21 Houseplants That Will Grow Almost Anywhere

What kind of houseplants appeal to you? Maybe you prefer rare, exotic tropical species that are hard to grow, or, you like cultivating leggy vines that spread and climb. No matter your preferences, dependable houseplants are attractive options. They offer the beauty that rare plants do but are easy to grow! 

Forget fussing about water temperatures, light exposures, and finicky humidity needs. These tough houseplants thrive under neglect, with some surviving weeks without water! Not only are they easy to grow, but they also offer attractive ornamental value through their berries, leaves, and flowers. 

Whether you like vines, trees, or low-growing fleshy perennials, this list has options for you and your home. Select a few for a bare windowsill, or choose the perfect houseplant for that space you’ve been looking to fill. Without further ado, here are the 21 houseplants that will grow almost anywhere, from shady walls to bright-lit windows. 

Pothos

Pothos starts this list because it’s the easiest houseplant to grow! It sprouts lush, green leaves with yellow variegation that randomly patterns each one. The leaves sprout from thin, rambling stems that climb, hang, or roam in leggy or bushy forms.

This vining tropical species grows in warm, humid forests where it stays under deep shade. The vines crawl up tree trunks, where they morph into their mature adult form. Adult pothos vines have leaves as big as monstera leaves that sprout off thick vines as big as your wrist! Because they have two forms, they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, light exposures, and moisture levels. 

Indoors, keep pothos vines happy with consistent moisture and some light. They’ll tolerate deep shade, some direct sunlight, or bright indirect light. Widely adaptable, they’ll thrive no matter where you put them in your home. Avoid overwatering vines in a shady site; low light causes their roots to drink less water than normal.

ZZ Plant

ZZ plants are equally as tough as pothos vines. They’ll tolerate extremely low light conditions and survive for a month or longer without water! These herbaceous perennials sprout from bulbous rhizomes that reside belowground, providing drought resilience.

The bulbs collect water, holding it until the plant needs it to grow new shoots, leaves, and flower buds. Overwatering kills ZZ plants more often than underwatering, so let the soil surface dry before watering. If you’re unsure it’s time to water, stick your finger deep into the pot. Water if it’s dry below the surface, and hold off if it’s wet.

ZZ plants tolerate low light, though they also appreciate bright indirect light! Some direct sunlight during the day is okay, so long as you don’t abruptly change your plant’s conditions. If you see scorch marks or brown-yellow burns on the leaves, move the ZZ plant away from the light until it’s happy again.

Black Raven™ ZZ Plant

Who says a rare plant can’t be tough and dependable? Black Raven™ ZZ plants are just that—they’re exotic looking, tough, and tolerant of low light and neglect. They sprout dark green leaves that mature to a deep black color. The stems stay slightly green with black markings throughout. 

If you have trouble finding this plant, try searching “Zamioculcas zamiifolia ‘Dowon’ for sale” in the search bar on your browser. The plant has many names, but you’ll recognize it when you see it for its lush, black leaves that are unlike any other houseplant.

Money Tree

Money trees reach exorbitant heights outdoors in their native range of up to 30 feet! Indoors, they’ll stay much smaller between six and eight feet tall. They can grow larger than this indoors if they receive enough light and have sufficient space to expand. 

Money trees grow under full sun or partial shade outdoors, however, indoors they need bright indirect light. Think of your home as a mini greenhouse. It’s warm, has lots of filtered light, and rarely receives strong winds. Your tree can get burnt or scorched from direct sunlight in these sheltered areas. 

Water is the other key component for money tree health; these tropical plants appreciate moist, but not soggy conditions. They like to dry out a bit between waterings, and they dislike wet feet. Cut back on watering during the winter and increase it during spring to accommodate new growth. 

Spider Plant

Spider plants are perfect if you’re looking for houseplants on a budget. Buy one this year, and it’ll thrive and produce spiderettes the next year! Spiderettes are baby propagules that form from off the parent plant. Cut them off, place them in water or dirt, and watch as they grow into new plants.

Like pothos and ZZ plants, spider plants tolerate low light but appreciate as much as you give them. They prefer bright indirect light throughout the day; this matches their natural habitat. They grow wild beneath trees in African forests, where they bask under dappled sunlight and shade.

Heartleaf Philodendron

Like pothos, heartleaf philodendrons sprout heart-shaped leaves off twining vines that spread, ramble, and roam. There are dozens of varieties, and they all perform well in a wide range of conditions. Whether your house is dark or bright with sunlight, this vine will perform well with little water. 

The species type has lush, green leaves like ‘Jade’ pothos. Try ‘Brasil’ if you want yellow-green variegation, or ‘Lemon Lime’ if you prefer an all-yellow neon cultivar. 

The vines may grow leggy and weak in extremely dark rooms. Consider adding grow lights or placing the leaves closer to a bright window. Although the vines tolerate low light, they prefer bright but indirect sunlight. 

Philodendron Micans

This philodendron earns its spot on this list because it’s unlike any other vining houseplant! It sprouts heart-shaped leaves with velvet fuzz on them. They feel soft to the touch and they look elegant wherever they grow. If you like vines but prefer a classier option than pothos, then Philodendron micans is your ideal houseplant.

Give this variety similar care as heartleaf philodendrons. Water them consistently, but avoid watering already wet plants. They appreciate bright indirect light but will tolerate lower light conditions for some time. The less light they receive the less water they drink, so check their soil before you water.  

Monstera

Monstera grow anywhere! They’re weeds in many tropical regions, as they love warm temperatures and high humidity. They grow beneath taller trees in shady sites until they find a suitable tree to grow on. Like pothos, they clamber up the trunk until they poke through the canopy to soak in direct sunlight. 

Indoors, these climbers stay much smaller than outdoor specimens, remaining between six and eight feet tall. Give them a pole or trellis to support themselves on, or situate them against a brightly lit wall and they’ll grow up against it. 

Monstera plants prefer bright indirect light, but they also tolerate some direct sunlight because of their many forms. Transition plants outdoors and indoors slowly, and avoid abrupt lighting changes that could cause scalds or sunburns. 

Mini Monstera

Mini monstera earns its name for the holes in its leaves that resemble those of monstera. It stays smaller than monstera plants indoors, with pothos-sized leaves that sprout off of a thin, rambling green vine. Let it grow tall up a trellis, or, plant it in a hanging basket and watch the vines hang as they grow. 

This vining spreader prefers bright but indirect sunlight. This matches the lighting of its native habitat, where it grows under the shade of taller trees and shrubs in Thailand and Malaysia. Fertilize it monthly during the growing season to keep the leaves green, vibrant, and perky. 

Mother of Millions

Mother of millions is a close relative of florist’s kalanchoe, another popular houseplant. This species grows like a devil’s backbone plant. It sprouts baby plantlets on the ends of its leaves; they have roots and leaves of their own, and they grow into new clones of the parent plant when they fall onto the soil.

The presence of these “million” babies makes this plant easy to propagate. Simply let the propagules fall onto the soil and watch them grow into mature mothers of millions. 

Unlike the other houseplants on this list, this species prefers some direct sunlight during the day. The plants will struggle in low-light conditions with less than three hours of direct sunlight. Consider adding grow lights to dark rooms—with them, you can cultivate any plant anywhere you’d like!

Asparagus Fern

Three asparagus ferns make this list, as they’re excellent low-maintenance houseplants that grow in a wide range of environments. They’ll grow under varying degrees of bright indirect light, although they dislike direct sun when growing indoors.

The classic asparagus fern, or foxtail fern, grows spikes of ferny foliage. They form flowers and red berries in spring and summer on outdoor specimens, although indoor plants rarely bloom. They take on a sprawling, arching habit with trailing stems.

Asparagus fern grows from tuberous roots below the soil. The roots provide a backup source of nutrients and water, allowing your plants to tolerate short periods of neglect. 

Climbing Asparagus Fern

Climbing asparagus fern is a more sprawling type than the common one. It can climb supports like poles, trellises, or fences. Some specimens reach well over ten feet tall outdoors! Indoors they’ll stay much smaller.

Climbing asparagus fern is equally, if not more hardy than the common species. It also has tuberous roots that store energy for times of trouble. Drought, intense heat, and cold temperatures may zap the above-ground foliage, however, the belowground roots send new shoots to replace them as they die. 

Give climbing asparagus fern water once its soil surface dries, and provide bright but indirect sunlight. This species grows well under grow lights, although, it needs to sit a few feet away from the lights. The lacey foliage may burn if harsh lights hit it. 

Shatavari

Shatavari closely resembles both climbing and the common asparagus fern. It’s a true asparagus plant in the Asparagus genus. Shatavari sprouts lacey, fern-like leaves on thin, spindly, and woody stems. Unlike the previous two, herbalists use this type’s roots for various tonics and health aids. 

It’s also a lovely houseplant. The size of the container limits its growth, meaning you can plant some of the tuberous roots in a small container for a small specimen. The more light you give them the more water they’ll drink. Provide bright indirect light, although some direct sun is okay for your Shatavari. 

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are perfect candidates for dark, shaded homes. They tolerate less light than most flowering plants and dislike direct sun. Grant them protection from harsh sun rays indoors, otherwise, they thrive in most places.

Many peace lily varieties, cultivars, and species exist that you can try cultivating. Choose ‘Petite’ for a small, narrow-leaved variety that fits in tight spaces. Opt for ‘Sensation’ if you desire a larger specimen; it may reach five feet or higher! 

Baby Rubber Plant

The rubber plant is a tree with somewhat demanding requirements, while the baby rubber plant is an easygoing vining perennial. It sprouts oval, glossy leaves and long flower spikes in the fall. Like climbing asparagus fern, it clambers up trellises and supports if you let it. Without support, it’ll remain bushy to two feet tall, while with support it can grow much taller and longer.

Grant your baby rubber plant consistent water throughout the growing season and keep it slightly away from harsh direct sunlight. It’ll thrive for many years to come. If you dislike the plain green foliage, try ‘Variegata’ for a creamy blend of yellow and green on the leaves. 

Inch Plant

Inch plant is a lovely houseplant that performs well throughout your home. Grow it in a hanging basket for cascading stems that look lovely throughout the year. Inch plant grows green, fleshy leaves about an inch away from each other on trailing stems. 

An inch plant stays short, although it can climb tall like a vine if you train it. Choose whichever structure you prefer looking at! 

Although the inch plant tolerates low light conditions, variegated varieties may lose their color if they don’t receive bright indirect light. You’ll notice the leaves turn solid green instead! Move your plant closer to the light, and cut off any stems with green leaves to prevent them from taking over. 

Crocodile Fern

The crocodile fern earns its name for the scaled look its leaves have. The green fronds resemble crocodile skin with dimples, lines, and veins. The leaves themselves are perky, and they sprout from a rhizome that grows near the soil surface. 

Crocodile fern is a true fern in the fern family Polypodiaceae. It appreciates moist soil that’s not excessively wet, and it grows best under bright but indirect sunlight. The leaf tips may turn brown in rooms with cold or low humidity, so add moisture or warmth to remedy them. 

Bird’s Nest Fern

Bird’s nest fern is another true fern that’s perfect for indoor spaces. It thrives under the lighting common in our homes, excelling with indirect bright light. When happy, the plant sends up long, green fronds with ruffled edges. 

This fern naturally grows on tree trunks in tropical forests where it catches falling water, leaves, and plant debris. It’ll do well in a container with potting soil for epiphytic plants like orchids. Use a mix with plenty of bark for adequate drainage, and keep the roots moist and not soggy. Don’t let them dry out, as this fern hates dry feet.

Primrose

Primrose grows well outdoors in cool, temperate regions, although it’s also a lovely houseplant for well-lit homes. Primroses thrive under partial or full shade with dappled sunlight outdoors. Indoors, they need bright conditions that encourage consistent growth. Avoid shady corners, and place them anywhere they’ll have access to reflected sunlight.

This herbaceous perennial appreciates consistent moisture, although too much can lead to root rot. Let the soil dry a bit before watering, and use your finger to check the moisture content before adding more. 

Dozens of primrose varieties exist for the curious collector. Find them with flowers in yellow, pink, purple, red, and white! Most varieties sprout long, strappy, green leaves that grow in a rosette. 

String of Turtles

String of turtles is a twining, vining type of houseplant with long stems and fleshy, succulent leaves. Each leaf resembles a turtle shell, with unique patterns and maroon markings on a green base. The leaves start flat and swell into a round, circular shape as they age.

String of turtles grows well in a variety of conditions. Grant your plant bright but indirect light, and provide consistent moisture throughout the growing season. The vines propagate easily—simply snip a piece of a stem and plant it in a new container with potting soil.

Snake Plant

Snake plants round out this list as they grow almost anywhere! They tolerate some direct sunlight or partial shade, although they prefer growing under reflected light. Snake plants sprout tongue-like perky fronds that fill empty spaces with structure and organic shapes.