Suitable Plants for Indoor Gardening
Here is a list of the most common houseplants that are suitable for indoor gardening. The houseplants in this list are mostly easy-to-grow, low maintenance, hardy plants that fit the busy lifestyle of us, the city gardeners.
The Exceptions – Houseplants That Need Full, Direct Sunlight
Besides the following plants, which need to grow in direct sunlight – full light, the houseplants in my list require low to moderate daylight, indirect sunlight, or diffused light.
- Codiaeum (Croton)
- Coleus
- Pelargonium (Geranium)
- Setcreasea purpurea (Purple heart)
Suggested Way of Using This Houseplant List
And as you notice, I have only put the scientific name, common name, and a photo of each houseplant in the list. There are so much information on houseplants available online. Hence, I don’t think my extra words will make much difference. However, I believe that you will find this list helpful, for I haven’t seen many extensive lists of houseplant with photos.
So, I would suggest you to first check out this list and find the houseplants that you are interested in. Then, do a google search to learn more about the water needs, light requirements, care methods and such of the plants.
Cheers and have fun! 
Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen)
Anthurium (Tailflower, Flamingo-Flower)
Aphelandra (Zebra plant)
Araucaria (Norfolk island pine)
Aspidistra (Cast iron plant)
Begonia
Bromeliads
The Bromeliads are a large family of plants, and one of the hardiest kind of house plants. I have two Tillandsias (a.k.a. air plants) and have made the simple yet elegant tabletop garden – I Love Air Plants.
Caladium
Calathea (Peacock plant)
Ceropegia woodii (Rosary vine)
Chlorophytum (Spider plant)
Cissus antarctica (Kangaroo vine)
Codiaeum (Croton)
Coleus
Dieffenbachia (Dumb-cane)
Dracaena (Dragon plants)
Fatshedera
Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia)
Ferns
Ficus
Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
I like Fittonia. I have had my Fittonia planted in hydroculture, as well as used it as one of my “ingredients” for my tabletop garden – Bento Box.
Fuchsia
Helxine (Baby’s tears)
Hoya (Wax plant)
Impatiens (Patient Lucy, Busy-Lizzie, touch-me-not)
Maranta (Prayer plant)
Monstera (Swiss cheese plant)
Note: Monstera is often confused with the split-leaved philodendron, and is sometimes sold under the name Philodendron pertusum.
Palms
Pelargonium (Geranium)
Peperonia
Philodendron
Saintpaulia (African violet)
Sansevieria (Snake plant)
Schefflera (Umbrella tree)
Scindapus (Devil’s ivy, Pothos)
Setcreasea purpurea (Purple heart)
Nephthytis (Arrowhead vine)
Tradescantia and Zebrina (Wandering Jew)
How disappointing, I too live in squalor and cannot afford to live in a house, so I do not have a backyard. Yet I have one love in my life, not video games, not hunting, but gardening. More specifically I love to grow PINEAPPLES. Nothing gives me more joy, yet. Without a backyard, I cannot grow any pineapples, then someone pointed me to your website, and here you do not list pineapples. A great amount of sadness has entered my heart.
Hi Wilson,
Don’t be disappointed. Pineapple is actually on my list, only that it is not in the name of “pineapple” but “bromeliads”. And without a backyard, you can still grow pineapples indoor. Like most other bromeliads, pineapple needs lots of light. If you don’t have a sunny window space, don’t worry, you can still grow pineapples using one of those artificial lights
I would love to hear your progress in growing pineapples indoor! Cheers!
awww strawberry is not on there :<
i guess my baby strawberry plant is doomed to die…i cannot plant it outdoors because i live in the dessert and only have sand in my yard
Hi Kiwi,
Strawberry needs lots of sunlight, in fact, full sun is the best. In your case, maybe you can plant your strawberry in a container and put it outdoor. It will be very happy
Hi Kiwi,
I’ve come across this post in Fern’s Life on the Balcony, and think you may find the links it provides helpful. Besides the link to the growing information of strawberries, there are links of other fruits and veggies as well. You may find something more suitable if you want to grow your plants indoor.
well theres no shortage of sunlight here (i live in Las Vegas) it is VERY sunny year round. but it is usually around 115 degrees fahrenheit outside, low humidity but sometimes with very harsh wind. would that turn my strawberries into dust?
Strawberries have a reputation for liking mild temperatures. Yet, there are varieties that thrive in freezing Alaska to the hottest parts of Florida. Not as fortunate as you do, where I am living now doesn’t have what strawberries need to thrive. I don’t have a yard and my North-facing balcony has no direct sun, but only partial shade. Without real experience in growing strawberries myself, I am sorry, but I can’t give you further information than what I have now. But anyways, good luck with your baby strawberries and I would love to hear from you on your progress
Hi i live in London UK. Can you tell me what plants that we have here that will thrive in crystal soil. These are the most common ones here.thanks in advance
spotted laurel
euonymus
myrtus
eucalyptus
hydrangea
hebe
hehe variegated
photinia
pieris
golden privet
Lemon scented
pittosporum
choisya sundance
japanese euonymus
star jasmine
painted lady
pernettya
evergreen clematis
rose of sharon
pyracantha orange glow
ivy hedera gold child
virginia creeper
pieris
chinese holly
hi Andrew,
I do not live in UK, so I don’t know many of these plants. Yet, in general, foliage plants that like shade and humidity are the most suitable to grow in crystal soil. The best way to find out is to experiment them by yourself
I live in Missouri and I am looking for a plant/gift for my boyfriend. He has been wanting some indoor plants and I was wondering what the best indoor plant or plants that do not need much sunlight and will look nice.
Hi Lex,
All plants here are suitable to be grown indoor, and most of these grows well in the shade. For examples, Nepthytis (Arrowhead vine), Dracaena sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo), Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), Fittonia (Nerve Plant), and ferns.
hi i am the student of horticulture and i want the list of house plants
Hi Amir, please feel free to use this list of house plants.
hi….
i am a student .please give me list of house plants
Hi Vishnu,
Please feel free to use the list in this post. They are all excellent house plants.
hi….
i am a student, please give me list of garden plants.
Hi,
My Schefflera has not generated new leaves in over six months, what might I be doing wrong? Cheers
Hi Rotich,
Have you been feeding your Schefflera regularly? If not, try to use a fertilizer high in Nitrogen (you will find 3 numbers on most fertilizer packaging, which stand for NPK- Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium – choose the one with a higher first number).
Cheers!