The Best Plants to Buy From Amazon’s (Continuously Growing) Selection

Despite the tropical look of this palm tree, you won’t have to worry about creating a tropical environment for it to survive in. All it needs is bright light from an east- or west-facing window and water about once a week. The seller says it can grow pretty slowly, but when it arrives, it will already be three feet tall — and still make a stately appearance in an empty corner.

This calamondin tree produces a hybrid fruit the branddescribesas half mandarin orange and half kumquat. As one of themost purchasedpresents from ourMother’s Day gift guides, this citrus plant would also be a standout in your own space.

If, likeClaire Saffitz, you love the smell of tomato plants, we found a duo that’ll grow multi-branched clusters of incredibly tasty fruit — all from the comfort of your living room.

Another easy-care tropical option is a dracaena plant, especially if your home gets a decent amount of sunlight year-round butyou struggle with dry winter air. That’s according to Rebecca Bullene, partner and co-founder ofGreenery Unlimited. “A lot of them are native to Hawaii, and they actually grow on the [very arid] lava fields of volcanoes,” she explains.

Thestatus plantthat started it all and isstill a best-seller. Former Strategist writer David Notis was once a fiddle-leaf skeptic but quickly found that among his other plants, this one has “an instant visual impact.” The plant grows best in indirect sunlight, meaning it can flourish indoors. Within the first couple of years, Notis’ design-y houseplant grew almost three feet in height.

There are some status-plant runners-up to choose from as well, like the bird-of-paradise, which is perfect for making your apartment look like an East Village cocktail bar. Benito Gonsales, plant buyer atSaifee Hardware & Garden, says the plant is easier to care for than a fiddle-leaf. “Just give it bright light and water it once per week,” he says, adding that you can get it to flower annually “if you take care of it.”

Visual merchandiserChikako Ishii Frankfirst alerted us to the “pink plant” trend, to which the pink-toned Chinese evergreen (a.k.a. Aglaonema) fits right in. It comes recommended by two plantfluencers, including Summer Rayne Oakes, author ofHow to Make a Plant Love Youand host of the YouTube seriesPlant One on Me, whosuggeststhe plant for somewhat-experienced plant parents “who can’t grow flowers in their home, because Aglaonema can really give a nice brightness of color.”

Another pink-toned floor plant is the rubber plant. Upon arrival, the shiny, dark, “burgundy” leaves will be smaller than they look in this photo, but they’ll grow super-tall over time.

And here’s a pretty-in-pink option for plant parents looking to level up their skills: the slightly fussy stromanthe triostar. It resembles a rubber tree but has perkier and more delicate leaves that will move around during the day as light fluctuates. Ryan Lee, co-founder ofRooted NYC, nominates it as one of the mostunderrated indoor plants.

One of the few houseplants out there to have had its own “day of the week” hashtag on Instagram — “#monsteramondays,” in case you were wondering — the monstera has been on the fiddle-leaf’s tail for years now, and it’s still popular as ever. They can get really big, and they tend to growoutrather thanup, so make sure you have a lot of floor space available. The irregularly shaped leaves are part of the charm.

Snake plants make for another great floor plant. They’re very tolerant of low light and infrequent watering, and since they grow straight up, they’re ideal if you want something that doesn’t take up too much air space in your living room. Plus,we’ve saidthat buying from Amazon is the most convenient and cost-effective way to get this plant.

If you’re after something leafy that thrives in low light but don’t care for the ubiquitous snake plant, a cast-iron plant is a great option. “You can’t kill them,” saysTula Plants & DesignCEO and founder Christan Summers. “They have a really elegant leaf shape that I always appreciate in the mix of floppiness.”

Dog and cat ownerswill be relieved to learn that some ferns, like the Boston fern and this bird’s-nest fern, aresafe for pets, veterinarian Dr.Sara Redding Ochoasays. This one comes pre-planted in a sleek white pot with an accompanying wood stand.

Standing ten inches tall, this blooming anthurium will flourish in spaces with bright, indirect sunlight. It comes in a banded ceramic pot that contrasts with the plant’sglossy,heart-shaped leaves.

A money plant is great for gifting, as it’s said to bring wealth, good luck, and fortune. And it doesn’t take much maintenance, either: only a half-cup of water every week.

The quirky-looking ponytail palm is not technically a palm — it’s more closely related to desert plants like yuccas. Either way, its muppetlike fronds will quickly become a focal point on your desk or dining table.

If you prefer lush foliage to spindly fronds, try this tropical-looking dieffenbachia. It’s an almost unkillable plant that looks much more exotic than it is, thanks to those stunning white-and-green leaves. Just be sure to place it in a relatively sunny spot.

This pleasingly variegated philodendron was once so coveted by plant people that it drew comparisons to the iconic Hermès handbag. Hype has since died down, and Strategist writer Erin Schwartzspotted itfor a very reasonable price on Amazon.

During the day, the leaves on this prayer plant open up to absorb as much light as possible, and then fold up in a resting position at night. Although it’s not a flowering plant, the variegated leaves bring in some color, and it does fine without a lot of light, so you can place it anywhere. And if you have a dog or cat, don’t worry, it’spet-safe.

If you don’t have the floorspace for a monstera deliciosa — or just think that the popular plant’s jungle aesthetic is a little overplayed at this point — then this smaller and more delicate-looking cousin is a safer bet.

No light? No problem. This plant will thrive just about anywhere. Instead of the smooth leaves of most plants, the bird’s-nest fern has crinkly leaves that will add some nice texture to your space. It even works as a natural air purifier. According to the description, “A NASA study identified the fern as one of the top air-purifying plants to remove harmful chemicals from the air in your home.”

And here’s a slightly fussier fern, if you’re up for the challenge of keeping it watered. Their classic looks aside, we also love Bostons because they’re some of the few ferns that are safe forhungry cats and dogs. Ideal for tabletops and windowsills, this starter plant would also look lovely in a hanging basket once it gets going.

If you can’t decide between flowers or plants, this rattlesnake calathea gives you a little of both. In the spring it will bloom with yellow and orange flowers, and year-round you’ll be able to enjoy the exotic, multicolored leaves.

The ZZ plant is one of our most stood-behind plant recommendations because it’s one of the heartiest and most foolproof species out there, and it also has a unique, almost Jurassic look. Notis bought a ZZ plant while researchingoffice-friendly plantsand found that over the course of a year it doubled in size with nothing but overhead fluorescent light and infrequent waterings every week or so from a mugful of office-sink water.

The Chinese money plant is also referred to as the “sharing plant,” since it’s known to sprout miniature “baby plants” out of the surrounding soil, which are easy to repot and share with a friend.

Peace lilies are quite possibly the best air purifier of all houseplants (aNASA studyfound that it removed benzene and formaldehyde from the air). They’re easy to care for, too. Former Strategist senior editor Anthony Rotunno wrote about his belovedpeace lily— named Marilyn — which moved with him to three different apartments. “It’s among the hardiest green things I’ve ever encountered,” he says.

And while the low-maintenance peace lily does indeed flower, it’s not quite the same effect as a blooming orchid. Orchids are by no means effortless — it does take some work to care for them — but we spoke with a feworchid expertswho told us that orchids actually aren’t as difficult as many believe, especially when it comes to this variety cultivated specifically for its adaptability, the phalaenopsis “moth” orchid. This plant ships pre-potted, but you might want to show off your specimen in another one of Amazon’s manypots and planters, sold separately.

Aloe vera plants are soothing on the skin and soothing on the eyes. They require very little maintenance and are easy to propagate, if you’d like to split one plant across multiple pots. One note: Despite this plant’s slightly confusing branding, which refers to a pet charity that each purchase supports, aloe is actually slightly toxic to both dogs and cats.

In our guide to thebest low-light plantsfor office cubicles, Will Creed, an interior landscaper and owner ofHorticultural Help, recommends lucky bamboo because it’s really easy to care for: “Just refresh the water periodically to make sure it’s clean — fill until about the top of whatever container it’s in,” he says. With its distinct interlocking shape, this one is pre-planted in a textured pot, so it’ll be ready to enjoy as soon as it arrives.

Similar to the biggerfiddle-leafplant above, this dwarf version has vibrant, textural leaves; however, because it can only grow to be about three feet tall, it’s an ideal choice for a desk or tabletop.

This all-in-one kit, which includes a blend of organicsoiland a pack of non-GMO seeds, lets you grow sunflower blooms in a 64-ounce mason jar. According to theproduct description, you’ll see seedlings popping up in as little as one week.

Stacks of thick, symmetrical leaves give this tall-growingsucculentits “ivory towers” nickname. It can grow in a range of conditions but will thrive in partial sunlight.

If you’ve got a windowsill that sees at least six to eight hours of bright sunlight each, day you can grow your ownindoor herb garden. This set comes with a nice mix of cooking and cocktail-making herbs, including rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, and chamomile. But if you want to just grow parsley or mint, they have those as options too.

Succulents are generally considered quite easy to care for as long as you can give them enough light, and they can handle sitting in dry soil for a while. This four-pack of assorted miniature succulents would instantly upgrade a sunny windowsill.

If you’d prefer something prickly, consider this four-pack of cacti. Although they can handle direct sunlight, cacti do need to be watered and taken care of or else they’ll die, which is exactly why Strategist editor Maxine Builderconsultedwith three cactus professionals about the best potting soil and fertilizer for your spiny plant.

Perhaps the easiest plants to keep indoors, air plants don’t need any soil and only have to be watered every two weeks. They’re great additions to windowsills without enough room for potted plants and can even be plopped down on a bookshelf that’s somewhat near to a window.

Jade is another hardy succulent that can fit on a small but bright and sunny spot on your windowsill. It naturally grows into the shape of a miniature tree or bush.

This string-of-pearls and burrito-sedum succulent duo come in their own hanging baskets, so they’re ready to go when they arrive. The vines will likely already be growing out of the pots, and with bright indirect light, they should double in size in no time. These plants are great for propagating, so once yours start growing well, you can take cuttings to share with friends.

This plant is famouslyeasy to keep aliveand a fast grower, making it an ideal pick for new plant-parents. Erin Marino, editorial director atthe Sill,saysyou’ll know when the plant needs to be watered because the leaves have a “visible wilt,” but “they’re super-hardy, so they bounce back right away.” This one doesn’t come with a hanging pot so you’ll need to buy one separately. To help you find something nice we wrote about the besthanging planters.

Or here’s a slightly more traditional-looking ivy plant with fast-growing vines that will bend curiously toward any light source. It’s almost as easy to care for as the pothos above, has a timeless aesthetic, and will help purify household air from toxic contaminants.

We wrote about ocean spiders and named them one of thebest hanging plantsfor new plant-parents. Baylor Chapman, a plant stylist and author ofDecorating With Plants, especially likes how well these plants spread from the baby “spiderettes” that grow from the bottom of their leaves: “They can root in something else, so if you had one growing up over a window, it could root from pot to pot if you did it that way.” Plus, ocean spiders are at the top of all of our experts’ lists ofpet-safe plants.

Another plant that’s easy to propagate and hang is the philodendron. “The tendrils can get really, really long. You can clip it back and start new little plants from your cuttings, or you can kind of just let it go crazy,” explains Jessie Waldman, former director of marketing and e-commerce atPistils Nurseryin Portland, Oregon. This species is known as “cordatum,” from the Latin word meaning “heart-shaped,” referring to the plant’s leaf shape.

Or, go for thisphilodendronhybrid that has coppery leaves, which eventually turn bright orange and later fade into tones of green.

“This is a nontoxic indoor plant that can transform every space entirely,” professional horticulturistGena Lorainnesaysof the Boston fern, which appears in our list of thebest child-safe plants for babies and toddlers. Each non-toxic plant in this set of two is already planted in a 10-inch hanging pot with drainage holes.

Closely related to the philodendron, this silvery variety is nicknamed the satin pothos. “It has a really matte, cool texture and pattern on the leaves, which people just wanna touch,” Waldman says. The satin pothos is technically a scindapsus,nota philodendron, meaning it fares even better in low light.