Top 10 Tropical House Plants Any One Can Grow

2 mins read
July 25, 2017

Indoor plants have become an essential part of home décor, bringing beauty, fragrance, and color into our living spaces.

Many houseplants require ample sunlight, but low-light varieties can thrive indoors, even in dim conditions.

These tropical plants are perfect for apartments, offices, or rooms with limited natural light, offering air-purifying benefits and year-round greenery.

1. Dracaena Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)

A hardy and stylish houseplant, the Dracaena Corn Plant features long, arching green leaves with yellow stripes running down the center. It can grow up to 4-6 feet tall indoors, making it a great statement plant.

Care Tips:

  • Prefers low to moderate indirect light.
  • Water every 1-2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
  • Helps filter toxins like benzene and formaldehyde from the air.

2. The Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

The Dragon Tree is a tropical beauty with long, spiky green leaves edged in red or purple. This slow-growing plant takes about 10 years to reach its full height but remains attractive year-round.

Care Tips:

  • Thrives in low to moderate light but prefers indirect sunlight.
  • Keep soil slightly moist, but avoid overwatering.
  • Adds a modern, minimalist look to indoor spaces.

3. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

A classic, low-maintenance plant, the Parlor Palm is a shade-loving tropical shrub that brings an elegant, tropical feel to any indoor space.

Care Tips:

  • Thrives in low light conditions.
  • Requires infrequent watering (every 2-3 weeks).
  • Non-toxic, making it safe for pets and children.

4. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

A hardy, long-lived succulent, the Jade Plant is known for its thick, oval-shaped leaves that store water, making it highly drought-tolerant.

Care Tips:

  • Prefers bright, indirect sunlight but can adapt to lower light.
  • Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry completely between waterings.
  • Considered a symbol of good luck in feng shui.

5. African Violet (Saintpaulia)

These vibrant, easy-care flowering plants bloom year-round with delicate purple, pink, or white flowers.

Care Tips:

  • Thrives in low to moderate light.
  • Keep soil consistently moist but avoid overwatering.
  • Grows up to 12 inches in diameter, making it a compact, manageable plant.

6. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)

Famous for its soothing gel, Aloe Vera is a low-maintenance, air-purifying succulent that doubles as a medicinal plant.

Care Tips:

  • Prefers bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate shade.
  • Water once every 2-3 weeks.
  • Avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.

7. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

One of the easiest houseplants to grow, the Spider Plant is known for its graceful, arching leaves and air-purifying properties.

Care Tips:

  • Thrives in low light but grows faster in moderate light.
  • Water weekly, keeping the soil slightly moist.
  • Produces baby plantlets that can be easily propagated.

8. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

This striking tropical plant produces large, banana-like leaves and, with patience, can bloom exotic, bird-shaped flowers indoors.

Care Tips:

  • Requires bright, indirect light and ample space.
  • Needs well-draining soil and deep watering every 7-10 days.
  • Flowers appear after 3-5 years, rewarding patient growers.

9. Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

A stunning, flowering houseplant, Anthurium produces vibrant red, pink, or white waxy blooms year-round.

Care Tips:

  • Prefers indirect light and high humidity.
  • Keep soil moist but not soggy.
  • Temperature should stay above 60°F (15°C).

10. Orchids (Orchidaceae)

One of the most sophisticated flowering plants, orchids come in hundreds of varieties and colors. Though they require some care, their long-lasting blooms make them worth the effort.

Care Tips:

  • Need bright, indirect light and high humidity.
  • Water once a week, allowing roots to dry in between.
  • Wait until after the first bloom before repotting.

You don’t need full sun to enjoy lush, tropical houseplants indoors. These low-maintenance plants bring freshness, color, and air-purifying benefits to any space.

Whether you choose flowering varieties like Anthuriums and Orchids, or foliage plants like Dracaena and Parlor Palms, each of these houseplants will thrive with minimal care.

Latest from PLANTS