Top 10 best low-maintenance houseplants

Houseplants bring new life to your home and can be a great way to freshen up your flat or house and create a calming environment where life simply feels better.

Of course, not everyone is a skilled and careful grower when it comes to keeping plants in good condition, but that doesn’t matter, because there are plenty of hard-to-kill houseplants you can fill your rooms with. You won’t easily kill the plants in our selection through careless maintenance!

Don’t be fooled by their delicate appearance, they are tougher than you think! They can survive serious neglect and need practically no care at all. So instead of trying to water each plant frequently and individually, we share some of the best houseplants that need none of your attention at all.

What should you consider when choosing plants?

Does the spot get direct sunlight, indirect sunlight or stay in the shade? Plants such as yucca, ponytail palm and jade plant love a sunny room, while other species such as pothos, grape hyacinths and dracaenas prefer shadier spots.

1. Paddle plant

The paddle plant is a bold succulent with large round leaves with pink tips. These plants like bright light, so you can place them right on a sunny windowsill to soak up all the rays. They also like drier conditions, so you don’t need to worry about forgetting to water them from time to time, they will cope!

2. Peperomia

These colourful plants grow brilliantly indoors. They also store water in their stems and leaves, so they are drought-tolerant. When watering, take care not to overwater the plant, and check that the soil is completely dry between waterings.

3. Golden pothos

Golden pothos is a trailing and climbing houseplant decorated with heart-shaped leaves streaked with green and yellow. Golden pothos grows fairly quickly, so with the right care it will soon create a proper indoor jungle for you. Place it on a shelf or hang it up. It also removes harmful substances from the air, so it is a great fit for any home.

TIP: Do you know which plants suit the area around a pond?

4. Asparagus fern

This fluffy plant tolerates much rougher treatment than other ferns. That’s because, technically speaking, it isn’t a fern at all. Asparagus setaceus adapts to both bright spots and darker corners. Keep the soil moist and it will thrive. Also read our article on ideal houseplants for the bedroom.

5. String of hearts 

This delicate trailing plant is very tolerant and undemanding. Its pairs of tiny heart-shaped leaves are silvery grey with a pink underside. Like succulents, it stores water in its long stems, which can reach up to 6.5 feet (2 m) in length. That’s why this plant looks stunning on a shelf or in a hanging pot above stairs or a window, and it also makes a lovely bedroom plant.

It is happy at most room temperatures, just avoid draughts or direct sun. It likes moist but not waterlogged soil. Want to give it an occasional boost? Mist it with water and put it by a window for a few hours in the morning or evening.

6. Peace lily

The embodiment of elegance, the peace lily, with its glossy teardrop-shaped leaves and pure white flowers, is one of the most popular houseplants. It is elegant and radiates calm and simplicity, but it can sometimes be a little temperamental. Peace lilies prefer moist soil, but the good news is that these plants let you know when they are thirsty, because their leaves droop. Put them next to the shower to give them an occasional boost, or mist them.

Avoid direct sun falling on the leaves, as it would scorch them, but place the plant in a light, bright spot to get the healthiest, deep green leaves. This plant reaches a height of 75 cm and thrives at temperatures of 64 to 75°F.

7. Swiss cheese plant

Huge glossy leaves and a tropical feel: what’s not to like about Monstera deliciosa (also known as the Swiss cheese plant)? Native to Mexico and Central America, it is a houseplant that makes a big impression and looks fantastic. This plant can easily become the centrepiece of your living room.

“Think of the climate and conditions of the rainforest these plants come from,” says Mark Lawlor of Happy Houseplants. “Humidity is high, rainfall is occasional and heavy, and the light is bright but usually shaded by taller trees. You can recreate these conditions at home in a steamy kitchen or bathroom, and even in a warm living room!”

These instantly recognisable plants are climbers with aerial roots, so indoors they need to be trained up moss poles to mimic the trees they cling to in the wild. Indoors it can grow up to 78 inches (2 m) tall, but the size of the pot limits its growth. It prefers warm temperatures between 18 and 27°C (64 to 80°F) and can tolerate cool conditions down to 12°C (53°F). Avoid cold draughts.

8. Philodendron

If you long for a tall, upright plant that doesn’t take up much space, try a philodendron. It is a large-leaved climbing plant native to the Caribbean that loves a bright spot but can also cope with a little shade.

It is a natural and prolific climber that can be trained up a moss pole and looks amazing in a raised pot. “These plants thrive in almost any humidity conditions, but placing them in a high-humidity environment will encourage larger leaves,” say the plant experts at Hortology.

TIP: Make this plant bushier by pinching out each stem just above a leaf node. This encourages side shoots and more branches, which means more leaves.

9. Spider plant

What’s better than one spider plant? More spider plants. Its fast-growing runners produce small plantlets that you can pot up to green up other parts of your home. Just stick to well-lit spots and don’t forget to water weekly.

10. Aloe

This great plant, native to Mexico, will brighten up your desk. Because aloe prefers indirect light, it will be happy on a desk or bedside table. For optimal growth, give it a thorough soaking every week or two.

Also take a look at creating a front garden or annuals in window boxes.