The Top 10 Best Houseplants for Beginners to Grow

Try your hand at houseplants with these beginner-friendly picks. We found the best houseplants that even beginners can keep alive.

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snake plant
Via Bloomscape

Snake Plant

Dracaena spp.

A snake plant is one of the best houseplants for beginners and frequent vacationers because it can be left alone occasionally. In fact, snake plants are more affected by too much water. They tend to easily succumb to root rot, so avoid watering when the soil is still damp. Stick a finger a couple of inches into the soil—if you hit moisture, wait to water.

Beginner gardeners are often guilty of being too attentive and overwatering. If the soil never dries out, if water pools in the saucer beneath your pot, or if the edges of your plant are turning yellow and brown, you’re likely watering too often.

Why we love it: Put it in any room, as a snake plant tolerates a range of light conditions, but it does prefer bright light.

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Bloomscape Pothos Collection Taupe
Bloomscape

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

Pothos gets its other common name, devil’s ivy, because it’s a vigorous grower that is difficult to kill completely. It’s one of the best houseplants for beginners because it bounces back from most rookie mistakes. For maximum growth, keep pothos in bright indirect light and away from drafty or cold spaces.

Why we love it: Plant it in a hanging basket or in a pot on a pedestal or shelf to enjoy the attractive vines that spill over. Pothos can also be trained to grow up walls and around windows and pillars.

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The Sill Dracaena Marginata Copy
The Sill

Dragon Tree

Dracaena marginata

With the ability to be trained into different shapes, dragon trees are fun houseplants for beginners. It handles a missed watering well too. If you notice discoloration, the issue is likely due to overwatering or too much fluoride in the water.

Why we love it: This easygoing plant doesn’t require much fertilizer outside of summer. It’s a slow grower, only needing a new pot every two to three years.

We found the top 10 best houseplants for low light.

4 Jade Copy
Thorsen's Greenhouse

Jade Plant

Crassula ovata

Sometimes called money plant, jade plant is said to bring good luck. It thrives in four to six hours of bright or indirect light a day. As the plants mature or when winter temps are cool and the soil is drier, they’re more likely to bloom small whitish flowers.

Why we love it: With careful care, a jade plant can live for decades and be passed down through families. Learn how to know when your jade plant needs repotting.

4 Sanderiana Core Brushed Silver 2
Thorsen's Greenhouse

Lucky Bamboo

Dracaena sanderiana

Although technically part of the asparagus family, lucky bamboo looks like true bamboo and grows relatively quickly. Consistently moist soil is key. Or skip the soil altogether by propping the plant up with pebbles in a clear vessel, then filling with water so the roots are covered.

Why we love it: Lucky bamboo prefers bright or medium indirect light, but it does fine in low light, too, even tolerating office spaces with minimal sunshine.

Bloomscape Ponytail Palm Tree V2 Large Detail Color Edit
Bloomscape

Ponytail Palm

Beaucarnea recurvata

Technically a succulent, ponytail palm adds a little funky style to any room. It prefers bright light and a well-draining potting mix for best results. To give it a sunny boost in summer, slowly move it outside to soak up the rays. Allow the soil to completely dry out between watering.

Why we love it: Ponytail palm’s bulbous base functions like the hump on a camel’s back, storing water and making the palm incredibly drought tolerant.

Check out 10 seriously cool succulents that make great houseplants.

best houseplants for beginners Bloomscape People+plants Dwarf Monstera New
Bloomscape

Swiss Cheese Plant

Monstera deliciosa

Pick a sunny spot in your home and make a bold statement with this trendy tropical plant. As it grows, the leaves gain distinctive splits called fenestrations. Monstera is poisonous if eaten, so it does best in homes without dogs, cats or small children. Keep it in bright but indirect light and water as needed.

Why we love it: This monster of a houseplant can grow 1 to 2 feet per year, reaching 6 to 8 feet tall in most homes.

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best houseplants for beginners Bloomscape Peace Lily Large Stone
Bloomscape

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum spp.

In the wild, peace lilies grow along the forest floor, so they prefer partial shade and regular moisture. They grow up to 16 inches tall indoors and, if given enough light, they’ll flower. Keep them in a shadier spot if you just want leaves.

Why we love it: Peace lily is perfect for plant parents who tend to overwater­­—it needs consistently moist soil.

best houseplants for beginners Bloomscape Dieffenbachia 10in Clay Scaled
Bloomscape

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia seguine

This tropical plant prefers bright light but handles most light conditions. A well-lit bathroom is a fantastic home for this plant because it loves moisture. However, it is very dangerous if ingested, so avoid growing it if you have young children or pets.

Why we love it: Creamy yellow patterns on the leaves provide plenty of visual interest since the plant usually doesn’t bloom.

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best houseplants for beginners The Sill Parlor Palm Large Burbank Alomd
The Sill

Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea elegans

Fashionable during the Victorian era, parlor palm gets its name for the front rooms it used to be placed in. One of the reasons behind its popularity as one of the best houseplants for beginners is its ability to thrive in low light—even the minimal lighting of the 19th century.

Why we love it: Parlor palm’s long, elegant foliage makes any room feel tropical, and it does well in average humidity and room temperatures.

Next, check out the 8 best indoor plants for mental health.

Kaitlin Stainbrook
Kaitlin Stainbrook has been writing about birding and gardening for nearly a decade. As the associate editor of Birds & Blooms magazine, she wrote and edited articles across a wide range of topics from houseplants to hummingbirds. She's worked closely with top birding and gardening experts and continues to learn everything she can about the natural world around us.