10 Best indoor plants
Not all indoor plants were born equal. That’s why we've put together a shortlist of the 10 best indoor plants for any home or workplace (shhh...don't tell the others). Not only do they look great, they’re all low maintenance, and come in large and small sizes. Read on to find the perfect plant for your space.
Top 10 Indoor Plants
Big Ken (the Kentia Palm) is a tough lad who won't be phased by difficult growing conditions. He quite enjoys a bit of shade and because he has long leaves that grow from a narrow base, he's great for filling a corner without taking up much floor-space. Place him in front of a blank wall, and his arching fronds will cast beautiful shadows.
Rick, one of our corn plants (or Dracaena fragrans), is an impressive indoor plant who thrives on minimal attention and low light conditions. With just a bit of care, he’ll grow tall and strong — and can even sprout small, white flowers if you’re very lucky.
Susie the snake plant has an impressive list of nicknames, including "Viper's Bowstring hemp", "Saint George's Sword" and "Mother-in-law's tongue". This hardy house plant is a great option for new plant parents, as she doesn’t need much watering and will tolerate neglect easily. She also has a magic power: she releases oxygen at night, which is said to help you drift off to sleep.
Pippa the peace lily can add a bit of zen to your space thanks to her soft, dark green foliage and year-round flowers. She prefers a shady spot, making her a great option to brighten up those empty corners in your home.
Phil the Philodendron is a popular choice amongst house plants, thanks mostly to his dramatic heart-shaped foliage. He’s not just a pretty face, though — he’s also super easy to care for, as long as you keep an eye on his light levels and the right amount of watering.
Cassie, our ZZ plant, is as tough as they come. She’s not fussy and can store water for a long time, meaning she won’t mind if you forget to give her a drink every now and then. If you like a plant that’s sculptural and easygoing, Cassie’s your girl.
Sharon the Chamaedorea is a real looker, with elegant, arched-palm fronds that make our hearts swell. Originally from Mexico, this lady has been one of the most popular indoor plants since Victorian times (she's nicknamed the 'parlour palm'), and she'll easily thrive in any spot you put her.
Rapunzel, our devil’s ivy, is the most versatile of our low-maintenance house plants. Her heart-shaped locks can hang beautifully off a bookshelf, or act as a privacy screen in a window. Want some variety in your vines? Rapunzel has a large family of other pothos to choose from. She's a superstar!
If you're nervous about the responsibilities of plant parenting, then we recommend adopting a succulent as a starter plant. These guys are fiercely independent and mostly self-sufficient, making them ideal for the forgetful gardener. Our succulent collection comes in a variety of colours, shapes and textures, so you’re sure to find one to suit your space.
Originally from western Africa, Fidel the fiddle-leaf fig will give your space that tropical look with his lyre-shaped leaves. But don’t be fooled by his pretty face: Fidel is a tough guy who can cope with less-than-perfect conditions.
Do your own thing
Build up your house plant collection with one plant at a time.
Big indoor plants
Putting the finishing touches on a room can be tricky, especially if you want to spruce up open spaces or alcoves. That's where big indoor plants come in. These impressive plants are nature's original statement pieces.
The best large indoor plants can fill a vacant space with beautiful broad leaves or a dramatic display of fabulous foliage. Others might have towering stems, adding height and interest to a room. Big indoor plants might seem intimidating, but many of them are surprisingly easy to care for.
Some of our favourite big indoor plants include Sharon, our classy Chamaedorea or parlour palm, and Big Ken, our tough and timeless Kentia palm.
Indoor plants with big leaves
Plants with lavishly large leaves are an easy way of adding drama to any room. Many indoor plants with big leaves come from humid jungle areas, making them ideal for bathrooms or conservatories.
Elise, our gorgeous giant elephant ear plant, shows off her huge, heart-shaped leaves in a cute, compact package. Meanwhile, the towering fronds of Howard the cast iron plant and Nicolau the white bird of paradise are ideal for a home office.
You might think that indoor plants with big leaves have equally demanding care needs. But many big leaf indoor plants prefer a hands-off approach, making them suitable for both beginners and experts.
Indoor plants for low light
While most plants need a lot of light, all is not lost for budding plant parents who live in shaded areas. There are plenty of indoor plants that thrive in low light conditions.
No indoor plant will cope well with complete darkness. But if the only light source is a north-facing window, these plants will be just fine.
Some of our best indoor plants for low light include Susie the snake plant and Pippa the peace lily. Susie has superb, sword-like foliage while Pippa produces beautiful white blooms and luscious green leaves. Both Susie and Pippa also release oxygen during the night, making them ideal for bedrooms.
Hardy indoor plants
As busy plant parents, we've all missed the odd watering here or there. While this could be a problem for fussier plants, there are plenty of hardy indoor plants that will forgive our forgetfulness.
Hardy indoor plants can survive quite happily in a range of temperature and light conditions, making them a good choice for novice plant owners. Our Unkillable set contains the perfect ensemble of hardy indoor plants.
You've already met Pippa and Susie, but Cassie and Rapunzel are just as hardy. Cassie the ZZ plant is a stylish gal who thrives in any limelight, while Rapunzel the Devil's ivy won't need much rescuing at all.
Green indoor plants
Few colours can soothe your soul as much as a gorgeous green. Research has shown that the presence of green may actually boost your creativity.
Having some green indoor plants helps bring nature into your home, creating a calm relaxing space. There's a reason why forest bathing is in vogue right now, but green indoor plants can give you similar benefits without leaving the house.
The beauty of green indoor plants also lies in the variety of their shades. From the fluorescent green vines of Pascal the neon pothos to the rich, vibrant leaves of Phil the philodendron, there's a green indoor plant to suit any home.
Easy indoor plants
Beautiful indoor plants don't have to be complicated to care for. There are plenty of easy indoor plants that look great without being complete divas.
Easy indoor plants are also perfect for beginners. Starting out with low maintenance indoor plants helps get your fingers green without too much stress. These indoor plants usually thrive in a range of lighting conditions and have simple watering needs.
Our selection of easy indoor plants includes instant classics like Rick, our charismatic corn plant. He's extremely hardy and grows nice and tall. Succulents, like Suri and her siblings, are also some of the easiest indoor plants to care for.
Why real indoor plants are better than fake plants
Fake plants are a popular décor choice for many homes. But while imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, fake plants miss out on what makes real indoor plants so beneficial.
Having real indoor plants rather than fake ones allows you to connect directly with nature. Watching something grow under your care gives you a sense of satisfaction that fake plants just don't have.
Fake plants are also made from plastic, which isn't good for the environment. Growing real indoor plants cuts down on unnecessary plastic. Real plants also have some surprising superpowers, like the ability to increase humidity in your home.
Why get your indoor plants delivered?
If you've got your heart set on a particular plant, trying to track it down in a garden centre can be exhausting. The solution is simple; you can easily order indoor plants online.
Ordering plants online allows you to find exactly what you want, whether you're after a popular indoor plant or a rare variety of calathea. You can also get indoor plants delivered right to your doorstep.
The best place to buy indoor plants should have a huge array of varieties both common and rare. A good store should also offer stylish accessories like indoor plant pots or ideas for indoor plant gifts. Sounds familiar to us...
Still interested in indoor plants?
If you're still interested in indoor plants, Patch has you covered. We stock a huge range of the best indoor plants, from hardy indoor plants for beginners to rare and unique varieties.
Our store is also packed with plenty of indoor plant gifts for the budding botanist in your life. You can have all of our indoor plants delivered right to your door, and all of our Patch packaging is recyclable.
We also have a handy line-up of online care guides that teach you how to grow indoor plants. Whether you're looking for popular indoor plants or something more exotic, Patch is the perfect place to order indoor plants online.
