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It's a familiar story: You pluck a beautiful houseplant from the nursery, and after a few months it wilts, your horticultural hopes plummeting with each fallen leaf. But this does not mean that you should completely abandon houseplants. There are plenty of indoor plants that thrive with little fuss (and can even survive with less-than-optimal light or occasional watering). You don't have to stick with a common spider plant. Here are some of the best stylish, easy-care and under-the-radar houseplants for beginners. These choices can bring drama to a room—but not your life.
1. Ficus Alii
High-impact like the ubiquitous fiddle-leaf fig, but not as high-maintenance, the Ali ficus usually has a bushy or lollipop shape, sometimes with a twining trunk. "Tall specimens really provide a focal point for a room," says Baylor Chapman, stylist and author of Decorating with Plants. This ficus likes bright, indirect light and should be watered well when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is dry. It tilts towards the Sun and rotates it periodically to keep it upright.
2. Rabbit’s Foot Fern
"This plant is amazing for many reasons," says Darryl Cheng, editor of The New Plant Parent and founder of the popular houseplant magazine. "It's very drought tolerant, so you don't have to water as often as other ferns. Frond turnover is lower than most ferns, so it doesn't tangle the leaflets. And it grows well in low humidity. Give your rabbit's foot fern indirect light (that's an hour or two hours can handle direct sun (and if you can water regularly).Water whenever the soil feels dry to the touch.
3. Satin Pothos
With colorful leaves, satin pothos is more unusual than the standard golden pothos, but it's also lower maintenance. "I call pothos the 'instant gratification' plant!" says Maria Green, a plant consultant and stylist who founded Your Green Peas. It's a houseplant he always recommends for beginners because it's quick-growing and forgiving. Pothos love bright indirect light (they tolerate low light, but will burn in direct light); Allow the soil to dry out between waterings (clear signs that wilted, leathery leaves are thirties, says Greene).
4. Velvet Leaf Philodendron
Delicate and elegant, this philodendron is "one of our favorite plants," say Brian Kellett and Emily Brown, founders of Stump Nursery. "Dark velvet trailing foliage adds a hint of luxury to any room." However, that luxury doesn't come at a cost: it can handle both low light and bright, indirect light. The amount of water it needs depends on how much light it gets, from once a week to every other week. Additionally, this plant makes it easy to expand your collection or share with others.
5. ‘Sensation’ Peace Lily
"The large, ribbed leaves and blue-green color of 'Sensation' set it apart from other peace lilies," says Dana Horst, author of Houseplants for All and founder of Folia Collective. A perfect statement plant, 'Sensation' likes bright, indirect light, but tolerates medium light (it may be less saturated and produce smaller leaves); Water when the top third of the soil is dry. If your peace lily looks wilted, don't worry: it's just a sign that it's thirsty. Give it a deep watering and it will "re-invigorate," says Horst.
6. Fishbone Prayer Plant
"If you want to enjoy a Galatea-style shape and color scheme without the Galatea drama, get Ctenanthe burle-marxii, commonly known as fishbone prayer plant," suggests Cheng. "It's a very satisfying plant on its own because it's bushier than most calatheas." Although it is quite hardy, the plant does best in bright, indirect light (direct light will burn the leaves), water when the top half inch of soil is dry, and high humidity (it's a great plant for your bathroom).
7. ZZ plant
It's a failsafe indoor plant for beginners, which Kellett and Brown call the "easy zz." Aside from the ZZ plant's funny name, plant parents love it because "it's very low-maintenance, meaning it doesn't mind being placed in low-light areas and only needs water once a month," they say.
8. Hoya obovata
"Many hoyas are easy care as long as you have bright filtered light, because they do well if their soil can dry out between waterings," Horst says. Hoya obovata is particularly special, thanks to its thick, rounded leaves on trailing stems. "You can let them climb down or train them to climb a trellis or a hoop," Horst says.
9. 'Emerald Ripple' Peperomia
The Peperomia family includes plants with interesting leaf shapes, textures and colors. 'Emerald Ripple' stands out because it's "an easy plant with a whole lot of interest," says Chapman. "Its thick, fleshy leaves retain moisture for long periods—ideal for someone who prefers a more horticultural approach." It thrives in bright indirect light, but can handle a little less.
10. ‘Golden Madonna’ Aglaonema
"With more than 100 species and varieties of Aclonema, commonly known as Chinese evergreen, there are many options, but one of my low-key favorites is 'Golden Madonna,'" says Horst. "It tolerates medium light and bounces back easily from dry spells," she notes, adding that its distinctive cream-striped leaves bring color and eye-catching shape to a room.
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