The 6 Best House Plants

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 8" x 10"

The American Plant Exchange Golden Pothos impresses us across the board. We love its beautiful, deep green variegated leaves, and its vining nature looks great in a hanging planter or cascading over the edge of its container and trailing down a shelf. Our plant arrived in excellent condition, well-protected in its box, and adequately watered with very minimal damage to its leaves, especially appreciated due to the 8"x10" size of the plant. Pothos is a low-maintenance plant, great for beginner plant parents. It can withstand drying out a bit between waterings. We allowed the top two inches of soil to dry between watering, which led to a weekly watering schedule in our testing period. While the golden pothos can benefit from a monthly fertilizing schedule, it's not strictly necessary for this plant to thrive. This is a hardy plant that's sometimes referred to as devil's ivy because while it prefers bright indirect light, it will grow well even in limited light settings.

We struggled to find criticisms of the American Plant Exchange Golden Pothos. However, like most house plants, it is susceptible to overwatering damage, which leads to root rot. It is also one of the faster-growing house plants on this list, which is exciting and gratifying, but it might not be the best option for folks with limited space. Overall, the Golden Pothos makes for a beautiful, low-maintenance, and resilient option in both low-light and high-light spaces.

Variety: Succulent | Dimensions (LxW): 4" x 4"

The Shop Succulents Crassula Ovata, commonly known as the jade plant, led the succulents included in this review. In our opinion, this plant incorporates well into almost any home decor, and we love its gorgeous purple and green colors with petal-like leaf patterns. We unboxed this succulent to find it in a very healthy state, well packed with padding and not showing any signs of dehydration stress. When we transplanted this plant into another pot, we noticed a well-established root system. The jade plant is also a low-maintenance option in this category, with watering needs similar to a succulent.

While not many, there may be a few disadvantages to this option. For one, the crassula ovata is sensitive to root rot if over-watered, although not as sensitive as some other succulents, as it comes from a more humid climate. It's also a slow grower that prefers high light, and it took a few months before we noticed new growth. However, the dropped leaves of this plant are easily propagated, so you can create a whole family of jade plants. If you are looking for a healthy, handsome succulent that is easy to maintain and grow, the Shop Succulents Crassula Ovata is an excellent option.

Variety: Succulent | Dimensions (LxW): 2" grower pots

We love the succulents that Plants for Pets includes in this variety pack, consisting of five different echeverias (flat-leafed, rose-shaped variety) plants and a crassula (round leaves) plant. This variety pack scored top points for its out-of-box appearance and health. Each plant arrived healthy, having been carefully packed, and with a strong root system. Despite claiming to be a five-pack, Plants for Pets includes an extra plant in the box. We appreciate this generosity, as shipping can be hard on plants (especially smaller ones). Upon arrival, the soil was dry, but all six plants were healthy and showed no visual signs of stress.

If a combo pack of small succulents is what you're after, there's little to disappoint here. Like most other succulents, though, these plants don't grow very quickly. The other side of this is that their slow-growing tendencies also make them easy to care for. And, like most succulents we tested, these are all susceptible to root rot if overwatered, especially the echeveria. If you are looking for a one-stop shop for a healthy variety of little succulents at a low price point, the Plants for Pets Succulent 5-Pack is a great option.

Variety: Succulent | Dimensions (WxH): 20" x 24"

The American Plant Exchange Ponytail Palm is our favorite for a stand-alone larger planting at a great value. This succulent has a unique palm look with wild spiraling tendrils and a bulbous trunk. Upon arrival, it measured a respectable 24" tall, but this relative of agave can grow up to 18 feet tall. The fronds combined with the trunk-like stem would look nice among desert decor but have a soft enough appearance to match many looks. The Ponytail Palm arrived in excellent health, packed securely in a tall box with ventilation and moist soil. This option is also easy to care for. Allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings meant that we only had to water this large pot once during the testing period. Additionally, care guidelines call for fertilizing only 2-3 times per year, and the Ponytail Palm actually prefers to be rootbound before being repotted, lowering this frequency too.

Like most succulents, what makes the Ponytail Palm easy to care for can also be its downfall. It is very susceptible to root rot and can be exposed to too much water if moved to a pot that is more than a few inches larger than its previous home. These considerations mean that if you tend to "love to death" (read: overwater your plants), this is not the best choice. If you are short on space, remember that this tree can get quite large if given the right conditions. If you are looking for a large standing statement at a great value, the American Plant Exchange Ponytail Palm makes for a unique and easy-to-care-for addition to your home garden.

Variety: Succulent | Dimensions (LxW): 4" x 4"

The Fat Plants String of Pearls was another high-quality single plant option. We love the unique and elegant look of the little green pearls cascading over the edges of its planter. The plant came already boasting 3-5" hanging tendrils filled with little pearl-like pods and well established in its grow pot. The delicate vines were packaged well and arrived well-protected, carefully and snugly padded with cotton. After re-potting this plant, we saw signs of new growth in just two weeks. In our experience, this plant grows quite readily.

The Fat Plants String of Pearls requires several hours of direct sunlight every day, plus additional hours of indirect light. For this reason, ours seemed happiest in south and west-facing windows. More than some succulents, these pearls are quite susceptible to root rot. If you tend to be heavy-handed with your watering regimen, this might not be the best option for you. String of pearls are also quite also susceptible to pests like mealybugs. Most importantly, this plant is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. The string of pearls is a bit particular, but if you have the right environment, this unique, long-tendriled plant is one of our favorite recommendations.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 16" x 36"

If you're somebody who often forgets that those green things in the living room are actually alive and need care, allow us to point you towards the Costa Farms Snake Plant. It arrives nearly three feet tall with beautiful light sage green and dark green striped leaves, and its succulent appearance would match southwest or desert decor very well. Costa Farms provided an extremely healthy specimen, securely packaged with well-drained soil and no signs of stress or damage. After it adjusted well to being repotted and watering only when the soil was completely dry, we only had to water this plant once over several weeks of the testing period. This is one of the most low-maintenance house plants out there; it actually prefers to be root-bound, so frequent repotting is not necessary, and it's only recommended to fertilize one or two times during its summer growing period. It can thrive in both low and high-light situations.

The striking appearance of the Costa Farms Snake Plant makes quite a statement. The strong upright growth does not lend itself to softening a space. Yet what it lacks in softness, it makes up for in the impact it has in a room. Again, like many low-maintenance options, this plant is highly susceptible to root rot and damage from sitting in too much water. So if you're the type who loves to water, consider another option. Overall, the Costa Farms Snake Plant is an eye-catching, neglect-loving statement piece for your home.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (LxW): 4" grower pots

The Costa Farms Clean Air 3-Pack provides you with three of 10 different plants that the manufacturer claims help clean the air (we did not verify the air-cleansing capabilities of any plants). Our sample included pothos, dieffenbachia (aka dumb cane), and a snake plant. This variety pack scored points for the quality and health of the plants upon arrival. All three varieties were securely wrapped in plastic with a bamboo support rod and packaged in styrofoam peanuts, resulting in very little damage to the product. The products also included three neutral-colored 4" pots with drainage included to replant in, all one has to do is add a little additional potting soil and water. Over the testing period, all three plants are adjusting well to the provided pots and new environment, with the pothos and dieffenbachia both showing signs of new growth.

We have a few criticisms about the variability of this pack. Although the varieties we received were generally easy to care for, it's hard to know exactly what plants you will get, as the three selections are based on seasonality and selected by Costa Farms, not the customer. For instance, the pothos and snake plants we got are among the easiest varieties to grow and will adapt to many conditions — as we have mentioned. The dieffenbachia is not quite as resilient, as it is a little more particular about humidity and light, and has milky white sap that can irritate the skin and eyes. All in all, we recommend the Costa Farms Clean Air 3-Pack as a healthy selection for plant lovers who want to brighten and add some variety to their home.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 12" x 18"

The Hirt's Fiddleleaf Fig Tree is an aesthetically striking option. These trees can grow up to 3m tall indoors and have beautiful, glossy, medium-green leaves. This young plant from Hirt's is not quite that tall yet but scored well for its good-looking, gently rounded leaves and healthy appearance. Additionally, the plant arrived well packaged and protected, with adequately moist soil. The roots were in good health, as were the leaves. Overall, this little tree looked great.

Fiddle leaf figs require very specific care conditions. They like a high level of humidity, a lot of bright indirect light, and consistent temperatures with no drafts. This means that they can be extremely selective in their new homes, not to mention that they don't often show this stress for several months. For this reason, it is recommended that you do not attempt to repot this plant for several weeks after receiving it. The Hirt's Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree appears to be in great health and is adjusting well to its new home, where it sits above a water pan for increased humidity. In general, this plant has the potential to be an incredibly rewarding endeavor in home gardening if you have the time, correct setting, and are willing to put in the effort.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 5" x 5"

The JMBamboo Ocean Spider, with its cascading green and off-white striped leaves, makes another attractive option for a hanging basket or a ledge planting. The Ocean Spider has long fronds that sprout vines and "pups" that act to propagate the plant. Its soft coloration and style makes it adaptable to most spaces. The JMBamboo Ocean Spider arrived securely packaged with appropriately watered soil. Allowing the top inch of soil to dry resulted in watering once per week to keep the soil evenly moist, just as the Ocean Spider likes it.

Despite being a beautiful hanging planting, the JMBamboo Ocean Spider has a few shortcomings. It arrived securely packaged, but the nature of the long leaves combined with the JMBamboo plastic wrap and bamboo support resulted in some pinched and bent leaves. It is a moderately fast growing plant, and it should recover quickly from this damage. It also requires monthly fertilizing, and the nature of the pup growth means there might be more work repotting and maintaining. The pup propagation is one of the most interesting aspects of this variety, so if you want a plant that keeps on creating more, this is a great option. The JMBamboo Ocean Spider has a versatile soft look and the potential to create many more plants to beautify your indoor space.

Variety: Fern | Dimensions (WxH): 4"x5"

This JMBamboo Fern Leaf Plumosus Asparagus has unique and delicate fronds and is an unusual indoor plant. It arrives 5" tall and 4" wide, and is a slow grower, making it a great option for a countertop planter. This fern was very well packed, neatly wrapped in plastic, supported with a bamboo stake, and packed in styrofoam peanuts, leading to no damage to the delicate plant. The soil was adequately watered, and it was easy to transplant this plant. A bonus? The Asparagus Fern tolerates low light conditions, as it is used to growing in dappled light outside.

The slow growth and small footprint of the Asparagus Fern contribute to easy maintenance, but it can be somewhat pickier than other options in our lineup. The delicate nature of the leaves makes them sensitive to humidity and receptive to daily misting. The results were evident after the fronds dried out from the arid climate of our test location but recovered quickly with misting and a tray of water. The soil needs to be kept consistently moist—but not soggy—and temperature should remain above 60 degrees F. Although the fern may dry out, it is probably not dead and can be restored if returned to ideal conditions. The JMBamboo Fern Leaf Plumosus Asparagus is a unique, slow-growing countertop option for anyone excited to give a little more care and thought to its living conditions.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 4" x 10"

The Hirt's Gardens Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, otherwise known as the ZZ plant, can often be found on "easy to grow" lists. This product arrived with deep green, glossy leaves and 10" tall. It was healthy, and the soil had the proper moisture. In our opinion, this look would be a great addition to a modern planter or design scheme. As a bonus, this ZZ plant is tolerant of neglect, as it can survive drought, but is not incredibly sensitive to overwatering. Additionally, it is hardy to 45 degrees F and tolerates low light or artificial light conditions, making it more tolerant of drafty homes and winter light.

This Hirt's Gardens ZZ Plant did lack in the quality of the packaging. While it arrived securely in its pot in a box filled with styrofoam peanuts, it was growing at a right angle to its pot. This made repotting somewhat difficult, but it did not seem to affect the overall health of the product, as when allowed to grow with the pot standing near a bright window it entirely straightened itself. The Hirt's Gardens Zamioculcas Zamiifolia is an excellent option for someone looking for a plant that requires little attention and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions.

Variety: Mixed | Dimensions (LxW): 4" grower pots

The JMBamboo Parlor Palm, Spider Plant, Snake Plant variety pack is an excellent selection for someone who is looking to make several additions to their indoor garden but does not have the time to tend to fussy plants. Both the parlor palm and the snake plant in this pack arrived in nearly perfect condition, well wrapped in plastic, with a support rod, and covered in styrofoam peanuts. The parlor palm is a small and slow-growing variety that would match many a desktop, tabletop, or room, and the spider plant adds a softer touch of green. The parlor palm is not as particular about humidity as some other varieties, so it is a good beginner plant. All three varieties appear to be establishing well after being moved from their 4" grow pots to new planters in a new home.

Where this variety pack fell short was in its packaging of the Ocean Spider and the lack of versatility of the Snake Plant. As we saw with the individual version of the JMBamboo Ocean Spider, the long fronds are difficult to pack securely, resulting in bent leaves that will take a little while to recover. The striking look of the Snake Plant makes it stand out in a room and may not be the best quality if you are looking to soften your decorations. Overall, the JMBamboo Variety Pack is the perfect option for someone looking to start their indoor collection.

Variety: Foliage | Dimensions (WxH): 12"x5"

The Hirt's Gardens Red Prayer Plant won us over with its striking and beautiful color pattern on its leaves. It has deep greens, sage green, and a bright pink veining on the center of the leaves, with purple undersides to the leaves. The oval leaf pattern would make an elegant and colorful addition to nearly any space. This prayer plant was 5" tall and 12" wide when it arrived and had a well-developed root system. When healthy, it also has the unique quality of leaves that fold up at night and unfold during the day.

Despite its unique qualities and beautiful leaf patterns, the prayer plant had several shortcomings in our experience. This product mainly lacked quality packaging on its arrival. The new growth was dried out, and the soil was dried out as well. The plant was beginning to show signs of stress, like browning at the tips of the leaves. This is a variety that is known to be sensitive to humidity levels and temperature, and in the relatively dry climate of our testing location, we had to take several steps to amend the humidity in the space. Once misting and a water tray were introduced, it began to bounce back, and it's exciting to wonder how it will continue to grow. Additionally, prayer plants prefer temperatures above 70 degrees F and will only tolerate indirect light. This option can also be sensitive to water hardness, so if you live in a place with hard water you may need to use distilled or filtered water to keep it happy. In summary, although the Red Prayer Plant can require very specific care to thrive, it is truly one of the most beautiful living additions you can make to your home. If you are willing to put in the work, you may just be rewarded.

Variety: Palm | Dimensions (WxH): 30" x 36"

The Costa Farms Majesty Palm Tree makes a statement as a large, deep green standing piece. On arrival, it stood 36" tall and 30" wide, ready for a pot and a new home as a centerpiece. If successfully cared for, this beautiful plant can grow up to 20 feet tall. The large palm arrived extremely healthy and impressively packaged for its size, wrapped in plastic, and placed in a tall well-ventilated box, growing in well-watered soil. It also includes a woven basket, which is attractive, but we found it better suited to just cover another pot as it is not incredibly stable.

Unfortunately, we found the Costa Farms Majesty Palm Tree a finicky palm that rapidly deteriorated in health after transplanting. It should be noted that this tree is very sensitive to humidity, and it was tested in an arid climate. The Majesty Palm might do better in a more humid environment or space in the house, such as the bathroom. We found that the fronds rapidly dried before we could even notice browning at the tips, leading to aggressive pruning and a new misting regimen. Even though the climate was dry, this highlighted how delicate and sensitive this palm could be, making it not the best choice for a beginner gardener. The Majesty Palm also prefers warmer temperatures above 70 degrees F, drawing into question its ability to survive in drafty winter space. The Costa Farms Majesty Palm Tree has very specific care needs, but if you can meet them, you will be rewarded with a striking statement piece for your home garden.

Why You Should Trust Us

We start our review process with several hours of research, looking at the best and most popular house plants available online. After narrowing our selection down to the most promising plants, we bought them and sent them to our lead tester. We looked at individual plants, hanging plants, succulents, and variety packs. To assess this variety of plants, we developed care plans for each selection and replanted them where we thought their needs would be best met. We took care to consider each plant's aesthetic potential, how it arrived, its maintenance needs, the abuse it could withstand, and how it changed over our review period. After over a month of monitoring and caring for these plants, we got to know them very well.

We connected with a professional landscaper and vegetable farmer to lead this review.Jackie Kearney spends many hours with her hands in the dirt nurturing all things from carrots to flowers to trees. Each plant has its own care regimen based on its needs and its environment. She's learned how to identify plants that are showing signs of stress when their needs are not being met and subsequently learned how to determine which needs they are lacking. This gives her a strong framework to evaluate plants that are meant for life inside the home. After spending so many years caring for plants, she knows there are few things that can improve your living environment more than an array of happy, healthy house plants.

Analysis and Test Results

Choosing the right variety of house plant can seem overwhelming, but it is also essential to your success in your plant adventure. To help you select that perfect plant, we scored these options on their aesthetics, state of arrival and shipping, maintenance, hardiness, and growth.

Aesthetics

For this metric, we wanted to consider how this plant would match a variety of home decor. This involved assessing how it improves the quality of the space, as well as its footprint. We considered the coloration of the plant, its shape, and growth patterns. Does it vine softly over the edge of the container or create a striking vertical statement? Does its softness allow it to match multiple types of decors, or conversely is its sharpness better suited for a specific style? In considering the footprint, we considered how impactful the house plant would be to the space, with larger footprints having greater weight. Similarly, we wanted to consider how the coloration made a statement in the room. More muted tones have less impact, whereas a striking pattern or coloration could have a greater impact.

The Red Prayer Plant scored top points in this category for its beautiful coloration. The red, deep green, and light green leaves are startling, yet the vining and oval shape of the leaves allows this plant to simultaneously blend in with any decor while making a unique statement. Similarly, the Crassula Ovata has a beautiful combination of deep purple and green in a simple, versatile rosette pattern. The Golden Pothos boasts beautiful deep green variegated leaves and has a cascading growth pattern that could soften the edges of any space. In the same vein, the Fiddle Leaf Fig has large, glossed, oval leaves that bring life to your home. The String of Pearls makes for an appealing option with its draping tendrils that we loved for adding an interesting twist to your space, especially when in a hanging planter.

State of Arrival and Shipping

To evaluate the state of arrival and shipping, we considered the state that the plants arrived in and the measures each supplier took to protect the plant. Basically, everything that the seller did before the plant is left in the hands of its new caretaker. This included how well the plants were packaged, including whether they were cushioned from movement while traveling and if they had access to ventilation while waiting to be unboxed. It also included whether they were appropriately watered and how established their root systems were in that soil. We were looking for a well-developed root system that was prepared to be transplanted into its new home but was not so developed that the plant was root-bound and way overdue to be moved. Finally, we assessed each for damage or signs of stress once they arrived.

The Plants for Pets Succulent 5-Pack and the Golden Pothos had the highest scores here. They arrived without any signs of rough transit, showing healthy roots ready for transport. The Succulent 5-Pack had extremely thorough packaging, ensuring no harm would come to the plants. The Golden Pothos also had thorough packaging but really shined for the impressive health of the plant upon arrival; it was hard to tell it even was boxed. We were also impressed by how well the large leaves of the Fiddle Leaf Fig were protected and arrived unscathed. On the other hand, the Hirt's Red Prayer Plant was bruised and showing signs of dehydration upon arrival. The ZZ Plant also did not score as well in this category, as it arrived growing at a right angle to its grow pot.

Maintenance

Part of the joy of indoor gardening is caring for these home additions. Each option in this review has basic needs such as water, sunlight, and food. This being said, our research and experience indicated that some plants require more care than others. Similarly, we know that every home gardener has different amounts of time and experience. So, we assessed the level of care each plant required, such as whether they require additional feedings and waterings or need added humidity for a dry home. We also considered whether the plants themselves needed physical maintenance such as pruning or frequent repotting.

For example, the Costa Farms Snake Plant prefers completely dry soil between watering. In the large pot it was planted in, only one watering was necessary over the four-week testing period. The other succulents scored well in this category, notably Crassula Ovata and Ponytail Palm. All of these plants not only require infrequent watering but also infrequent repotting, pruning, and fertilizing due to their slow growth rate. On the other hand, house plants like the Red Prayer Plant and the Asparagus Fern require additional misting and heavy feeding schedules to thrive.

Hardiness

Here we wanted to take into account how resistant these plants were to a variety of growing conditions. To score this category we considered characteristics of each house plant such as the various light conditions, soil moisture, humidity, and temperatures each could survive in. With a combination of following care guidelines and observing the way each plant adjusted to its care regimen, we determined hardiness.

The ZZ Plant and American Plant Exchange Golden Pothos scored well here. The ZZ Plant can survive in a wider range of temperatures than any plant in this category, as it is hardy to 45 degrees F. Additionally, both of these are drought resistant, but not extremely susceptible to overwatering and root rot. On the other end of the spectrum are the Hirt's Fiddle Leaf Fig and Majesty Palm. The Majesty Palm is known to be sensitive to humidity and showed a rapid decline as a result of the dry air in the test home.

Growth

Most folks enjoy watching their plants grow over time, so we created a metric to encompass this aspect. It should be noted there is more variability here, as these were tested in a dry and sunny environment. Results might change from home to home. The two main aspects we considered for this metric were how the plants adjusted to their new environment after arriving and re-establishing, and if they showed obvious signs of growth over the 4-week testing period. To determine the latter, we compared arrival photos to the plants at the time of this review and took detailed notes of the plants in the time in between.

The ZZ Plant and the String of Pearls had the most striking results in this category. The ZZ Plant righted itself after arriving at a right angle to its container within just a few weeks. The String of Pearls showed new growth at several ends of tendrils after just two weeks. New growth was also noted on the plants in the Costa Farms Clean Air 3-Pack. On the other hand, the dry new growth on the Red Prayer Plant and the Majesty Palm Tree indicate stress and that they are having a hard time adjusting to their new homes. It took several months before we saw new growth on the Shop Succulents Crassula Ovata, but we are joyed to finally see it.

Conclusion

Following thorough and hands-on assessment, combined with our professional experience, we feel confident in this guide to your house plant adventures. After filling every corner of our homes with new green life and growing attached to these little guys, we fully believe that we have identified the advantages and disadvantages of each option. We hope our review helps you select the perfect house plant to suit your style and space.