I have killed enough houseplants to know it is rarely the plant’s fault. It is usually too much water, too little light, or a pot with no drainage. The plants on this list forgive all three.
Every one of these takes low or medium light, shrugs off a missed watering, and asks almost nothing of you. They are the ones I hand to friends who swear they have a black thumb.
Here are 15 easy houseplants that are genuinely hard to kill, with one honest reason each is so forgiving and the one thing it does ask for.
Every plant here forgives a missed watering, takes less-than-perfect light, and asks almost nothing of you. Jump to whichever one fits your space.
Pothos
If you can only keep one plant alive, make it a pothos. It grows in almost any light, trails beautifully, and droops dramatically before it actually suffers, so it tells you when it is thirsty.
- Light: anything from low to bright indirect; brighter means more variegation.
- Water: when the top inch or two is dry; it forgives the occasional miss.
- Bonus: snip a vine below a node and root it in water for free plants.
Snake plant
A snake plant practically thrives on neglect. Its stiff, upright leaves store water, so it would rather you forget it than fuss over it, and it handles low light without complaint.
- Light: low to bright; one of the few that handles a dim corner.
- Water: about once a month; overwatering is the only real way to kill it.
- Bonus: the architectural shape suits a modern, minimal room.
ZZ plant
The ZZ plant might be the most unkillable plant there is. Thick underground rhizomes store water, so it sails through low light and long gaps between waterings while still looking glossy and full.
- Light: low to medium; fine far from a window.
- Water: every couple of weeks at most; when unsure, wait longer.
- Bonus: the waxy leaves stay shiny with almost no effort.
The easiest plant is the one that matches your real habits and your real light. Pick the situation that sounds like you.
Spider plant
A spider plant is fast, forgiving, and generous. It bounces back from almost any mistake and sends out little baby plants on runners that you can snip off and pot up.
- Light: bright indirect is ideal, but it tolerates less.
- Water: keep lightly moist; it is not fussy about timing.
- Bonus: those babies make endless free plants and gifts.
Peace lily
A peace lily is the most communicative plant you can own. When it needs water it droops dramatically, and within hours of a drink it perks right back up, so it is almost impossible to misjudge.
- Light: low to medium indirect; too much sun scorches it.
- Water: when it droops, or when the top inch is dry.
- Bonus: it actually blooms indoors, with elegant white spathes.
Heartleaf philodendron
A heartleaf philodendron is every bit as easy as a pothos and just as happy to trail. Its softer, matte heart-shaped leaves grow quickly and forgive low light and irregular watering alike.
- Light: low to bright indirect.
- Water: when the top inch is dry; very forgiving.
- Bonus: roots fast from cuttings, so one plant becomes many.
Cast iron plant
The cast iron plant earned its name by surviving conditions that finish off other plants. Deep shade, drafts, irregular watering, it handles all of it and keeps its broad, dark leaves looking good.
- Light: low to medium; genuinely happy in shade.
- Water: let it dry well between drinks.
- Bonus: the toughest pick for a genuinely dim hallway or corner.
Even hard-to-kill plants die from the same few mistakes. Get these four right and almost everything on this list will thrive on autopilot.
Chinese evergreen
A Chinese evergreen gives you color without the fuss. The patterned silver-and-green leaves brighten a low-light room, and the plant is far more forgiving than its lush, decorative look suggests.
- Light: low to medium; greener types take the least light.
- Water: when the top inch is dry; do not let it sit soggy.
- Bonus: the variegated leaves add pattern without flowers.
Pilea
The pilea, or Chinese money plant, is quirky, cheerful, and easy. Its round coin-shaped leaves turn toward the light, so a quarter turn now and then keeps it even, and it makes baby pups you can share.
- Light: bright indirect; rotate it for an even shape.
- Water: when the top inch is dry; the leaves cup slightly when thirsty.
- Bonus: it constantly produces pups to pot up and give away.
Peperomia
Peperomias are compact, slow, and almost impossible to overwhelm. The thick little leaves hold water, so they handle neglect well and stay small enough for a shelf or desk.
- Light: medium to bright indirect.
- Water: sparingly; the fleshy leaves store moisture.
- Bonus: dozens of leaf shapes and colors to collect.
Dracaena
A dracaena gives you height and drama with very little work. The tall cane and spray of strap-like leaves fill a corner, and it is drought-tolerant enough to forgive a forgetful owner.
- Light: medium to bright indirect.
- Water: let it dry between waterings; sensitive to overwatering.
- Bonus: an easy way to add a tall floor plant on a budget.
15 Easy Houseplants That Are Hard to Kill
- 1PothosForgives missed watering, grows in low light, trails anywhere.
- 2Snake plantThrives on neglect, low light, water about monthly.
- 3ZZ plantNearly unkillable, low light, stores its own water.
- 4Spider plantFast, forgiving, and makes free baby plants.
- 5Peace lilyDroops to tell you it’s thirsty, then bounces right back.
- 6Heartleaf philodendronPothos-easy trailer that takes low light.
- 7Cast iron plantHandles deep shade and neglect, just like the name says.
- 8Chinese evergreenColorful leaves, very low-light tolerant.
- 9PileaQuirky coin leaves, easy, makes pups to share.
- 10PeperomiaCompact, low water, dozens of varieties.
- 11DracaenaTall and architectural, drought-tolerant.
- 12Rubber plantGlossy and forgiving in bright indirect light.
- 13Aloe veraA succulent you water rarely, in a sunny spot.
- 14Jade plantA succulent that lives for decades on little.
- 15HoyaTrailing waxy leaves, low water, eventually blooms.
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Rubber plant
A rubber plant looks far more high-maintenance than it is. The thick, glossy leaves are sturdy and forgiving, and with decent light it grows into a striking small tree without any special care.
- Light: bright indirect brings out the glossy color.
- Water: when the top inch or two is dry.
- Bonus: wipe the big leaves now and then for instant shine.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a succulent that wants you to leave it alone. Give it a sunny windowsill and water it rarely, and it will reward you with thick, useful leaves and the occasional pup.
- Light: bright, even some direct sun.
- Water: deeply but infrequently; let it dry out completely first.
- Bonus: the gel inside soothes minor kitchen burns.
Jade plant
A jade plant is a succulent that can outlive your other plants by decades. Its plump leaves store water, so it asks for very little, and many people pass theirs down as it slowly grows into a small tree.
- Light: bright; a few hours of direct sun keeps it compact.
- Water: only when the soil is fully dry.
- Bonus: easy to propagate from a single fallen leaf.
Hoya
A hoya, or wax plant, trails like a pothos but with thick, waxy leaves that hold water and shrug off neglect. Give it time and bright light and it eventually rewards you with clusters of star-shaped flowers.
- Light: bright indirect encourages blooms.
- Water: let it dry between waterings; it stores water in the leaves.
- Bonus: mature plants produce fragrant, intricate flowers.
Start with two or three of these, keep them a little on the dry side, and put each one in the light it actually wants. Once you have a few thriving, style them on a shelf or in a corner, and when you are ready for a slightly fussier showpiece, try a monstera.