Top 10 Small-Space Friendly Plant Species Transforming Your Dwelling into a Lush Retreat
Aloe vera, chamomile, and lavender are just a few of the many plants that can bring a touch of nature into your home. In this article, we'll explore ten of the best houseplants for apartments, chosen for their visual impact, ease of care, and functional benefits.
- Monstera (Split Leaf) – This bold tropical plant with iconic large, split leaves adds dramatic, lush green vibes to any room. It thrives indoors with moderate care, making it an ideal addition to your apartment.
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria) – Ideal for low light apartments, this drought-tolerant, architectural plant is hardy and purifies air, making it a great therapeutic and dry plant option.
- Bird of Paradise – With its broad leaves and vibrant, exotic feel, the Bird of Paradise brings a touch of the tropics to your space. It requires bright indirect light to thrive.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) – This statement 1970s-inspired tropical plant with large, dramatic leaves is perfect for adding a touch of retro charm to your apartment. It prefers bright indirect light but can adapt indoors.
- Satin Pothos (Epipremnum pictum Argyraeus) – This colorful, velvet-leaf vine is perfect for hanging baskets or shelves. It prefers bright indirect light and consistent moisture, fitting well as a hanging plant and adding a pop of color to your space.
- Curly Jade Plant (Crassula ovata undulata) – This succulent with textured blue-green curled leaves evokes a retro 1970s aesthetic. It’s drought-tolerant and suited for dry indoor environments.
- Blue Star Fern – This fern with uniquely pointed, blue-green fronds is perfect for adding textural contrast and thrives in moderate to low light.
- Small Succulents like Hawthoria (Zebra Plant) – Compact, drought-resistant, and tolerant of low light, these plants are perfect for beginners and small spaces.
- Golden Pothos – A classic easy-care hanging or trailing plant that tolerates low light and improves air quality, making it a top choice for apartment dwellers.
- Herbs (e.g., Basil, Mint, Rosemary) – Convenient and therapeutic, these plants are simple to grow in sunny windowsills. They add practical and aromatic value to apartment living.
Ferns, such as the Bird's Nest, Rabbit's Foot, Button fern, Asparagus fern, and Staghorn fern, are popular choices for indoor plants and thrive in moderate to low light conditions. Air plants (Tillandsia) are low-maintenance houseplants that do not require soil and can be grown in various locations.
Cacti and succulents are ideal houseplants for apartments with low humidity, while hanging plants like arrowhead, burro's tail, English ivy, lipstick plant, pothos, red tail cactus, purple heart or wax plant (Hoya) are space-saving options.
During holidays, plants like poinsettia, paper white, or amaryllis can add a festive touch to your apartment. Some houseplants were popular in the 1970s, such as mini begonia and prostate peperomia, which can be grown in terrariums.
Macrame planters, a popular house decor trend in the 1970s, can be used to hang houseplants like philodendron, spider plant, English ivy, or string of pearls.
These plants balance visual impact, care ease, and functional benefits like air purification and therapeutic value, making them perfect for apartment living. Tropical plants like Monstera and Bird of Paradise bring vibrant lushness, ferns and snake plants cater well to low light, succulents and dry plants like jade and zebra plants suit busy or forgetful owners, hanging options like satin pothos and golden pothos maximise space, and herbs provide fresh aromas and usefulness.
- Apart from the mentioned houseplants, ferns like Bird's Nest, Rabbit's Foot, Button fern, Asparagus fern, and Staghorn fern are also popular choices for their ability to thrive in moderate to low light conditions.
- During holidays, it's possible to add a festive touch to your apartment with plants like poinsettia, paper white, or amaryllis, while macrame planters can be used to hang houseplants like philodendron, spider plant, English ivy, or string of pearls, giving a nod to the popular house decor trend in the 1970s.
