It will be compact and upright in its first few months but eventually develop long. You can train them to climb up supports with careful shaping and trimming. Alternatively, cut them back in length to maintain a bushier form.

Rex Begonia

A relative of the garden begonia, Rex has some stunning color patterns to delight its owner. The leaves show off a paintbrush-on-canvas effect of swirls and splotches. The colors on display include dazzling reds and bright oranges.

Other colors include silver, purple, pink, and even gold stripes. Please give it a well-lighted room out of direct sunlight, and keep the soil consistently damp but not soggy. It’s another indoor houseplant that enjoys its water.

If you know what is the best house plant for beginners. I wrote an article about the best house plant for beginners. You can read it here.

Conclusion on 25 houseplants for every indoor gardener

You now have access to information on 25 of the most common houseplants. So which one best suits you? Are you after bright and colorful, or perhaps something that requires low maintenance? As you can see, you have plenty of choices—it’s all down to individual tastes and preferences.

Suppose you want to know how to water house plants while on vacation. I wrote an article about how to water house plants while on vacation. You can read it here.

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