10 Low-Maintenance Indoor Plants That Are Perfect for Beginners
Famous houseplants serve as decoration, adding pops of color and bringing vibrancy to your home. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need environmental knowledge to care for every houseplant. Low-maintenance houseplants do not require a lot of watering or specific environmental conditions, making them an obvious choice for beginners.
“Essentially, you can buy these plants and expect them to live a long time without doing anything,” says Jamie Mitry, founder and CEO of Moss Pure.
For those who want the benefits of houseplants without the extra effort, we’ve highlighted 38 low-maintenance houseplants that you can easily find, buy, and that you’ll instantly fall in love with.
01 Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
The jade plant (Crassula ovata), often called the “money tree,” is known for its dark green, shiny leaves. Perhaps that is why it has become a symbol of wealth and prosperity. It grows slowly, averaging about 2 inches in height per year.
Like most succulents, this plant doesn’t need much water and does well in direct sunlight, making it ideal for beginners.
02 Gasteria (Gasteria spp.)
Because of its appearance, this spindle-shaped plant is nicknamed “cow’s tongue.” Like many succulents, this plant doesn’t need much water, making it easy to care for.
03 African Milk Tree (Euphorbia trigona)
Although this low-maintenance plant looks like a cactus, it is actually a succulent. The green, teardrop-shaped leaves are covered with thorns, giving the plant a modern look. Like many of the other plants on this list, African milkweed (Euphorbia trigona) prefers a wide range of sunlight conditions. However, if ingested, it can be toxic to pets and people.
04 Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
Aloe vera is great for beginners because this succulent requires little water. The plant has beautiful flowers in yellow, red or orange. However, despite all its benefits, this plant is unfortunately toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets and small children.
05 Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)
This plant is named for its long, thin leaves that resemble a snake when erect. This plant is great for beginners because it tolerates low light conditions and does not require frequent watering. It can even survive conditions such as drought.
06 Black Rose Aeonium (Aeonium)
This succulent adds drama to any space. The dark leaves look almost black (hence the name) and resemble a rose. Like most succulents, these plants are great for beginners as they grow best in full sun but require little care as they can enjoy indirect sunlight.
07 Purple Passion Vine (Gynura aurantiaca)
The velvety matte purple texture gives this plant its name. However, the plant is easy to care for if you keep it in an area with direct or indirect sunlight.
08 Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Like grapevines, most varieties of pothos grow well in low light conditions and require watering only once a week. This is because the plants originally came from tropical forests, where they lived on the forest floor. This look comes in a variety of colors to suit any home style, making it a great addition to any home.
09 String of Pearls
It is a succulent plant that has long chains of pearly leaves. You can place plants in hanging pots to make them look beautiful in almost any space. This low-maintenance plant is great for beginners as it can grow well in a wide range of lighting conditions.
10 Elephant Bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Variegata)
This tiny plant is very cute, with small green leaves with pink edges. Besides their beauty, elephant bushes are easy to care for as long as they receive six hours of sunlight per day.