The 10 easiest houseplants to grow

A curated selection of unkillable species for beginners.

Updated on 2026-07-17 · 5 min

Starting with the right plant changes everything. Here are 10 species that tolerate mistakes, recover from short neglect and reward you as you learn.

The top 10

1. Pothos — hardy and decorative. 2. Snake Plant — nearly immortal. 3. ZZ Plant — survives darkness. 4. Tradescantia zebrina — grows visibly. 5. Philodendron — huge variety choice. 6. Cactus — low care, high reward. 7. Aloe vera — also useful. 8. Peperomia — compact and quirky. 9. Peace lily — flowers even in shade. 10. Aspidistra — the 'cast iron plant'.

Golden rules for beginners

Better to under-water than over-water. Choose pots with drainage. Observe the plant weekly: change placement, not just care.