PSA: These Are the 10 Best Plants for Your Home

Woman kneeling on a chair in a living room with plants and art — Jessie Bush

It's pretty safe to assume that we're all ready for spring. While mulled wine and crackling fireplaces had their appeal in December, we're ready to bid farewell to these hallmarks of winter and say hello to glasses full of crisp white wine and brisk evenings ideal for dining al fresco. Seeing as we're daydreaming about warmer days, here at MyDomaine, we are willing the seasons to change by bringing the outdoors in.

In our search for low-maintenance indoor plants to carry us through the remaining days of winter, naturally, we turned to the pros at Terrain for green thumb-approved recommendations. Ahead, Terrain's senior plant buyer, Melissa Lowrie, walks us through the best houseplants for self-proclaimed black thumbs, complete with simple caring instructions that will ensure whichever plant you choose thrives well beyond March.

Meet the Expert

Melissa Lowrie is senior plant buyer at Terrain, Anthropologie's sister brand for everything home and garden.

Read on for Lowrie's top 10 easy-to-care-for plants to get your home ready for spring.

01 of 10

Natal Mahogany

Botanical Name: Trichilia dregeana
Sun Exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-drained potting mix
Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5

"This is Terrain's pick for a larger scale houseplant in spaces with less than ideal levels of natural light," says Lowrie. This lesser-known tree is one of the lowest maintenance tropical trees out there.

This plant does well in medium and low light, and loves water. "They can tolerate a bit of overwatering, but prefer not to go dry (a saucer with water to drink from works great here)," Lowrie offers. "They have dark green leaves and respond well to pruning."

Plant Office Natal Mahogany - Trichilia Emetica $45.00

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02 of 10

ZZ Plant

Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Sun Exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: All-purpose potting soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0

This low-light loving plant is a cinch to care for—plus, the long stalks and emerald green leaves bring a lush feeling to any room.

ZZ plants thrive in any light except direct sunlight, where their leaves can get scorched. Let the soil dry out fully between waterings, as this plant is specifically built to tolerate drought. It's also fairly slow growing, so you won't need to repot too often.

How to Grow and Care for ZZ Plant (Aroid Palm)

The Sill ZZ Plant $48.00

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03 of 10

Philodendron Micans

Botanical Name: Philodendron micans
Sun Exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Fast-draining potting soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0

"One of my most beloved houseplants, this vining philodendron has a cascade of beautiful, blackish, velvety heart-shaped leaves," says Lowrie.

This plant thrives in indirect light to light shade. As far as care goes, "It really only needs an occasional splash of water, and generally is pretty happy being root bound and mostly left alone," Lowrie advises.

Like with its cousin the heartleaf philodendron, propagating Philodendron micans couldn't be simpler. Trim a vine that includes a couple of leaf nodes and place in a glass of water to root.

The Mossie Philodendron Micans $40.00

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04 of 10

Prayer Plant

Botanical Name: Maranta leuconeura
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Moist, free-draining soil mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.0

The prayer plant family includes both marantas and calatheas—compact but vibrant tropical plants that are found naturally on the jungle floor. This means they'll tolerate low light conditions, although their leaves will retain their colorful patterns best in bright, indirect light.

True to their jungle nature, prayer plants love warm, humid environments, making them the perfect bathroom plant. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, and don't let them dry out completely.

How to Grow and Care for Prayer Plant

Prayer plant maranta in a ceramic pot on a floating shelf

Plants.com Prayer Plant (Calathea Maranta) $50.00

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05 of 10

Peperomia Hope

Botanical Name: Peperomia rotundifolia
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.6

"This is a sweet trailing variety with cute, round, almost succulent leaves that have a faint striping to them," says Lowrie. "It hasn't been widely available at retail, but we love it for its vigorous growth and forgiving tendencies—many peperomia prefer to dry out significantly between waterings, so this one can handle a more sporadic watering schedule."

Ensure that this plant gets plenty of indirect, bright light. Allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between waterings.

How to Grow and Care for Peperomia (Radiator Plant)

Peperomia Hope in a grower's pot on a wood table

Groovy Plants Ranch Peperomia 'Hope' $13.00

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06 of 10

Pothos

Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
Sun Exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: All-purpose potting soil
Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5

If you're in the market for a plant that is impossible to kill, look no further than the pothos, or devil's ivy. These hardy vines will grow and grow with minimal light and watering, making them great hanging plants.

Keep your pothos happy by watering when the top two or so inches of soil have dried out, although they'll tolerate drought better than overwatering. If the vines become unruly, trim to your desired length and propagate the cuttings into new plants.

How to Grow Pothos Plant (Devil’s Ivy)

Pothos in a biodegradable pot on a wood stool

36Vine Golden Pothos $26.00

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07 of 10

Snake Plant

Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
Sun Exposure: Low to moderate, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining cactus or succulent mix
Soil pH: 4.5 to 7.0

"Widely regarded as one of the easiest to care for, the snake plant is a favorite for brightening up dark corners," Lowrie shares. It's also known to be one of the best air-purifying houseplants. "We are loving some newer forms in this category: Sansevieria 'Moonshine' is a bird's nest type that has wide, dramatic silvery blades, while 'Frozen' has a mint and emerald striated look. Sansevieria 'Jaboa' has a pretty, tropical-looking mottled leaf, and 'Lancia' is an upright, cylindrical type that's great for adding some modern, architectural presence to a space."

Snake plants do well in most lighting situations and prefer to stay on the dry side—water sparingly.

How to Grow Snake Plant (Mother-in-Law's Tongue)

Lively Root Sansevieria Moonshine $36.00

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08 of 10

Spider Plant

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-drained potting soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.2

The lush, arching leaves and easygoing nature of the spider plant make it a very popular indoor choice. It's a very hardy species that can adjust to low light if necessary and is drought tolerant.

With the right care, spider plants send out tiny flowers and baby offshoots that can be grown into new plants. Keep yours in bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out completely between waterings for the best results.

How to Grow & Care for Spider Plant (Airplane Plant)

Spider plant in white planter on a rustic wood shelf

Greendigs Spider Plant $35.00

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09 of 10

Foxtail Fern

Botanical Name: Asparagus aethiopicus
Sun Exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining potting soil
Soil pH: 6.5 to 6.8

"This super sturdy 'fern' is actually not a fern, but a member of the lily family," Lowrie says. "I love how versatile this plant is and the graceful, architectural shape it takes on as it matures."

Foxtail ferns require low light to bright light and have average watering requirements. "Branches will turn yellow if more water is needed, and brown if they are overwatered," adds Lowrie.

All parts of the foxtail fern are poisonous to pets and humans, so keep away from curious hands and mouths.

Terrain Foxtail Fern Plant $64.00

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10 of 10

Wandering Jew

Botanical Name: Tradescantia
Sun Exposure: Medium to bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-drained potting soil
Soil pH: 6.1 to 7.8

Ripe with trailing varieties, the wandering Jew family includes unique, colorful vines that are easy to grow and look great from hanging planters or high shelves. Popular variations include the Tradescantia zebrina with its signature stripes and the purple flowering Tradescantia padilla.

Most wandering Jew plants will adapt to almost any lighting conditions, from low to bright. Let the soil dry out completely in between waterings.

How to Grow a Spiderwort Plant

Bloomscape Tradescantia Zebrina $35.00

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