Top 5 Houseplants for Each of the Most Popular Home Styles

Relating our indoor plants to the architectural stylings of our home is an opportunity to create visual harmony. Houseplants that reflect the home’s expression lend a unified feel throughout. They also enhance our connection to nature. Embrace the biophilic with selections to meld popular house and personal styles with gardening expert Katherine Rowe.

Green ferns hanging in decorative pots from a white porch ceiling, with white railings and large, round columns.

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Architectural styles refer to specific ornamentation and aesthetics and the overall design of a house as it relates to guiding principles like scale, proportion, and symmetry. How we interpret our home’s style is as personal as our garden aesthetic, but the architecture offers inspiration into the essence of the space.

In the built environment, carrying architectural themes into garden design anchors the house to the landscape. It helps situate it in the immediate surroundings and creates a seamless transition between home and garden. Indoor plants further bridge this connection, emphasizing nature in partnership with home from the inside out. Compatible styling harmonizes a space for visual balance and unity. 

Improved Meyer Lemon Bush

Improved Meyer Lemon Bush

Introduced in the USA in 1908, this species is a hybrid of a lemon and an orange, with a subtle sweetness balancing the classic sour flavor. The fruits are versatile, perfect for finishing off a range of dishes in the kitchen.

Buy at Epic Gardening

Contemporary

A contemporary house with large rectangular windows, dark grey walls, and a garage with a light brown wooden door, surrounded by trees and pavement.
They rely on efficiency, functionality, and geometric organization through varying materials.

Contemporary styles embrace crisp, clean lines to create structure and balance. They rely on efficiency, functionality, and geometric organization through varying materials. Modern doesn’t mean rigid; soft textures balance high structure.

Sculptural plants complement the design with color, form, and texture. Simple forms with a minimalist aesthetic lend a significant impact. Rely on deep greens and blend them with foliage in metallic hues and unusual colors.

ZZ Plant ‘Raven’

ZZ Plant ‘Raven’ with glossy black leaves growing upward in a neat pattern, placed in an orange terracotta pot on a light wood surface.
The ‘Raven’ ZZ is a modern twist with dark purple-black foliage and stems.
common-name common name ZZ Plant ‘Raven’
botanical-name botanical name Zamioculcas zamifolia ‘Dowon’
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 1-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

The ZZ, or Zuzu plant, boasts a structural form with sturdy, upright, slightly arching stems. Its architectural qualities include thick, waxy, shiny leaves in dark olive, black, and variegated. ZZ is the epitome of low maintenance; it requires little water and can improve air quality by filtering volatile compounds.

The ‘Raven’ ZZ is a modern twist with dark purple-black foliage and stems. New growth emerges bright green and darkens with maturity.

ZZ plants grow in low to bright, indirect, and even artificial light. The dark foliage of ‘Raven’ retains the deepest tones in bright to medium light, while green varieties tolerate low-light conditions.

Snake Plant

Upright, sword-shaped green leaves with yellow edges in a wicker decorative pot on a wooden table in a bright room.
D. trifasciata shows ribbons of creamy yellow lining the margins and dark green streaks across paler surfaces.
common-name common name Snake Plant
botanical-name botanical name Dracaena trifasciata
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 2-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Snake plants are structural and durable, with broad, stiff, upright blades and pointed tips. D. trifasciata shows ribbons of creamy yellow lining the margins and dark green streaks across paler surfaces.

Longlived and forgiving, the low-maintenance succulent thrives with neglect. Originally in the Sansevieria genus, reclassification to Dracaena results from genetic research.

Snake plant tolerates a range of exposures, including low light, but performs best in medium to bright situations. D. trifasciata shows the best color in brighter light, out of the direct sun. The hearty grower likes to be a little tight in a pot, so don’t be quick to repot until roots and blades become crowded.

Hoya

Close-up of a Hoya Krimson Queen in a decorative blue ribbed pot on a white table against a white wall. The Hoya Krimson Queen is a charming member of the wax plant family, showcases glossy, succulent-like leaves with creamy-white margins that gradually transitions into shades of pink and green, creating a captivating variegated pattern. Its elliptical leaves emerge from cascading stems, forming dense clusters that hang gracefully from container.
Also called wax plants, their thick leaves and stems mound and trail with a soft, sculptural appeal.
common-name common name Hoya
botanical-name botanical name Hoya spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 1-4’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Hoya are popular for their unique foliage, fragrant blooms, and long lifespan as low-maintenance indoor specimens. Most are indigenous to subtropical Asia, with 200 species and their cultivars in diverse colors and shapes. Also called wax plants, their thick leaves and stems mound and trail with a soft, sculptural appeal.

The semi-succulents are adaptable and flower reliably even in low light. They have low water needs and prefer to dry between waterings. Hoyas like their roots cozy and perform well when slightly potbound, living in the same vessel for years.

Monstera

Large, glossy, deeply lobed leaves with distinctive perforations, growing on thick vines in a large blue flower pot indoors.
Large, lush leaves with natural splits and holes comprise Monstera deliciosa, a “delicious monster.”
common-name common name Monstera
botanical-name botanical name Monstera deliciosa
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Monstera tops the list of specialty tropicals to make a big statement with striking foliar characteristics. Large, lush leaves with natural splits and holes comprise Monstera deliciosa, a “delicious monster.” Many indoor gardeners can’t resist the oversized and lively form: some leaves reach a dramatic one to two feet long.

For an even more contemporary style, consider Monstera variegata with smaller leaves and white and green variegation. These are Phantom of the Opera meets houseplant in masked-leaf form.

Make more monstera by sticking a stem in water and watching it happily root to add to the collection. The tropicals propagate easily in water and make a sweet exchange or housewarming gift for other enthusiasts.

Blue Star Fern

Phlebodium aureum in a white pot indoors, has arching fronds with elongated, deeply lobed blue-green leaves.
This contemporary style houseplant features unique, deeply lobed fronds in silvery blue-gray.
common-name common name Blue Star Fern
botanical-name botanical name Phlebodium aureum
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 2-4′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-13

Blue star fern gets its celestial name from deeply lobed fronds in silvery blue-gray. One of the easiest ferns to grow, its unique color, texture, and shapely foliage bring a modern and tranquil aesthetic to the interior.

Blue star ferns have epiphytic roots in addition to those growing in potting media. Relatively carefree, they prefer even moisture but tolerate dry conditions. Water when the soil surface feels dry, but avoid overwatering the crown and epiphytic roots. 

Blue star boasts Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit Status with unique fronds and strong performance, growing mostly as a houseplant.

Victorian

A Victorian house with a steep grey roof, tall white-framed windows, and ornate white railings on the balcony, surrounded by neatly trimmed bushes.
Peaked gables, bargeboards (carved trim), banisters, and iron railings are identifying features.

The 1800s Victorian era embodies a turn to the ornamental garden and an appreciation of the new and exotic. Growing tropical plants indoors and in conservatories and greenhouses increased as specimens made their way to Europe through trade, exploration, and colonialism. The language of flowers and their symbolism became a popular pastime, and garden themes and design saw renewed vigor.

Architecturally, the Victorian style blends the symmetry of its revival predecessors (Classical, Georgian, Gothic) with embellishments of high ornament and fine detail. Peaked gables, bargeboards (carved trim), banisters, and iron railings are identifying features. Gardens often include defined spaces with formal specimens or hedging and loads of plants that flower, trail, and tumble. Bring the look indoors with floriferous specimens right out of the era and those that will brighten indoor spaces.

Cyclamen persicum

Two potted plants, one with deep purple-burgundy flowers and the other with soft pink flowers, both surrounded by rounded, deep green leaves with silver marble patterns.
They produce bunches of upright blooms above signature heart-shaped leaves with silvery marbling.
common-name common name Cyclamen persicum
botanical-name botanical name Cyclamen persicum
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-9”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

C. persicum, or Persian cyclamen, are floriferous right in time with the holidays. They produce bunches of upright blooms above signature heart-shaped leaves with silvery marbling.

This florist’s cyclamen became popular in Victorian conservatories when the greenhouse-grown selections brought cheer with their winter blooms. C. persicum boasts a long bloom time in the cold season. In bright reds, pinks, and pure white, the reflexed (curved back) petals twist and flutter. 

They need a cool spot to prolong the display, below 70°F (21°C), as warm temperatures trigger dormancy for the Mediterranean specimens. Place them near a window to experience cooler temperatures; an east or north-facing windowsill also offers bright, indirect light.

Parlor Palm

In a bright, sunlit room stands a wicker pot with thin, flexible stems adorned with feathery, arching green leaves that create a graceful shadow on the wall.
Parlor palms have soft, fine-textured fronds, usually from a single trunk.
common-name common name Parlor Palm
botanical-name botanical name Chamaedorea elegans
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 2-7’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Palms greeted visitors to Victorian homes in a display of tropical beauty and the capability to grow such exotic specimens. Parlor palms are dense, small, and compact, making them versatile as potted indoor selections.

Parlor palms have soft, fine-textured fronds, usually from a single trunk. They grow in limited light and need little care, performing best in evenly moist soils. A north or east-facing window is ideal. Parlor palms are popular due to their attractive, fanning foliage and ability to grow in dim and lower humidity conditions.

For larger palms, look to majesty (Ravenea rivularis) and areca (Dypsis lutescens) to fill up a space with long, arching fronds.

African Violets

A vibrant African violet plant with round leaves and delicate purple flowers sits in a brown pot on a white windowsill, basking in soft sunlight. Its intricate beauty adds a touch of elegance to the room, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
They display thick, velvety leaves and delicate, ruffled blooms in saturated hues.
common-name common name African Violets
botanical-name botanical name Streptocarpus ionanthus
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 11-12

African violets are sweet tropicals with thick, velvety leaves and delicate, ruffled blooms in saturated hues. Their floriferous nature keeps the color going year-round.

European colonists discovered the violets growing in eastern Africa. They collected seeds and, in 1892, sent them home to Germany, where the Royal Botanic Gardens at Herrenhausen took interest. In 1894, a New York florist introduced them to America.

African violets grow indoors or out with warm temperatures. A little humidity and a draft-free spot help them flourish. Well-draining potting mix, or a soilless mix, protects their roots from oversaturation. They need to be slightly pot-bound to initiate flowering.

Rex Begonia

An indoor rex begonia plant displays lush foliage adorned with intricate silver leaves etched with striking purple and green veins. Its elegant color palette adds vibrancy to any indoor space, evoking a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
This plant features bold, colorful foliage in intricate patterns with prominent veins and margins.
common-name common name Rex Begonia
botanical-name botanical name Begonia rex-cultorum
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 1-1.5’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

Rex begonias bring bold, colorful foliage in intricate patterns with prominent veins and margins. Leaf undersides are often reddish-purple. Some rex begonias feature large, purple-lined leaves with silver interiors, while others are bright red, deep pink, or dark green. Wavy margins add flare to the dramatic compositions.

Rex begonias came to England from India in the 1850s. They quickly became popular in hybridizing to create a flurry of foliar interest.

Rex begonias can be finicky, especially in dry environments or when subject to oversaturation. They prefer high humidity (above 50%) and regular moisture, erring on the dry side between watering sessions.

Meyer Lemon

A close-up of a Meyer Lemon tree laden with lush yellow fruits, its vibrant green leaves sprawling across the branches, set against the backdrop of a spacious backyard belonging to a large white house.
They’re a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange or mandarin, and the yellow-orange fruits sweeter and less acidic.
common-name common name Meyer Lemon
botanical-name botanical name Citrus x meyeri ‘Improved’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 8-12’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 8-11

Meyer lemon trees bring a burst of color, fragrance, and citrus flavor to the interiorscape. They’re a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet orange or mandarin, and the yellow-orange fruits sweeter and less acidic than other lemon varieties.

The lemons need at least six hours of sunlight to thrive, so a south-facing window is ideal. They can also summer outdoors and come in for winter where not hardy.

The ‘Improved’ Meyer lemon bush is a younger form of the tree with a more compact growth habit. The shrubby form makes it easy to grow in containers, especially indoors, and to prune. Like having your own conservatory, picking fresh lemons is a sweet reward in the cool season.

Mid-Century Modern

A Mid-Century Modern building featuring flat roofs, large glass windows, and a mix of wooden and grey concrete walls, with small green plants in the front yard.
Glass, steel, and concrete are the primary materials employed to connect the structure to its surrounding environment.

The architecture of the mid-20th century focuses on clean lines (whether straight or curvilinear) and a clear expression of the home, free of detailed ornament. Glass, steel, and concrete are the primary materials employed to connect the structure to its surrounding environment. Organic forms add to the idea of integration with nature.

Jade Plant

A jade houseplant, Crassula ovata, grows in a large container in front of a sunny window indoors.
The Jade plant has fleshy, glossy leaves and sturdy, ornamental branching.
common-name common name Jade Plant
botanical-name botanical name Crassula ovata
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 11-12

The jade plant is a slow-growing succulent with fleshy, glossy leaves and sturdy, ornamental branching. Cultivated as a houseplant for a century, its organic form and self-sustaining properties make it a fit for 1950s architecture.

In bright light, new leaves are fresh green with red-tinged edges. Jade flowers in clusters of small, starry white and pink blooms. Autumn’s shorter day lengths, longer nights, and cooling temperatures initiate flowering. 

The long-lived specimens are native to southern Africa’s Mediterranean climate type. They need little care and adapt to dry conditions and low light. In well-draining soils, jade lives for years in a single pot. Jade plants propagate easily through cuttings rooted in water or soil.

Split Leaf Philodendron

Split Leaf Philodendron showcasing large, deeply lobed green leaves with glossy surfaces and prominent veins, growing densely.
Like monstera, they feature oversized leaves and make a statement as large specimens when potted up over time.
common-name common name Split Leaf Philodendron
botanical-name botanical name Philodendron bipinnatifidum
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 4-10’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

Split leaf philodendron has curvilinear lobed leaves and distinct shaping, incorporating the lines and organic qualities of mid-century designs. Like monstera, they feature oversized leaves and make a statement as large specimens when potted up over time.

The rainforest dwellers grow well in more temperate climes, given average warmth and humidity indoors. These prefer the morning sun and do well in an east or south-facing window with a filter against afternoon rays.

Aloe

Two clay pots with thick, spiky green leaves featuring serrated edges grow from central rosettes on a white shelf, illuminated by sunlight.
This plant features spiny, juicy, succulent leaves filled with soothing gel.
common-name common name Aloe
botanical-name botanical name Aloe vera
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 1-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Aloes have spiny, juicy, succulent leaves filled with soothing gel. Like jade plants, they’re native to southern Africa’s Mediterranean climate. They also do best without much attention and minimal water.

In addition to aloes with their spiky foliage in greens and reds, look for gasteria (Gasteria spp.) to compliment the mid-century style. It resembles aloe and is a group of succulents with rosettes of bladed leaves in dark green with colorful spots and striations. Gasteraloe hybrids (crosses between gasteria and aloe) present the best of both species in thick, gelled, colorful, and structural leaves.

These succulents seldom need pot changes and do well in low-quality, well-draining soils. Warm temperatures and drying out between watering are optimal.

Cast Iron Plant

It has broad, glossy, dark green leaves that arch gracefully and create a dense, leafy clump.
It boasts broad, sculptural leaves in solid, dark green, or green with white variegation.
common-name common name Cast Iron Plant
botanical-name botanical name Aspidistra elatior
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 1-3′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7-11

Cast iron plant has broad, sculptural leaves in solid, dark green, or green with white variegation. Singular leaves stand tall and upright and make a handsome specimen that also tolerates dim corners.

‘Variegata’ adds dramatic interest with wide ivory margins. ‘Ippin’ has handsome creamy white-striped leaves in varying widths. In contrast, ‘Milky Way’ is bouncy with compact leaves and dotted clusters of speckled yellow-white galaxies.

With good drainage, Aspidistra is long-lived in containers. Clip off aged or tattered fronds for a fresh appearance and new growth.

Prayer Plant

A close-up shot of a houseplant that showcases how to propagate prayer plant
They open by day to reveal bold stripes and venation in burgundy, pink, and greens.
common-name common name Prayer Plant
botanical-name botanical name Maranta leuconeura
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 10-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 11

The prayer plant has patterned leaves that fold at night. They open by day to reveal bold stripes and venation in burgundy, pink, and greens. Leaf undersides, most visible when folded, are a contrasting dark red or purple.

Maranta makes a lovely indoor hanging basket or low bowl arrangement with thick stems that slowly trail. Prayer plants need humidity and regular moisture to thrive. They benefit from filtered or distilled water over treated tap water. 

Georgian

A Georgian house with red brick walls, white-framed rectangular windows symmetrically arranged, and a dark, steep roof with dormer windows.
Multipaned windows are symmetrical, with a transom window over the doorway and a pediment or crown above the entrance.

In the Eastern part of the U.S., Georgian inspiration is present historically and today. As the most popular style during the 18th century and English colonization, many historical buildings rely on the Georgian balanced symmetry, formality, and classical details. Multipaned windows are symmetrical, with a transom window over the prominent doorway and a pediment or crown above the entrance. Structures are stately and proportionate in a traditional style that builds off of Renaissance symmetry.

Norfolk Island Pine

A row of Araucaria heterophylla trees with evenly spaced branches covered in vibrant green needles.
It has soft evergreen needles on symmetrical branches that whorl around a strong, central leader
common-name common name Norfolk Island Pine
botanical-name botanical name Araucaria heterophylla
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-200’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

Norfolk Island pines feature soft evergreen needles on symmetrical branches that whorl around a strong, central leader. The evergreen, balanced form of this houseplant is a good reflection of the Georgian style, simultaneously softening the look with graceful stems.

Norfolk Island pines aren’t true pines but part of an ancient family of pre-historic conifers. Native to the subtropical South Pacific (Norfolk Island is a small island off of Australia), the natural habitat is seaside cliffs and temperate rainforests. Fortunately, the trees adapt to average household humidity outside of their balmy growing zones.

An esoteric connection between the stately evergreens and Georgian architecture is their origin. Captain Cook of England “discovered” the island species on his late 1700s voyage, bringing it to England. England is the seat of Georgian architecture, spreading to America with colonialism.

Spider Plant

A close-up of a spider plant with long, slender leaves, hanging in a white pot, with lush greenery in the garden in the blurred background.
They have narrow, green ribbon leaves, often with attractive white or buttery yellow striping.
common-name common name Spider Plant
botanical-name botanical name Chlorophytum comosum
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 1-2’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

Spider plants are easy-going bladed growers that happily hang in baskets or pots with few demands. They have narrow, green ribbon leaves, often with attractive white or buttery yellow striping. Longlived, they perform well with minimal maintenance, becoming mainstays in the collection. 

Their slender, graceful blades brighten corners and offer textural contrast. In addition to their easy care, they propagate easily through pretty little plantlets – spiderettes – produced on the ends of long stems. Confined conditions also encourage spider plants to produce offshoots.

Spider plants prefer warm, humid conditions. Normal household humidity is usually fine; boost the humidity in dry seasons by placing pots on a tray of pebbles filled with water.

Orchid

A close-up of a potted white Phalaenopsis orchid plant with delicate petals and green leaves sitting on a windowsill.
Moth orchids, with their ample blooms on long, arching stems, are a houseplant favorite.
common-name common name Orchid
botanical-name botanical name Phalaenopsis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 1-2′
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-11

A classic addition to the interiorscape, orchids add a clean, elegant touch that complements the Georgian style. They have a long history of cultivation with exotic blooms and variations in growth and flowering. 

Moth orchids, with their ample blooms on long, arching stems, are a houseplant favorite. Their universal beauty and ease of growing have broad appeal. Phalaenopsis can bloom more than once a year for extended display.

Moth orchids are epiphytes, dwelling in nooks of trees, and lithophytes, growing in rock crevices. Their plump white roots absorb moisture from the air and nutrients from decaying plant material. Fortunately, the adaptable epiphyte grows well in our homes in the right situation with a reward of long-lasting, exotic blooms.

Peace Lily

White peace lilies with delicate, pristine petals contrast beautifully against a backdrop of green foliage.
Their tall spathe flower is creamy white, accompanied with broad, dark green leaves.
common-name common name Peace Lily
botanical-name botanical name Spathiphyllum spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 1-6’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 11-12

Peace lilies are full and tailored with broad, dark green leaves. Their tall spathe flower is creamy white and longlasting, usually appearing in spring and fall.

Peace lilies are resilient and tolerate a range of conditions, even thriving with a little neglect. They’ll perform best in bright light with humidity and even moisture but tolerate lower light. They won’t withstand improper watering, and will wilt to let you know they need more, though they usually rebound from dry spells.

Boston Fern

A brown hanging pot contains a lush Boston fern, its fronds cascading gracefully. In the blurred background, another Boston fern thrives in its own hanging pot, adding depth to the verdant scene.
With wide fronds in a symmetrical arrangement around a central “nest,” the tropical growers add stately beauty.
common-name common name Boston Fern
botanical-name botanical name Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 2-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Boston ferns create a presence with their fountains of fronds and fresh tropical lushness. They soften structures and brighten the interiorscape. In the right growing situations, they make handsome houseplants. They also thrive outdoors in warm conditions and round out the interior by overwintering indoors in cold months.

Boston ferns are a graceful, compact variety that makes growing it in temperate climes easier. Additionally, there are many similar cultivars in circulation, with dwarf habits and frilly or ruffled leaves. Their growth and versatility earned them the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.

Traditional on a front porch, overwinter them indoors where not hardy. If too messy in your indoor space, opt for a bird’s nest fern. With wide fronds in a symmetrical arrangement around a central “nest,” the tropical growers also add stately beauty. Maidenhair ferns, too, are smaller with a delicate, lacy texture perfect for classic styling.

Ranch

A single-story Ranch house with a wide, covered porch, green metal roof, and large windows with white frames, set among green shrubs and open fields.
Construction is straightforward, with simple forms that include a low roof and long windows.

Ranch homes are borne of the West and Southwest United States and gained popularity in the 1950s. Ranch houses are traditionally long and one-storied with open floor plans. Porches and patios connect to nature for indoor/outdoor living. Construction is straightforward, with simple forms that include a low roof and long windows.

Pothos

Close-up of a lush houseplant in a white pot on a bright sunny windowsill, with a golden watering can nearby, featuring long, thin vines covered in heart-shaped, smooth-textured bright green leaves.
Its fresh, heart-shaped foliage is jade, lime, silver, variegated, or gold-splashed.
common-name common name Pothos
botanical-name botanical name Epipremmum aureum
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-8’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

Pothos is a quintessential indoor plant that trails and sprawls, right in line with the ranch style. Its fresh, heart-shaped foliage is jade, lime, silver, variegated, or gold-splashed. 

Pothos is an easy-care tropical that’s adaptable to less-than-ideal conditions and grows well in many interior spots. Keep pothos out of direct sun and away from drafts and trailing stems will soon be the reward. Pothos propagates easily in water or soil to create new plants with those lengthy stems.

Christmas Cactus

Blooming pink Christmas schlumbergera
Flowers appear in shades of pink, red, white, salmon, purple, and bicolor among branches of succulent, segmented leaves.
common-name common name Christmas Cactus
botanical-name botanical name Schlumbergera russelliana
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-11

Christmas cactus is aptly named for its bloom time, flowering for four to six weeks around the winter holidays. Buds emerge along branches of succulent, segmented leaves (phylloclades) in late fall and become billowy blooms in winter. Flowers appear in shades of pink, red, white, salmon, purple, and bicolor. You can also move them out to the patio in warm months, and enjoy the blooms inside in winter.

Cultivated in the mid-1800s, the Christmas cactus hails from Brazilian rainforests and lends a tropical accent all year. Its unique stems bring all-season interest, while its easy care with minimal water needs makes it easygoing.

The Christmas cactus is one of three holiday cacti. It joins the Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri) in blooming at its namesake holiday time. Thanksgiving cactus usually flowers in November, and Easter cactus in March through May.

Rubber Plant

Large, dark green, glossy leaves on sturdy stems, characteristic of Ficus elastica, creating a robust and structured indoor presence.
Their broad foliage anchors a space in bold form.
common-name common name Rubber Plant
botanical-name botanical name Ficus elastica
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 4-50’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-12

Rubber plants boast elliptical, shiny, leathery leaves in dark green, purple, or variegated. Their broad foliage also anchors a space in bold form, perfect for open-concept floor plans with large windows.

Look for ‘Burgundy’ for deep, dark foliage in olive and purple-red. The striking tones create a focal point but also a neutrality to complement any space. 

Rubber plants don’t require much to thrive. Regular water ensures consistent moisture and bright light helps to retain the best color.

Money Tree

A money tree with slender trunks rises from a white pot, its bark textured and gracefully twisting upwards. Behind it, a variety of plants fill the blurred background, with an empty wooden shelf adding to the scene.
It’s often sold with multiple stems braided into a trunk and has glossy, palmate leaves.
common-name common name Money Tree
botanical-name botanical name Pachira aquatica
sun-requirements sun requirements Bright, indirect light
height height 6-30’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 10-12

The money tree plant is associated with prosperity, good fortune, and positive energy.  An adaptable grower, the money tree is well-suited to various conditions and not finicky, tolerating low light conditions. It’s often sold with multiple stems braided into a trunk and has glossy, palmate leaves.

Money trees grow large given the right care and potting, ideal for filling corners in open rooms where space allows. Additionally, they will forgive occasional neglect. They are low maintenance and grow with the home.

Staghorn Fern

A Platycerium bifurcatum, or staghorn fern, mounted on a brick wall outdoors, its unique fronds cascading down gracefully.
The fronds are blue-green, broad, and deeply lobed, resembling the forked antlers of deer or elk.
common-name common name Staghorn Fern
botanical-name botanical name Platycerium bifurcatum
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 2-3’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 9-13

We had to bring staghorns to the ranch style. Staghorn fern fronds are blue-green, broad, and deeply lobed, resembling the forked antlers of deer or elk. They’re handsome in a hanging basket. They also look great mounted on a piece of wood or bark to grow indoors in colder months.  

As added visual interest, staghorns form coppery, papery shields around frond clusters. The shields also multiply and overlap as the fern grows. With its stately form and long-lived nature, the species also earned the Award of Garden Merit.

The tropical rainforest natives have epiphytic roots that absorb water and nutrients from the air. Their pocket shields also serve to collect plant debris from tree canopies for added nutrition. Consistent moisture is best, though mature specimens tolerate dry spells. Allow media to dry slightly between waterings.

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Close-up of two potted houseplants, ZZ Plant and Fiddle Leaf Fig, in white and green pots by a sofa with tall candles in candlesticks in a mid-century modern home.

Houseplants

9 Houseplants for Midcentury Modern Home Styles

Houseplants are a key component of a midcentury modern home. They fill empty, well-lit spaces with lush leaves, elegant textures, and simple designs. Join longtime houseplant grower Jerad Bryant and choose from these nine options that complement the midcentury modern style.

Long green vine with pointed leaves, featuring a mix of light and dark green tones.

Houseplants

How to Grow Ivy as a Houseplant: 7 Care Tips

Tired of growing pothos vines? Try ivy instead! Dozens of available cultivars and species mean you can pick the best one for your home. Ivy houseplants are a bit more fussy than outdoor specimens, though these seven care tips will ensure your plant stays happy and healthy throughout the year.

A close-up of a Chlorophytum comosum showing long green leaves with pointed tips and a small white flower cluster hanging down.

Houseplants

How to Root Spider Plant Babies: 7 Pro Tips

Spider plants naturally sprout dozens of babies along their stems. The sprouts grow roots and leaves that make them easy to propagate. Discover these seven pro-propagating tips alongside longtime houseplant grower Jerad Bryant. Help ensure each baby grows healthy and strong!

move houseplants outside. The Boston Fern in a hanging pot in the garden, displays cascading fronds with feathery, bright green foliage, creating an elegant and lush appearance.

Houseplants

9 Houseplants You Should Move Outside For the Summer

With summer nearly upon us, our houseplants deserve a vacation just as much as we do! Nearly all of our tropical houseplants benefit from warm, humid summers that mimic their native environments. Garden expert Christina Conner shares her top picks for houseplants that you should move outside this summer.