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Indoor Plants That Will Make Your Home Feel Happy

Houseplants for their pretty leaves alone



As much as we love our houseplants for their pretty leaves alone, it can feel like a momentous occasion when their blooms appear and bring color into the home. But many indoor plants do more than just add beauty to our homes. Studies show that interacting with houseplants can reduce stress levels, and maintaining indoor greenery can be therapeutic and calming. Some green-leafed houseplants, such as gourds and rubber plants, can help purify the air in your home, removing toxins and odors. Gerbera daisies release oxygen even after the sun goes down, so keep a few pots in your bedroom to help you sleep better all night long.


1. African Violet



Among the easiest indoor plants you can grow, African violets (Saintpaulia ayananda) will bloom several times a year without much effort from you. They come in hundreds of varieties, some with colorful leaves or flowers with curly or white tips. It’s fun to collect different varieties to enjoy all the colors and shapes of the flowers. African violets prefer warm conditions and filtered sunlight, but avoid getting water on the fuzzy leaves; this causes unsightly brown spots.


2. Oxalis



This pretty little plant has triangular, clover-like purple leaves that fold up at night or in low light conditions. The pale pink or white flowers are a nearly constant display above the leaves. You can also find oxalis varieties with plain green leaves with and without silvery accents. This makes a fun gift for St. Patrick’s Day.


3. Peace Lily



The upright white flowers of the peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) may not be very showy, but they have a stately elegance as they appear above glossy leaves on long, slender stems. This easy-care indoor flowering plant can bloom year-round, but produces more flowers in the summer. Plus, its large, deep green leaves add an instant tropical touch to any room.


4. Anthurium



Both the flowers and leaves of anthuriums (Anthurium andraenum) are heart-shaped. The long-lasting blooms come in festive shades of pink, red, lavender, or white. They also make a long-lasting cut flower if you can pluck them from the plant. Even when not in bloom, their glossy green leaves are attractive all on their own.


5. Christmas Cactus



Many plants sold as Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckley) are actually closely related species, sometimes called Thanksgiving cactus, which typically bloom a few weeks earlier. Both of these plants bloom in response to cooler temperatures and shorter days in the fall and winter.


6. Flowering Maple



As its name suggests, the flowering maple (Abutilon x hybridum) has leaves that look like the leaves of a maple tree. However, the two plants are not related. The flowering maple has crepe-paper-like flowers in shades of red, pink, orange, or yellow that hang between the leaves like festive lights. Many varieties have variegated or variegated leaves for added interest. Grow this indoor flowering plant upright as a tree, prune it back to form a shrub, or grow it in a hanging basket.


7. Jasmine



There are many varieties of jasmine. The flowering jasmine (J. polyanthum) and the Arabian jasmine (J. sambac) are two of the easiest to grow; give them plenty of light and humidity. They bear fragrant pink to white flowers on vines. These are some of the most fragrant indoor flowering plants you will find.

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Location: United States

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