13 Houseplants That Are Prone to Collecting Dust

Dust is inevitable indoors! Dead cells, pet dander, and other pieces of debris accumulate in a film-like layer over every surface. Regular dusting is beneficial for your health, as dust often contains harmful substances from common household materials. 

Not only do you benefit from regular dustings, but so do your plants! Rain and wind prevent them from growing dusty outdoors. However, indoor conditions are conducive to dust accumulation. Simply wipe the foliage with a moist cloth to clean their surfaces.

Banana

	botanical name Musa spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-30’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Bananas look like trees, though they’re herbaceous perennials! The “trunk” they grow off of is a fleshy stem. Once it flowers and produces bananas, the stem dies to the ground, and new ones emerge from the roots. Banana plants don’t often flower indoors, though they’ll grow decorative, lush foliage that look stunning next to a bright window. 

These trees require direct sunlight indoors, meaning they’ll need a spot near a bright window or grow lights. Clean their foliage carefully to avoid bruising or tearing it. 

Pothos

	botanical name Epipremnum aureum
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 1-40’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Every gardener should have a pothos vine as a houseplant. It’s the perfect indoor specimen! This vining spreader grows well in low light and it’s drought tolerant. The only downside is that its long-lived foliage may collect dust! 

Pothos vines are tough, and you don’t have to worry about bruising them like with bananas. Wash them with a hose, wipe them with a cloth, or shower them. They’ll photosynthesize better without dust blocking the light, and your pothos plant will appreciate the cleaning.  

ZZ Plant

	botanical name Zamioculcas zamiifolia
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 9-10

These low-light lovers are prone to collecting dust because of their longevity! ZZ plants survive for years in shady spots indoors. Though they appreciate bright indirect light, they can survive in darker spots with artificial lighting. They sprout from thick, bulbous rhizomes that store nutrients and moisture, making them incredibly resilient.

ZZ plant stems and foliage are tough and thick. Clean them however you’d like, with a moist cloth or streams of water. This houseplant appreciates low moisture levels, so the cloth option might be best to avoid overwatering your plant.

Monstera

	botanical name Monstera deliciosa
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 6-70’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Monsteras are stunning, towering houseplants that reach epic heights! They’ll grow ten feet or taller indoors, while they may reach up to 70 feet tall in the wild. The vines climb tree trunks, using aerial roots to latch onto branches. They commonly go by Swiss cheese plant, split-leaf philodendron, and hurricane plant. 

Long, wide leaves with holes and cuts sprout out of the vines. The holes sprout through a process called fenestration. The foliage is incredibly decorative, though difficult to clean. Bringing your plant outdoors for the spring and summer can help with dust management, as you can easily clean it outside without worrying about making a mess. 

Tree Philodendron

	botanical name Philodendron bipinnatifidum
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 4-15’
	hardiness zones 9-11

The tree philodendron is a towering specimen with large fronds as big as those on a mature monstera. This plant’s other name is the lacy tree philodendron because of the split-leaf foliage. It prefers bright indirect light throughout the day indoors, though it appreciates some direct sunlight if it’s available.

Like monstera vines, tree philodendrons appreciate growing outdoors during the warm months. Transition them slowly to partial shade or full sun, avoiding direct sunlight during the afternoon.

Xanadu Philodendron

	botanical name Philodendron xanadu
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 9-11

No longer a philodendron, the Xanadu philodendron is now a member of the genus Thaumatophyllum, alongside the tree philodendron. This species grows low to the ground and wide, with sprawling cut leaves and aerial roots. Its evergreen foliage may attract dust indoors, especially on mature specimens with large foliage.

Move the Xanadu philodendron outdoors during spring and summer, giving it full sun or partial shade. Clean the strappy foliage indoors with a moist, soft cloth. Be sure to clean the stems too, as they may attract dust or pests. 

Heartleaf Philodendron

	botanical name Philodendron hederaceum
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 11-12

Heartleaf philodendron is a vining tropical plant similar to pothos, with heart-shaped leaves and rooting stems. The foliage stays on the stems for many seasons and may accumulates dust. Wipe them clear or shower them off in the tub. 

These vines grow in water or soil; place your plants in water instead of soil to discourage dust formation. The wet, moist conditions prevent the tiny particles from accumulating. Dilute a small portion of fertilizer into the water during the growing season and replace it every one to two weeks.

Spider Plant

	botanical name Chlorophytum comosum
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Spider plants look like spiders! They sprout long, thin, narrow leaves from a central growth point. The spidery leaves often collect dust, especially in low-light situations without ample airflow. Because of their thin structure, these leaves are difficult to clean with a rag. 

Spider plants sprout small, baby plants that drape from the main one. Their tiny roots and foliage also collect dust! The best way to clean spider plants is to shower them. Let plenty of water flow over the main specimen and the baby plants to wash the dirt and grime away. 

Chinese Evergreen

	botanical name Aglaonema spp.
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 10-11

Chinese evergreens are gorgeous houseplants for large, bright rooms. They sprout lush, long foliage with solid green, silver, or pink colors. Some varieties have unique patterns and variegation, and there are so many types it’d be difficult to collect them all. Most specimens stay under two feet, although they can grow taller with support.

Because the leaves stick around for a long time, they may grow dirty and grimy with dust. Clean them as you’d like, depending on the size of your plant. Mature specimens may grow too large to move to the shower! Wipe them with a moist rag instead of hosing them off. 

Baby Rubber Plant

	botanical name Peperomia obtusifolia
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 10-12

The baby rubber plant is a low-growing spreader with glossy green foliage. They remain on the vines for a long time before fading and falling off. They’ll attract dust and dirt, as some may stay on the plant for a year or longer.

Although thick, the leaves may break or snap with rough handling. Take care while cleaning them to avoid accidental breakage. Consider staking the long vines to make them easier to clean, and they may grow taller than two feet!

Fiddle Leaf Fig

	botanical name Ficus lyrata
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 10-100’
	hardiness zones 10-12

Fiddle leaf fig is a tree that grows well as a houseplant under filtered light. It’s a true fig tree in the Ficus genus, with oval, ribbed green leaves and brown, flaky trunks. They are dark green on top and light green below, creating a beautiful contrasting effect.

Because this tree’s foliage is gigantic, it often attracts grime and dust that stick to the topsides. Mist them frequently to discourage dust from building up, and wipe them with a moist cloth when they’re dirty.

Corn Plant

	botanical name Dracaena fragrans
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 3-15’
	hardiness zones 10-11

The corn plant receives its name for looking like corn! It sprouts bright green leaves that resemble corn foliage. These perennials have woody trunks; some specimens have a single one and others have many. Dozens of varieties exist, allowing you to choose from a diverse range of options.

Corn plants often lose their lower leaves when they grow in low light, and they hold onto them when they sprout under filtered light for most of the day. Check them first to see if they’re dusty, then wash the plants or wipe them down. 

Peace Lily

	botanical name Spathiphyllum spp.
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 11-12

Peace lilies round out this list because of their extreme tolerance for shade. They thrive in shaded homes more than any other flowering plant, sending up dark green foliage and bright white blossoms in dark corners. They appreciate filtered light indoors, and they’ll grow under partial or full shade outdoors in warm regions.