Houseplants: 10 Top Low-Maintenance Choices

Posted by KK on Feb 13th 2025

By KK

Spending a lot of time at home lately? Now that it's winter, are you feeling a bit confined, and finding the air a bit stuffy? Do you need to breathe some life into your workspace, or encourage peace and relaxation in your living area? One of the best ways to tackle those issues is to add some live plants to your home.

A simple potted spider plant enlivens a shelf of books, and requires minimal care.

Low Maintenance Houseplants for an Easy Care Indoor Sanctuary

Bringing in a bit of green allows you to connect with nature, relieve stress, boost your mood, and even improve the air you breathe. It doesn't have to be difficult if you make the right choices--instead of a fussy, high-maintenance house guest, you can have a mellow, relatively self-sufficient friend for life. Read on for our suggested list of easy care houseplants that will make you glad they were invited, and click here for general indoor plant growing tips

Pothos & Heartleaf Philodendron - Tried and True Trailers

These two, well actually three, related plants are fairly interchangeable in the home, but there are some differences. When you see photos of houseplants trailing across shelves, floor to ceiling, it’s likely a heartleaf philodendron—these tend to grow faster in interior situations than their leafy cousins. In the wild though, either philodendron or pothos (Eprimenum aureum), will be a larger plant with leaves many times bigger than you’ll ever see in your home—many folks may not recognize a full-grown specimen at first introduction. There are also many more varieties of philodendron you’ll find as popular houseplants with larger, less trailing or self-heading habits, whereas pothos varieties only differ in color, variegation, and vigor to some degree. Then there's Scindapsus, which looks more like a philodendron to me, but is commonly called "satin pothos," and it's neither--most offered for sale have heavy silver shading or silver spots on a dark green background. Any of these may be found in 4 or 6 inch pots and 6, 8, or 10 inch baskets.

All three of these will grow best in bright to medium indirect light and will tolerate low light for extended periods, although color and variegation may be lost. Let dry slightly between waterings and always keep these houseplants above 55 degrees. Any of them will make a terrific hanging basket that will look best if pruned to keep full and fat—just pinch back a few of the stems close to the center every now and then, and trim any long, leggy growth. The cuttings will grow easily in water. Since they form aerial roots, they can also be grown up a bark or mossed pole if some height is desired.

Popular heartleaf philodenron varieties include 'Brasil' with chartreuse markings and P. micans (velvet philodendron) with smaller, very dark green leaves and bronze new foliage.

Common pothos varieties include green and white streaked 'Marble Queen,' gold splashed 'Golden,' chartreuse 'Neon,' and 'Njoy' and 'Pearls and Jade' with heavier white variegation, the latter two being a bit less vigorous. Newer 'Baltic Blue' pothos has a bluish tinge and slits in the leaves somewhat resembling those of monstera plants.

Scindapsus varieties include 'Exotica,' Silver Splash,' silver spotted 'Argyraeus,' and softly silvered 'Moonlight.'

heartleaf philodendron houseplant trailing down shelf of books

Above: Heartleaf philodendron can be left to trail, pruned to be kept tidier, or grown up a bark or moss pole, as below. Photo below by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Heartleaf philodendron
'Golden' pothos
'Marble Queen' pothos
'Pearls and Jade' pothos
Scindapsus, likely 'Argyraeus'

Snake Plants - The Easiest Houseplants EVER

The ever-reliable snake plant is one of the easiest and most adaptable houseplants you can own—a real tough cookie. It can be acclimated to low light or full sun and requires infrequent watering. The easiest way to kill one is to water it too much, so water it less then you think it needs and then skip one of those waterings and you’re on the right track. And I know some of you are just sure you don’t like them, and their strong architectural lines may fight with less contemporary, more traditional interiors.

Perhaps examine some of the less typical varieties if you haven’t seen a snake plant in a while. My favorite is 'Bantel’s Sensation'-- tall narrow leaves with heavy vertical brushstrokes on a dark green background. It has a softer look that blends in very well with today’s interior neutral color schemes. 'Sayuri' has similar coloring with leaves 2 to 3 times as wide as Bantel’s. 'Moonshine' has even broader very pretty, solid silvery-light green leaves on a shorter plant generally more suited as a tabletop houseplant than a floor plant.

If you’re looking for an adorable small houseplant for the bathroom or another dimly lit spot, the birds nest Sansevieria can’t be beat, with short rosettes of thick pointed leaves in your choice of green/yellow/silver variegations. All snake plants grow in height very slowly, so be sure to get the size you need to start with.

In addition to the typical long & narrow leaved types, there are also species with cylindrical (S. cylindrica), very wide (S. masoniana) leaves, or grassy-appearing leaves. S. cylindrica can be presented as an upright clump, arranged as a flat fan, or several stems braided together, while S. masoniana, often called whalefin snake plant, is most often planted with one very large leaf per pot. Sansevieria hybrid 'Fernwood' has quite narrow leaves tightly curled inward along the length for a finer, grassier (yet still stiff) texture.

By the way, they're also terrific and adaptable accents in mixed containers. I've seen them summering outside, faring well with thirstier New Guinea impatiens. They're also great for adding height to a mixed succulent planting. And did I mention it’s a tough, tough plant? Next time you’re in southern Florida, look for some growing at the beach. They won’t look as pristine as the one in your living room, but they’re surviving to the point that they are currently assessed as a high risk for invasiveness. So, NOT one to plant in the ground in areas where it may overwinter, but a fine and study choice as an indoor plant.

FYI, the genus Sansevieria has recently been removed and snake plants are now officially Dracaena species. For instance, S. cylindrica is now Dracaena angolensis. But since most of us don't keep up with those things, especially the companies that make plant tags, we'll stick with Sansevieria for a while longer. If you really want the new botanical names, just let us know.

Cylindrical snake plant with multiple plants per pot
Whale fin snake plant - leaves so big one leaf fills the whole pot!
'Bantel's Sensation' snake plant has strong white variegation. Photo courtesy Top Tropicals, Inc., www.troptropicals.com
Bird's nest snake plants are shorter and compact. Photo courtesy Costa Farms, www.costafarms.com
'Moonshine' snake plant has silvery light green wider leaves. Photo courtesy Top Tropicals.

Aglaonema - The Perfect Office Plant

Long, thick leaves on a mounded plant create a lush, tropical look. Large plants have a lot of substance, and a grouping employing staggered height planters or plant stands nicely substitutes for a traditional tall floor plant to fill a lonely corner. So many colors and variegations are available—glossy green streaked & spotted with silver, white, cream, yellow, pink, or red. Foliage shape varies by variety also, some bearing very narrow and pointed leaves rather than the traditional large broad leaves. In general, the plant will always be wider than tall, and no more than 3' in height.

Aglaonema, also called Chinese evergreen, tolerates low light, but will grow best in medium to bright indirect, especially those with pink and red hues to keep the colors from fading. Let dry between waterings and avoid direct sun and cold. Even brief periods below 55 degrees can cause damage to these houseplants—dark, greasy spots will appear days to even more than a week after exposure. Ags are the perfect desk & office plant, performing well in bright fluorescent light.

Most common aglaonema has broad pointed leaves and silver variegation. This is probably 'Silver Bay.' Photo courtesy TopTropicals.com
Pink aglaonemas were first offered about 10-15 years ago. Here, likely 'Two-tone Moonstone.'
Red aglaonema with bright red edging and pink stems, 'Siam Red,' or 'Siam Aurora.'
Aglaonemas can be spotted, striped, or shaded in shades of green, silver, white, or pink. Photo courtesy Top Tropicals, www.toptropicals.com
Some aglaonema varieties long, narrow leaves. Photo courtesy Top Tropicals, www.toptropicals.com

Dracaena - One Genus, A Plethora of Easy Care Houseplants

This genus encompasses many common houseplants including the tall Madagascar dragon tree and corn plant, lucky bamboo (not a bamboo), and myriad other linearly variegated beauties. In general, they will do best in bright indirect light, but can tolerate medium, and even low light for a spell. If you have fluoridated (city) water, you would be advised to use distilled or collected rain water as the fluoride will cause leaf and tip burn. As with most houseplants, the soil should be allowed to dry somewhat between waterings.

Madagascar dragon tree (D. marginata) has long, slim, horizontally ridged leafless stems, or canes, with a head of long, very narrow, pointed foliage. The stems are often twisted, braided, or created with other unusual contortions and odd angles. They may also be found potted with the crown at soil level, with no trunks at all. Canes of different heights can be placed in the same pot for a tiered or columnar effect. 6, 8, or 10" pots of crown-level planted types are generally available, with "trees" grown in 10, 12, or 14 inch pots. Green leaves are edged in red; cultivars have linear striping in varying shades of pink, cream, yellow, and green. 'Colorama' and 'Ray of Sunshine' are particularly vibrant choices.

Corn plant, or what is known in the industry as “Mass Cane” (short for the cultivar name ‘Massangeana’) bears wider, sturdier canes topped with broader yellow and green striped leaves 2 feet in length. Corn plant, as well as many other varieties of dracaena, is often grown with several canes of various heights in one pot. This creates an interesting specimen with heads of foliage at staggered heights, the taller ones making excellent tall floor plants. Tabletop and low floor plants are created by using only the growing tips, for a fatter, bushier appearance. Most often offered in 10, 12, or 14 inch pots at heights from 2 feet to 6 feet. In my experience, mass cane plants prefer to dry out more--that may be because they are not well-rooted from the grower when sold and roots in the pots are minimal. Beware, as rotten canes will usually not be noticeable until it’s too late.

The popular lucky bamboo is not a bamboo, but a small dracaena variety that can be grown directly in an inch or so of water. They are often braided or woven into decorative designs.

My favorite dracaena include ‘Rikki’ with narrow lime green leaves edged in dark green, ‘Whitney,’ dark green with feathery white striping, and ‘White Aspen’, white leaves with a broad central stripe of deep green. Always popular are ‘Lemon Lime’ with stripes of green, chartreuse and white, and ‘Limelight’ in solid electric chartreuse. These are generally available in 6, 8, or 10 inch pots.

Dracaena marginata potted at crown level. Photo courtesy Northland Floral
D. marginata with 3 stems braided into a trunk. Photo courtesy Northland Floral
"Mass Cane" - Dracaena canes are potted with one or more canes with heads at varying heights to create tall floor plants.
Dracaena 'Janet Craig' is a denser growing variety with shorter, dark green leaves that can ultimately grow 3 to 8 feet. Photo courtesy Northland Floral.
Dracaena 'Lemon Lime' has dark green leaves beautifully striped in chartreuse and cream. Photo courtesy Northland Floral, www.northlandfloral.com

Peace Lily - Not a Lily, Just a Great Houseplant

A peace lily is not actually a lily and doesn’t look a thing like a lily to me. I can’t explain that part of the name, but the “peace” comes from the white flower spathe that resembles a white flag of truce. Even without the flowers, the large glossy green leaves on this well-known houseplant make an attractive display. Best in medium to bright indirect light (full sun will burn the foliage); will tolerate low light but may not flower there. The common type grows to about 3’ in the home, smaller varieties are usually more prolific bloomers and only grow 12-15” tall. There are variegated varieties in the marketplace—1-2’ growing ‘Domino,’ with green and white marbled leaves is the old standby, but 'Jet Diamond' is a newer improvement, and 'Picasso Peace' shows even heavier variegation.

All varieties prefer being pot bound and flower best that way, so no need to worry about repotting for a while. Basically you can leave it in the same pot until it's impossible for you to keep it watered. The key to a peace lily is to NEVER LET IT WILT, but don’t keep it constantly wet. It sounds hard, but it really isn’t. It can and should dry out a bit between waterings, but NOT to the wilting point, which will cause leaves to yellow. It will survive a wilt or two to allow you to gauge the timing, but if that’s your regular houseplant watering routine trade this in for a snake plant and call it a day.

Spider plant - A Simple, Pet-safe Houseplant

Yes, it's common, but if you want a simple, fast-growing houseplant, this is the one. And who couldn’t love a plant that provides you with babies, babies, and more babies? From an attractive clump of yellow and green variegated, narrow arching leaves, long yellow stems will spring. Small white flowers will be followed by round green seedheads, and later miniature plants will form along these stems.

The plant can eventually take on massive proportions, filling out a hanging basket in a hurry, especially when summering outside in the shade or semi-shade. Try it in your shade containers, mixed with New Guinea impatiens, coleus, or ferns. Being less cold-sensitive than other houseplants, it will last long into the fall outside. There are several cultivars available, one with reverse variegation and 'Bonnie,' with very curly leaves. These are most commonly offered in hanging baskets and 4 or 6 inch pots.

If it appears a bit unkempt at times, you can remove the flowering stems, or you can bring the babies back into the pot and plant, leaving the stem attached until it roots in. Once there’s resistance to a gentle tug, you can remove the stem at both attachment points. Give it medium to bright indirect light, let it dry somewhat between waterings, and it will reward you with more and more little friends.

And according to the ASPCA, it's non-toxic to both cats and dogs. FYI, cats may find them tasty, and they might throw up after they eat it, much like when they eat grass. So you may want to get some hairball remedy and put the plant out of reach anyway, or you'll end up with a pot of little green nubs, like I did!

Bright, indirect light helps peace lilies rebloom. Photo courtesy Northland Floral.
Spathiphyllum 'Domino,' variegated peace lily, photo courtesy Costa Farms.
Reverse variegated spider plant, just for a change! Photo courtesy Northland Floral.
Where our big spider lives.......
Curly spider plant, photo courtesy Northland Floral.

Tillandsia - No Pot Required!

Tillandsias, or air plants, aren’t everyone’s first choice for a beautiful houseplant—they’re clumps of spiky leaves, sometimes grey, sometimes green, and perhaps not very impressive at first glance. But they’re tremendously popular as a houseplant, since they require no soil, no planting, and just a water dunk once a week. Bright indirect light is preferred—green ones can generally tolerate a bit less light and bit more water than the grey. Plant purveyors have come up with all sorts of ways to showcase tillandisas—in variously shaped seashells, on driftwood, hanging from colored copper wire, and glued to a grapevine wreath are just a few examples.

At the trade shows folks wait their turn to take selfies wearing the tillandsia wig, although I doubt that’s something you need at home. They do look charming under a small cloche, in a glass orb, or popping out of a small contemporary styled vase if coastal décor is not your thing. There’s almost nothing you can’t do with them--just don’t let them dry out completely or leave them too damp for too long (the closed terrarium not a good spot).

When blooming, tillandsias display brightly colored, showy bracts that house their small flowers, and like other bromeliads, they will die after flowering. However, they should produce new "pups," small plantlets attached to the mother plant, that will continue to grow.

Neanthe Bella Palm - A Tabletop-Sized Indoor Palm

Not a head-high floor plant, but a miniature version of a palm perfect for tabletop decorating. Like a fuller, shorter version of its relative the Bamboo Palm (one of the best full-size palms for indoors), it exudes that tropical beach vacation vibe that you just need sometimes. After many years, a Neanthe Bella may reach a height of 3 to 4 feet, but is in no hurry to get there. These are ususally sold in 4 or 6 inch pots, but 10 inch pots are also occasionally offered.

Best sited in bright, indirect light, but will tolerate medium or even low for a time if you’re rotating plants throughout the home. Inadequate light will result in a leggy habit. Let it dry out a bit between waterings. Fertilizing once a month during spring and summer will be beneficial. All palms are subject to spider mites, so make sure the plant is clean before you buy—look for stippled leaves and webbing, or even pin point sized yellow or red creatures moving slowly under the leaves if it’s heavily infested. And then don’t buy that one, or any other plants nearby. Dry conditions encourage spider mites so regular misting can help, or for a small plant run the foliage (not the pot and soil) under the faucet once a week.

ZZ Plant - This Houseplant Gets Straight A's for Ease of Care

Not as well-known as it deserves, this is a fabulous, simple to grow houseplant. Fleshy rounded glossy leaves line succulent, slightly arched stems that emerge from underground rhizomes resembling potatoes. Those “potatoes” are the secret of its easy care, storing water and decreasing its dependence on you. Grow in low, medium or bright indirect light, and allow to dry between waterings. ZZ only grows to about 2 feet tall, but stems may become floppy if overfertilized, especially in low light.

Few named cultivars exist at this point, but notable is ‘Raven’ for its dramatic dark black foliage that provides a sophisticated accent in any room. Most often sold in 6 inch pots, but the green variety is sometimes found in a 10 inch as well. Oh, and if you're wondering why it's called a ZZ plant, the botanical name is Zamioculcas zamiifolia.'Nuff said.

Asparagus Ferns - Neither Fern Nor Vegetable

There are more types of asparagus fern than the ones you’re used to using outdoors in your shady containers. All share a genus with the well-known vegetable, exhibiting similar feathery foliage, and none are actually ferns.Two lesser-known varieties make great, less-fussy fern impostors for indoors, ‘Plumosa’ and Ming fern. Hailing from arid regions of South Africa, they require less exacting water regimens than true ferns, rendering them more forgiving of the occasional mistake. ‘Plumosa’ has soft and airy bright green foliage, while Ming fern bears its fluffy needle-like leaves in tufts along the stem, hence the other common name “pom-pom fern.” Both display a more upright habit than traditional asparagus fern, and prefer medium to bright indirect light. Additionally, they make graceful fairly long-lasting accents to cut flower arrangements.

If you plant the traditional asparagus fern in a pricey pot, be sure to keep an eye on the roots. They form many small tubers and a dense root system that may be impossible to remove without breaking the pot if you wait too long. Or, it may break it for you!

Air plants tend to color up when getting ready to bloom. Photo courtesy Unsplash.
Neanthe Bella Palm, Photo courtesy Northland Floral, www.northlandfloral.com
Fleshy roots of ZZ plants reduce watering needs
'Raven' Black ZZ plant
'Plumosa' asparagus fern

Photos in this article courtesy of:

Costa Farms, https://costafarms.com

Top Tropicals, Inc., https://toptropicals.com

Northland Floral, https://www.northlandfloral.com

ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

Don't forget our houseplant growing tips!

Note: Our plant recommendations are only suggestions, and may not be appropriate for your particular area. Always consult your local cooperative extension service, master gardener's program, or state natural resources department for information on what plants may be invasive in your location. Thank you!

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