7 of the Best Trees You Can Grow Indoors
If you’re trying to add a touch of life to a room, houseplants are the way to go. But if you’re looking to make a bigger statement, you can’t beat the impact of an indoor tree. The right specimen can immediately brighten and reinvigorate a dead corner or cream…
Umbrella Tree
The umbrella tree has slender stems punctuated by graceful leaflets and grows best in bright, indirect sunlight. While this tropical indoor tree can grow quite tall, occasional pruning will help shape it and keep it to a manageable size, from about four to eight feet. Incorporate a single plant as a beautiful accent, or group several together to create a natural screen or room divider.
Malabar Chestnut
The Malabar chestnut, also known as the money tree, is a traditional symbol of prosperity and good luck. It usually has five trunks that are braided together and require continued braiding as the tree grows. The money tree prefers indirect light and loves humidity, so it’s an excellent choice for a bathroom with a sunny window. Who couldn’t use a little more good luck and prosperity along with a fresh hit of greenery in their decor?
Meyer Lemon
The Meyer lemon is a dwarf variety that’s hardier than most lemon trees and can be grown indoors. Its thin-skinned fruit is sweeter than that of most other lemon trees, making this variety particularly appealing to home cooks who love to have the freshest possible ingredients on hand. A Meyer lemon tree enjoys a dose of real sunshine, so bring it outdoors during the warm summer months, and keep it protected indoors during winter.
Dracaena
Also known as dragon tree, dracaena is a decorating go-to plant that’s easy to maintain. A slow grower, it can reach up to six feet tall indoors. With its flourish of spiky leaves, dracaena possesses a Dr. Seuss quality that makes it a wonderful, whimsical element in a modern interior.
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
The fiddle-leaf fig is a member of the genus Ficus, which encompasses so many popular houseplants. The fiddle-leaf, however, has much larger leaves than its cousins, and those distinctive leaves, coupled with the tree’s elegant branching structure, have made it ubiquitous in recent years. It’s beautiful, but fussy. This indoor tree won’t tolerate direct sunlight or wet roots, and it does not respond well when moved. So, if you purchase one, be diligent and consistent with its care routine.
Olive
While an olive tree can’t survive indoors forever, you can keep one in a large pot for eight or nine years before transplanting it outside. Olive trees, which are very tolerant of dry air and soil, make excellent houseplants for less attentive caretakers. They’re Mediterranean natives, so they need lots of sunshine. And when the time comes for transplanting, if you don’t live in a sufficiently warm region, give your tree to a friend who settled in a balmier climate.
Fishtail Palm
This unusual-looking palm tree with leaves that resemble a fish’s tail makes a wonderful focal point in an office, bedroom, or living room. To thrive, this indoor tree should get plenty of bright sunlight and should never be allowed to completely dry out. A rainforest plant, the fishtail palm likes humid conditions, so if you choose to make one part of your interior decorating scheme, be sure to spritz its leaves with water on a regular basis.
20 Flowering Houseplants That Will Add Beauty to Your Home
Poinsettia
This holiday favorite is best known for its large crimson leaves, but it also comes in other shades like pink and white. While it is most popular in the month of December, it can be kept year round. One word of caution: This tropical plant hates the cold so keep it away from drafts
Jasmine
Looking to freshen up a room? Jasmine is a great pick for those who prefer natural air fresheners. Not only does this houseplant produce soft, star-shaped flowers, but it has a strong and sweet fragrance. Place it in a sunny spot away from the cold, and be vigilant for pests or disease.
Christmas Cactus
Here’s another tropical houseplant with a holiday connection! The trailing Christmas cactus has shiny green leaves that sprout small flowers in pinks or reds. With proper care, you can expect long-lasting blooms during the coldest months.
Gloxinia
With its fluffy flowers and velvety leaves, Gloxina offers a lot of texture. Available in many bold shades, some varieties of this flowering houseplant have marbled or multi-colored blooms.
Cyclamen
Pretty in pink, and red, and white, this flowering houseplant can be fussy but is well worth the gardening challenge. In addition to the small plant’s unusually shaped blooms, it has leaves marked with silvery patterns. Water the plant when the soil feels dry, provide it bright indirect light, and keep it in a room that is neither too hot nor too cold.
20 Flowering Houseplants That Will Add Beauty to Your Home
Leafy green houseplants are wonderful (and many of them require little care), but why not expand your indoor gardening skills by adding a few flowering houseplants into the mix. Blooming plants inject vibrancy, color, and fragrance into your living space. Tak…
By Katie Nolan
African Violet
Small in stature but big in wow-factor, the African violet is fairly easy to care for, as flowering houseplants go. Available in hundreds of variations, this fuzzy-leafed houseplant typically blooms year round with blue, purple, or white flowers. Keep this plant slightly root-bound to force more flowers, provide it with partial sunlight, avoid getting the leaves wet, and it can thrive for years.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Begonias
The begonia is a favorite houseplant for many indoor gardeners and it’s not hard to understand why: They require little care and yet reward this sparse attention with colorful flowers. With over 1,000 varieties, there’s a size, color, and shape that’s just right for your home.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Orchid
Orchids get a bad rap for being difficult to keep blooming, but don’t let that scare you from bringing one home. Caring for an orchid gives gardeners a chance to put their green thumbs to the test. Your patience and effort is well worth it for the beautiful flowers on this flowering houseplant.
Related: It’s Not Me, It’s You: The 10 Toughest Houseplants to Keep Alive
Peace Lily
The peace lily is a showstopper, and a remarkably low maintenance one, at that. The large plant has large green leaves and elegant white flowers. When the peace lily’s leaves start to droop you’ll know it’s time for a watering. Peace lilies are toxic to pets, so avoid bringing one home if you have curious cats and dogs, or keep it well out of their reach.
Photo: istockphoto.com
False Shamrock
If you like the color purple then the false shamrock is for you. With its deep plum leaves and dainty violet flowers this colorful houseplant is often mistaken for a shamrock because of the shape of its leaves. The bright color isn’t the only thing that makes the false shamrock stand out among all your houseplants; it is photophilic, meaning its leaves open in daytime to catch the sun’s light, and then close at night.
Related: The Best Plants for Every Room of the House
Bromeliad
Add a touch of the tropics to your home with the exotic bromeliad. The pineapple-shaped plant is surprisingly adaptable to the indoors even though it’s native to the rainforest. While it can be a little tricky to get flowers to bloom, the dramatic pay-off is well worth the effort.
Kalanchoe
The kalanchoe is sometimes referred to as window’s thrill, which makes sense since practically all you need to do is place it in a sunny spot on the windowsill and watch it bloom. This succulent produces tiny flowers no matter the season, and is available in a variety of vibrant colors.
Related: 10 Tiny Gardens You Can Grow on Your Windowsill
Amaryllis
Chenille
You don’t have to guess why this fuzzy plant is named for the French word for caterpillar. The unique flowers on this evergreen plant makes it a unique choice for hanging over the kitchen sink or in the window of the sitting room.
Anthurium
For many indoor gardeners, the best houseplants are those that make a statement with as little effort as possible. Case in point: the anthurium. A great choice for an otherwise underwhelming corner of the room, it bursts forth with large, heart-shaped flowers all year round.
Ixora
With clusters of small flowers, the Ixora adds a burst of color in any home. With adequate sunlight and acidic potting soil, this brightly colored shrub will bloom all year long.
Calathea Crocata
If you think the calathea crocata resembles a torch, you aren’t alone; its common name is eternal flame. The easy-care plant blooms with flared orange flowers, adding a touch of the tropics to an ordinary living room.
7 Houseplants with Secret Health Benefits
Nature is restorative: A walk in the woods or on the beach can do wonders for your mental and physical well-being. Even the tiniest dose of greenery—in the form of a houseplant, for example—can bestow special benefits on the beholder. Read on to learn which h…
Chrysanthemums: The Superstar Air Purifier
Want to keep your home clear of toxic trace chemicals? Consider the common mum. NASA studies analyzed a variety of houseplants and determined that mums have a stellar ability to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and trichloroethylene, all of which are found in many household products.
Aloe Vera: The Amazing Healer
Aloe gel has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, shortens wound healing time, soothes burns, and moisturizes skin. Be sure to use this beneficial houseplant for external first aid only—and keep it away from pets!
Mint: The Instant Energizer
There are more than 600 varieties of mint, many of which do well in a pot on the windowsill. Mint is easy to grow, and because studies suggest that its peppy scent may boost memory and mood, it’s doubly worthwhile to cultivate this hardy plant at home.
Gardenia: Nature’s Sleep Aid
If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from insomnia, take a whiff of your gardenia plant before turning in. Researchers in Germany discovered that compounds in gardenia’s fragrance have the same effect as prescription-strength drugs—without the side effects.
Lemon: Proven Mood Booster
Does aromatherapy really work? Researchers at Ohio State found that lemon had a stronger measurable effect on mood than lavender oil. For houseplants that bring a lemony scent indoors, consider lemon trees, lemon verbena, and lemon balm.
Spider Plant: The Kid- and Pet-Friendly Choice
Do you want to purify your air but not have to worry about your houseplant being mistaken for salad? Try a spider plant! It’s easy to grow and nontoxic if ingested. Spider plants have the additional benefit of removing trace levels of carbon monoxide from your home environment.
Golden Pothos: The Garage Purifier
Detoxify your garage and other low-light rooms the natural way with houseplants that thrive in low light, such as golden pothos, ZZ plants, and areca palms. These varieties scrub the air of pollutants, a trait that’s especially important in areas of your home that are exposed to car exhaust, paint fumes, cleaning agents, and other chemicals.
Healthy Houseplants
These houseplants will only be beneficial for you if you can manage to keep them alive. Take note of their appearances if they look like they’re starting to suffer. A lot of times, houseplants are trying to tell you what’s wrong and what they really need!
Photo: istockphoto.com
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20 Flowering Houseplants That Will Add Beauty to Your Home
Kaffir Lily
While a lot of flowering houseplants like full or partial sun, the Kaffir Lily does best in the shade. Expect it to grow quite tall with long, branching leaves. Like all lilies, it’s best to keep this plant away from pets.
Crown of Thorns
While you might not suspect it from its floppy leaves and delicate flowers, the crown of thorns is a hardy succulent. Adaptable to indoor conditions, the plant can survive a missed watering or two. Be careful when handling the plant because, as the name implies, it has thorns all along the stem.
Geranium
Geraniums are a classic houseplant—and for good reason! The fragrant flowers come in an abundance of colors and bloom almost year round. Geraniums need only occasional watering and sunlight to add abundant beauty to your home.
