Gardening Houseplants Choosing Houseplants 22 Indoor Flowering Plants That Will Make Your Home Feel Happier By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the digital garden editor at Better Homes & Gardens. Before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, for this position in 2019, she spent 14 years serving as an editor for The American Gardener magazine, published by the American Horticultural Society in Virginia. She holds a B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University and an M.P.S. in plant pathology from Cornell. Viveka loves getting people excited about the botanical world and feels happiest with dirt under her nails. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 14, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jay Wilde As much as we enjoy our houseplants for their pretty leaves alone, it can feel like a truly momentous occasion when flowers appear. Here are some of our favorites for adding extra color and even fragrance to your indoor garden. 01 of 22 African Violet $13, Etsy Marty Baldwin Among the easiest flowering houseplants you can grow, African violets bloom several times a year with little effort from you. They come in hundreds of varieties, some with variegated foliage or ruffled or white-edged blooms. African violet likes warm conditions and filtered sunlight, but avoid getting water on the fuzzy leaves; it causes ugly brown spots. Why We Love It: In a bright window, this plant will bloom almost constantly. It's fun to collect several different varieties with all sorts of flower colors and shapes. Botanical Name: Saintpaulia ionantha Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 8 inches tall and 16 inches wide 02 of 22 Oxalis $7, Etsy Dean Schoeppner This cute little plant has triangular, clover-like purple leaves that fold down at night or in dim light conditions. An almost constant show of pale pink or white blooms goes on above the foliage. You can also find oxalis varieties that have plain green foliage with and without silvery accents. Why We Love It: The shamrock-shape leaves are striking. Plus, it makes a fun gift on St. Patrick's Day. Botanical Name: Oxalis triangularis Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 12 inches tall and wide Buy It: Oxalis ($7, Etsy) 03 of 22 Peace Lily $51, ProFlowers Bob Stefko Perhaps peace lily's white flowers aren't the flashiest, but they have a stately elegance to them as they appear above the glossy foliage on long, slender stems. This easy-care houseplant can bloom throughout the year, but produces the most flowers during summer. Why We Love It: Its large, deep green leaves add an instant tropical touch to any room, and it's one of the easiest flowering houseplants you can grow. Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum wallisii Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-85°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on. 04 of 22 Anthurium $17, Etsy Denny Schrock When grown in bright light, anthuriums will reward you with its long-lasting flowers in festive shades of pink, red, lavender, or white. They also make a long-lasting cut flower if you can bear to snip them off the plant. Even when not in bloom, its glossy green leaves are attractive all on their own. Why We Love It: Its cute factor: The flowers and foliage are both heart-shape. Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil evenly moist, barely moist in fall and winter Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide Note: This plant is poisonous and can cause illness if eaten or chewed. Buy It: Red Anthurium ($17, Etsy) 05 of 22 Christmas Cactus Kritsada Panichgul Many of the plants sold as Christmas cactus are actually closely related species sometimes called Thanksgiving cactus, which usually blooms a few weeks earlier. Both these plants flower in response to cool temperatures and short days in fall and winter. Why We Love It: It's an old-fashioned favorite with exotic-looking flowers. Botanical Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi Growing Conditions: Bright light; 70-80°F, 55°F in fall; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide 06 of 22 Flowering Maple $12, Etsy Dean Schoeppner Crepe-paper-like blooms in shades of red, pink, orange, or yellow dangle among flowering maple's leaves like festive lanterns. Many varieties have splotched or variegated foliage for extra interest. Grow the plant upright as a tree, prune it back to keep it shrubby, or even grow it in a hanging basket. Its common name comes from the leaves, which resemble those of a maple tree though it isn't actually in the maple family. Why We Love It: This fast-growing plant is almost constantly in bloom. Botanical Name: Abutilon x hybridum Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide 07 of 22 Jasmine $18, Etsy Doug Hetherington There are many types of jasmine. Flowered jasmine (J. polyanthum) and Arabian jasmine (J. sambac) are two of the easiest to grow; just give them plenty of light and moisture. They'll bear fragrant pink to white blooms on vining plants. Why We Love It: The beautiful pink or white blooms are some of the most fragrant you'll find on any houseplant. Botanical Name: Jasminum spp. Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F, 40-60°F in winter; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide 08 of 22 Clivia Marty Baldwin You may also see clivia called kaffir lily. As a houseplant, it usually blooms in winter with clusters of up to 20 reddish-orange or yellow tubular flowers. Clivia blooms only when it has been exposed to cool, dry conditions, so give it lower temperatures in winter and keep it on the dry side. Why We Love It: It's extra easy to grow and the flowers brighten up January days when there's not a lot else in bloom. Botanical Name: Clivia miniata Growing Conditions: Medium light; 60-75°F, 50-55°F in winter; keep soil barely moist Size: To 2 feet tall and wide Note: This plant is poisonous and can cause illness if eaten or chewed on. 09 of 22 Calamondin Orange $8, Etsy Jay Wilde This hybrid between mandarin orange and kumquat bears fragrant white blossoms in late winter or spring when grown as an indoor plant. The wonderfully fragrant flowers develop into showy 1-inch-diameter orange fruits on a shrubby plant with glossy green foliage. Fruits can remain on the plant for many weeks. Why We Love It: You can harvest the fruits after they ripen and use them like lemons or kumquats or make them into marmalade. Botanical Name: x Citrofortunella microcarpa Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-80°F, 55-65°F in winter; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 4 feet tall and wide 10 of 22 Brazilian Fireworks $18, Etsy Marty Baldwin Wondering how this plant got its name? The fireworks part has two reasons: In late spring and summer, this beautiful blooming indoor plant sends up deep red flower bracts that develop lavender flowers, creating an explosion of color. And as the flowers fade, it shoots out small black seeds that you can grow into even more plants. Like many houseplants, it's also a great choice for growing outdoors in a shade garden. Why We Love It: It's always attractive. You never have to worry about what it looks like when it's done blooming because the green leaves have eye-catching silver markings. Botanical Name: Porphyrocoma pohliana 'Maracas' Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide 11 of 22 Crown-of-Thorns $24, Etsy Doug Hetherington This drought-tolerant poinsettia relative doesn't need much care, as long as you give it plenty of bright light and keep it on the dry side. It has thick, spiny, gray-brown stems that are sparsely branched. Why We Love It: It's an easy-care, low-water plant whose colorful bract-like flowers last for weeks. Botanical Name: Euphorbia milii Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-75°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 3 feet tall and wide Note: This plant is poisonous and the milky sap can cause illness or skin irritation if eaten or chewed by children or pets. It's also very thorny. Buy It: Pink Crown of Thorns Plant ($24, Etsy) 12 of 22 Gloxinia Getty Images Usually blooming in late winter or early spring, gloxinia bears 3-inch-wide, bell-shape blooms in rich colors, often marked with contrasting bands or speckles of white. After blooms fade, allow the plant to go dormant by withholding water. When new growth begins again, resume watering. Why We Love It: The huge, bell-shaped flowers are so eye-catching. Botanical Name: Sinningia speciosa Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F, 55-75°F when dormant; keep soil evenly moist except when dormant Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide 13 of 22 Guppy Plant $9, Etsy Dean Schoeppner This African violet relative blooms most in summer, but if it has enough light, it'll flower all year long. Some other species bear their blooms on long stalks that dangle like a fishing line with a goldfish at the end of the line. The arching stems and dangling blooms of guppy plant make it a good choice for hanging baskets. Why We Love It: How can you not love a plant whose flowers look like goldfish! It's a fun plant for getting children excited about houseplants. Botanical Name: Nematanthus spp. Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F, 50-55°F in winter; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide 14 of 22 Lipstick Plant $7, Etsy Doug Hetherington Another African violet relative, the lipstick plant looks especially charming in hanging baskets because it produces arching stems with showy flowers that dangle from branch tips. The tubular paired flowers have dark purple cups encircling scarlet flowers. The plant blooms heaviest in fall but can flower sporadically year-round. If you take it outdoors in summer, the red flowers might attract hummingbirds. Why We Love It: It's an easy-to-grow plant with flashy red flowers that really do look like little tubes of lipstick. Botanical Name: Aeschynanthus radicans Growing Conditions: Medium light; 60-80°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 20 inches tall and 36 inches wide 15 of 22 Shrimp Plant Andy Lyons This fast-growing shrubby plant can be kept compact with regular pruning. Shrimp plant is a prolific bloomer, producing flower spikes all year. Most varieties bear spikes of pink bracts with white tubular flowers. Others form long-lasting yellow or chartreuse bracts. Why We Love It: Its flowers are so unique, and do look a bit like shrimps. Your friends will definitely notice it. Botanical Name: Justicia brandegeeana Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide 16 of 22 Ixora $15, Etsy Denny Schrock Sometimes called flame of the woods, ixora has orange, red, and yellow flower clusters that almost seem to glow. Its leathery foliage emerges bronze but turns glossy green. A little pruning will help keep the plant compact if the stems become too leggy. Why We Love It: Its big clusters of orange, pink, red, or yellow flowers are wonderful treats on winter days. Botanical Name: Ixora coccinea Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide 17 of 22 Geranium $22, Breck's Jason Donnelly Several types of geraniums are grown as houseplants. Regal or Martha Washington geranium, pictured, has the largest, showiest blooms, but requires cool growing conditions. The common garden geranium (P. x hortorum) and ivy geranium (P. peltatum) also offer showy flowers but are easier-to-grow plants. Why We Love It: The bloom colors are so vibrant. Botanical Name: Pelargonium spp. Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 3 feet tall and wide 18 of 22 Angel-Wing Begonia $17, Etsy McDonald Home and Garden Several species are commonly called angel-wing begonia. All are upright growing, sometimes reaching 6 feet tall. But by pinching back tall stems you can keep plants bushy and in the 2- to 3-foot range. In addition to having attractive green, silver, and maroon foliage, angel-wing begonias freely bloom with clusters of red, pink, or white blossoms. Why We Love It: Its beautiful wing-shaped leaves are just as attractive as the blooms so it's pretty all year long. Botanical Name: Begonia spp. Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. 19 of 22 Rieger Begonia Dean Schoeppner Growing from a swollen tuber-like base, Rieger begonia is a winter-blooming plant. Its clusters of colorful blossoms appear above a tidy mound of glossy green foliage. You can find varieties with flowers in warm hues ranging from yellow to orange and red. Why We Love It: It's an easy-to-grow plant with gorgeous, rose-like blooms. Botanical Name: Begonia x hiemalis Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 18 inches tall and wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. 20 of 22 Wax Begonia $6, Etsy Marty Baldwin Popular as an outdoor bedding plant, wax begonia also does well indoors where it will bloom all year if it has enough light. Simply take cuttings of your plants in the garden for your indoor garden. The cuttings root quickly in water or moist potting soil. Why We Love It: It's an easy bloomer with waxy foliage and colorful red, white, or pink flowers. Botanical Name: Begonia semperflorens Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 18 inches tall or wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. Buy It: Wax Begonia Seeds ($6, Etsy) 21 of 22 Bromeliad Denny Schrock This member of the pineapple family has stiff, glossy green, toothed foliage arranged in an upright vase shape. A flowering shoot with colorful bracts arises from the center of the leaves. The blooms can last for up to six months. Why We Love It: Its colorful red, orange, yellow, or purple flower bracts look very tropical and exotic. Botanical Name: Guzmania lingulata Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-80°F, 60-65°F in winter; keep soil moderately dry, but water in the vase Size: To 3 feet tall and wide 22 of 22 Silver Vase Plant $79, Bloomscape Denny Schrock The stiff, gray-green leaves of this pineapple relative are edged with tiny spines and form an upright vase shape. Silver vase plant sends up a large cluster of long-lasting pink bracts that bear tiny, short-lived purple flowers. After the bracts fade, new offshoots develop at the base of the mother plant that can be propagated into new plants. Why We Love It: It's one of the most dramatic, easy indoor plants you can grow. Botanical Name: Aechmea fasciata Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75°F; pour water into the vase formed by the foliage rather than onto the soil Size: To 3 feet tall and wide Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit