Houseplants

African Violet

Saintpaulia spp. (now Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia)

A small flowering plant with fuzzy leaves that blooms on and off through the year. It stays compact enough for a windowsill or shelf.

Agave

Agave 'Blue Glow' (A. attenuata x A. ocahui)

A slow-growing, soft-spined agave with chalky blue-green leaves edged in red and yellow. Good for the sunniest window or a patio in summer.

Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen)

Aglaonema spp.

One of the most forgiving foliage plants, handling dim rooms and dry air. Colorful types add pink and red leaves.

Air plant (Tillandsia)

Tillandsia spp. (Jellyfish: likely T. caput-medusae hybrid-type)

A soil-free bromeliad that takes in water through its leaves. It can sit in a shell, on driftwood, or in a hanging holder.

Alocasia (elephant ear)

Alocasia spp.

A dramatic tropical with large arrow-shaped leaves. It can go semi-dormant and drop leaves in winter, which is normal.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera (A. barbadensis)

A clumping succulent with thick, gel-filled leaves. It wants a sunny window and a gritty cactus mix.

Anthurium

Anthurium clarinervium

A compact aroid grown for thick, velvety heart-shaped leaves with bold white veins. It wants an airy bark-based mix and steady humidity.

Aralia

Polyscias fruticosa (Ming), Polyscias balfouriana 'Marginata' or similar (Balfour Lemon Lime)

Woody tropical shrubs with finely cut or rounded foliage that suit a bonsai-like or tree form. They like steady conditions and dislike dry air.

Arrowhead plant (Syngonium)

Syngonium podophyllum

A bushy then vining plant with arrow-shaped leaves, often tinted pink or cream. Pinch tips to keep it full.

Begonia

Begonia spp.

A huge group grown for flowers or patterned foliage. Care varies by type, but most want bright light without hot direct sun and good drainage.

Bonsai

Assorted tropicals; Ficus microcarpa 'Ginseng'

Miniature trees trained and pruned for shape. Tropical bonsai like ficus live indoors with strong light.

Bromeliad

Neoregelia spp.

A rosette bromeliad that holds water in its central cup and often flushes red in the center when it is well lit. Rinse and refresh the cup so it does not stagnate.

Cactus

Barrel (Echinocactus/Kroenleinia/Ferocactus types); Pilosocereus pachycladus (blue torch); blue barrel

Sun-loving desert cacti that need strong light, gritty soil, and little water. Spines are a real hazard around kids and pets.

Calathea & Stromanthe

Goeppertia (Calathea) spp.; Stromanthe thalia 'Triostar'

Prayer-plant relatives grown for boldly patterned leaves. They show their best color in steady warmth and humid air.

Coffee plant

Coffea arabica

A glossy-leaved evergreen shrub that is the source of coffee beans. Indoors it is grown for the foliage; flowers and fruit are possible but not typical.

Cordyline (ti plant)

Cordyline fruticosa (syn. C. terminalis)

A tropical shrub with colorful pink, red and green leaves in a loose rosette. It needs bright light to hold its color.

Croton

Codiaeum variegatum

A shrubby tropical plant grown for bold, multicolored leaves. Color is strongest with plenty of bright light, and it drops leaves if moved abruptly or left too wet or dry.

Cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum

A compact flowering plant with swept-back blooms and patterned leaves, sold for cool-season color. It likes a cool, bright room and fades fast in heat.

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia spp.

A leafy upright plant with broad, patterned leaves in cream, white and green. Handles ordinary room light; sap irritates skin and mouth, so wear gloves when pruning.

Dracaena

Dracaena spp. (D. fragrans, D. marginata, D. deremensis, D. reflexa, D. surculosa)

A large family of upright, strap-leaved plants that tolerate lower light than most. Brown leaf tips usually point to dry air, salt build-up or fluoride in tap water.

Dwarf banana

Musa acuminata 'Super Dwarf Cavendish'

A compact banana that gives a big tropical look in a pot. It wants as much sun as it can get and plenty of water.

Ferns

Nephrolepis exaltata, Asplenium nidus, Hypolepis/Phlebodium (heart and kangaroo paw, verify), Adiantum, Platycerium

Soft, textured foliage plants that suit bathrooms and bright shaded rooms. They need steady moisture and dislike heat vents.

Ficus

Ficus benjamina, F. binnendijkii, F. benghalensis, F. elastica, F. lyrata, F. triangularis, F. altissima, F. microcarpa

Tree-like indoor plants grown for glossy foliage. Most drop leaves when moved, drafted, or watered unevenly, so give them a stable spot.

Goldfish plant

Nematanthus (formerly Hypocyrta) / Columnea

A trailing plant with glossy leaves and small orange flowers shaped like goldfish. Hangs well in a basket and flowers best in bright light.

Grape ivy

Cissus rhombifolia

A climbing vine with glossy, three-leaflet leaves, good in hanging baskets or on a small trellis. Tolerates average home conditions.

Holiday cactus

Schlumbergera truncata / S. x buckleyi (Thanksgiving, Christmas); Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri (Easter)

Jointed, trailing stems that bloom around the holidays, with shorter days and cool nights encouraging buds. They are forest cacti, so they like gentler light and moisture than desert types.

Hoya

Hoya spp. (H. krohniana, H. carnosa)

A waxy-leaved vine that stores water in thick leaves and flowers in clusters when happy. It prefers to dry out between waterings.

Jade plant

Crassula ovata

A succulent with thick, glossy leaves and a woody trunk that gets treelike with age. Needs a sunny window and little water.

Kalanchoe & Calandiva

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Calandiva is a double-flowered form)

A succulent with long-lasting clusters of small flowers in many colors. It reblooms only if given long nights.

Lipstick plant

Aeschynanthus 'Mona Lisa'

A trailing, basket-friendly plant with waxy leaves and tubular red flowers. Blooms best in bright light and warm, humid rooms.

Lithops (living stones)

Lithops spp.

Tiny pebble-looking succulents from southern Africa that split to grow new leaves. They need very bright light and strict, infrequent watering.

Money tree (Pachira)

Pachira aquatica

A tree with a flexible trunk that growers braid together, topped with glossy, hand-shaped leaves. Popular as a tidy floor plant that handles ordinary home conditions.

Monstera

Monstera deliciosa

A climbing plant with large split, perforated leaves. It grows well in ordinary rooms and needs a stake or pole as it matures.

Norfolk Island pine

Araucaria heterophylla

A symmetrical, soft-needled tree with tiered branches, popular as a living holiday tree. Rotate it for even growth and give it bright light.

Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

Phalaenopsis hybrids

The most common orchid sold as a houseplant, with long-lasting flowers on an arching spike. It grows in bark, not soil, and rebloom depends mostly on enough light.

Palms

Areca is a clumping palm with arching, feathery fronds that fills a bright corner quickly. A bottle palm form has a swollen base and a more sculptural look.

Peace lily

Spathiphyllum spp.

Glossy dark leaves with white hooded blooms that cope with dim rooms better than most flowering plants. It droops dramatically when thirsty, then recovers after a drink.

Peperomia

Peperomia spp. (P. ferreyrae, P. caperata, P. obtusifolia, P. prostrata/rotundifolia)

A large family of compact plants with thick, textured or patterned leaves. They stay small, need little fuss, and suit shelves and desks.

Philodendron

Philodendron spp. (Swiss Cheese Variegated totem is a Monstera)

A big group of leafy tropicals, from trailing vines to tidy upright clumps, with colors from lime to deep red. Most adapt to normal indoor light and forgive missed waterings.

Pilea (Chinese money plant)

Pilea peperomioides

Round, coin-like leaves held on thin stems from the center, with baby plants popping up around the base. Easy to share by potting up the offsets.

Pineapple plant

Ananas comosus

A bromeliad with a rosette of stiff, spiky leaves that may carry a small decorative fruit. It likes warm, bright spots and is a conversation piece more than a fruit crop.

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum

A trailing vine that grows in most rooms and shows when it is thirsty by drooping. Variegated types keep their color best in brighter light.

Potted hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

A gift plant forced into bloom for holidays and spring. It drinks a lot, so check it often, and it is usually planted outdoors after the flowers fade in zones where it is hardy.

Prayer plant

Maranta leuconeura

A low-growing plant with patterned leaves that fold upward at night. It does well on a table or in a hanging pot out of direct sun.

Sago palm

Cycas revoluta

A slow-growing, palm-like cycad with stiff, glossy feather leaves and a sculptural trunk. Tolerant of dry air and occasional missed waterings.

Schefflera

Heptapleurum (Schefflera) arboricola

A shrubby plant with umbrella-like clusters of glossy leaflets that can be pruned to shape. Gold Capella has yellow-splashed leaves.

Snake plant (Sansevieria)

Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria trifasciata) and relatives

Upright, sword-like leaves that tolerate low light and neglect better than almost anything. Overwatering is the main way to lose one.

Spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum

Arching striped leaves with dangling baby plantlets, great in hanging baskets. Tolerant of drought and the occasional skipped watering.

String of Pearls, Hearts & more

Curio rowleyanus (String of Pearls); Curio herreanus (String of Watermelons); Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)

Trailing plants with unusual leaf shapes that look best in hanging pots. Care is easy if the soil drains well and watering stays light.

Succulents

Mixed (Gasteria, Echeveria, Haworthia, Crassula, etc.)

A mixed group of low-water plants that store moisture in their leaves. Give them gritty soil and bright light.

Tradescantia (inch plant)

Tradescantia zebrina / T. fluminensis

Fast-growing trailing plant with striped or purple-tinted leaves; pinch it back for fuller growth and root cuttings in water.

Variegated ivy

Hedera helix cultivar

A trailing ivy with cream-edged leaves that suits hanging baskets. It likes cool, bright rooms and mites when air is too dry.

Yucca cane

Yucca gigantea (syn. Y. elephantipes)

A tree-like succulent with a thick trunk and clusters of soft-tipped leaves. Takes bright light and forgives dry spells.

ZZ plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Glossy, upright leaves from a thick rhizome that stores water, making it tolerant of low light and forgetful watering.

Assorted houseplants

Mixed tropical foliage in small and large pots — the variety changes with each delivery.