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Easy houseplants for beginners
New to houseplants? Start here. These are the most forgiving, hard-to-kill plants — the ones that bounce back from a missed watering and don’t demand perfect light. Each links to a full care guide.
50 curated plants
A good beginner plant tolerates irregular watering, copes with average indoor light, and recovers from the odd mistake. The plants below are all rated easy and link to a full care guide.
Watering (summer)
Snake plant
Sansevieria trifasciata
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysToxic to pets
Aloe vera
Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysToxic to pets
Jade plant
Crassula ovata
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysToxic to pets
Sweetheart plant
Hoya kerrii
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Flaming Katy
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysToxic to pets
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera spp.
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Cactus assortment
Cactaceae spp.
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Echeveria
Echeveria spp.
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Donkey’s tail
Sedum morganianum
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Ponytail palm
Beaucarnea recurvata
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
String of hearts
Ceropegia woodii
Watering (summer): every 14 to 21 daysPet-safe
Monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Golden pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
ZZ plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysPet-safe
English ivy
Hedera helix
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Rubber plant
Ficus elastica
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Dragon tree
Dracaena marginata
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Chinese money plant
Pilea peperomioides
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysPet-safe
Heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Moth orchid
Phalaenopsis spp.
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysPet-safe
Spineless yucca
Yucca elephantipes
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Dwarf umbrella tree
Schefflera arboricola
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Money tree
Pachira aquatica
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysPet-safe
Corn plant
Dracaena fragrans
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Pleomele
Dracaena reflexa
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Lucky bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Blushing philodendron
Philodendron erubescens
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Tree philodendron
Philodendron bipinnatifidum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Philodendron Brasil
Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil’
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Arrowhead plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Chinese evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Dumb cane
Dieffenbachia seguine
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Weeping fig
Ficus benjamina
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Curtain fig
Ficus microcarpa
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Creeping fig
Ficus pumila
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysPet-safe
Inch plant
Tradescantia zebrina
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Purple heart
Tradescantia pallida
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Sago palm
Cycas revoluta
Watering (summer): every 7 to 10 daysToxic to pets
Kentia palm
Howea forsteriana
Watering (summer): every 6 to 9 daysPet-safe
Parlor palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Watering (summer): every 6 to 9 daysPet-safe
Peace lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysToxic to pets
Anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysToxic to pets
Wax plant
Hoya carnosa
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysPet-safe
African violet
Saintpaulia ionantha
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysPet-safe
Wax begonia
Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysToxic to pets
Geranium
Pelargonium x hortorum
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysToxic to pets
Ivy geranium
Pelargonium peltatum
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysToxic to pets
Air plant
Tillandsia ionantha
Watering (summer): every 5 to 7 daysPet-safe
Lace fern
Asparagus setaceus
Watering (summer): every 4 to 6 daysToxic to pets
Common questions
What is the easiest houseplant to keep alive?
The snake plant (Sansevieria), ZZ plant, and pothos are the most forgiving — they tolerate low light, irregular watering, and bounce back from neglect. All three are on this list.
Which beginner houseplants are also safe for pets?
Spider plant, Parlor palm, Calathea, Areca palm, and Boston fern are both easy and non-toxic to cats and dogs. See our pet-safe houseplants page for the full hand-checked list.
Botanicaly
Check how a plant fits your home
Shop Scan uses the pet and experience details you provide. A question appears only when the answer could change the result. Save the plant to start its care plan that day.
Promising choice
No known toxicity to cats or dogs
Its known care needs look manageable for the home details provided.