Easy Indoor Floor Plants: 10 Low Effort Large Houseplants
Looking for larger plants that are a breeze to care for? Here’s a list of ten reliable indoor floor plants, each with simple care tips to keep them thriving. For me, houseplants are a must-have, not just a nice-to-have. If you’re just starting out with your indoor gardening journey, this list is a great starting point!
I’d recommend starting smaller and trying one or two of these tabletop or hanging plants first. They’re much less expensive and will help you build your confidence in houseplant care.
Note: This was published on 2/6/2019. It was updated on 11/30/2024.
10 Easy Indoor Floor Plants
The tried and true list below is based on my long-standing love affair with houseplants. I chose these plants not only based on my own horticultural experiences but also on comments and questions I’ve received from readers and viewers. Too many choices can be confusing, so I’ve limited the choices to ten.
Floor plants are larger and taller, so most people place them on the floor. They can be elevated even higher with a plant stand.
You’ll see that some are tall and narrow, while others are shorter and wide. In houseplant terms, these are usually sold in 10″, 12″ and 14″ grow pot sizes. Specimen houseplants come in larger pots, but you need lots of room and spare change for those.
When bought in 6″ or 8″ pots, all of the below plants can be used as tabletop plants. Eventually, the majority of them will grow into floor plants.
I explain light levels in a nutshell at the end of this post, so be sure to check that out. Any plant with more variegation and color in its leaves will need more light. Plants with darker leaves and subtle variegation will tolerate lower light levels.
Snake Plants (Dracaena spp, Mother-In-Law’s Tongue)
Light requirement: Low to high.
Snake Plants are tough and one of the easiest houseplants out there. Many varieties come in a range of leaf patterns, shapes, and sizes. The common taller growing ones are S. trifasciata zeylanica and S. trifasctiata laurnetii.
More info: Snake Plant Care,Repotting A Large Snake Plant, Snake Plant Leaves Falling Over
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Zanzibar Gem)
Light requirements: Medium.
ZZ Plants have beautiful shiny leaves and have become quite popular in the last five years. As a floor plant, this one spreads, and the leaves arch out with age. The Raven ZZ Plant has gorgeous bronze/black foliage and has gained in popularity in the past couple of years, but it can be difficult to find.
More info: ZZ Plant Care, Raven ZZ Plant Care
Dracaena Lisa, Dracanea Janet Craig (Dracaena deremensis Lisa & Janet Craig)
Light requirements: Low to medium.
When I was an interior plantscaper, this plant was billed as the ultimate low light plant and was seen in almost every office and lobby in town. Dr. Janet Craig was the variety on the market then, but now Dr. Lisa and Dr. Michiko have since appeared on the scene. The Dr. Lisa starts narrow but spreads as it ages. I just cut back three canes (stems) of mine to control the width.
More info: Dracaena Lisa Care, Repotting A Large Draceana Lisa
Rubber Plant, Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)
Light requirements: Medium to high.
If you have a lot of bright light and space for this plant to grow, here’s the best indoor tree for you. They’re much easier to grow indoors than the Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) and the Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-Leaf Fig). Rubber Trees are a great value – they’re inexpensive compared to many floor plants because they grow fast. If you want a pop of color (other than green), check out the Ficus elastica “Ruby” and the Ficus elastica “Tieneke”.
More info: Rubber Plant Care, Repotting Rubber Plants
Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
Light requirements: Low to medium.
If you have a room with lower light levels in your home and want an elegant plant to liven it up, then the Kentia Palm is the one for you. It arches gracefully and fans out, so it’s not for tight corners. If you have the room, you’ll love this focal point plant. One drawback: the Kentia isn’t cheap.
More info: Kentia Palm Care
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana)
Light requirements: Medium.
The leaves of this plant look like the leaves of corn, which you’d find in a vegetable garden. This perennially popular houseplant will lose the central chartreuse variegation and revert to solid green if the light’s too low.
More info: 19 Easy Houseplants
Spineless Yucca (Yucca elephantipes)
Light requirements: High.
This isn’t a soft and fluffy plant, but it works well with modern and desert decor. It’s very tough and suited to high light, warm environments. Spineless Yuccas are a great choice for people who travel a lot because of their low maintenance requirements.
More info: 6 Houseplants For People Who Travel
Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
Light requirements: Medium to high.
Bring a tropical vibe to your home with the stunning Monstera. Known for its iconic, deeply split leaves, this plant makes a bold statement as it grows and spreads over time. As a natural climber, this plant will eventually need staking to support its growth. Its lush, dramatic appearance adds life to any space, and the trendy variegated varieties are a must-have for plant enthusiasts.
More info: Monstera Care, Monstera Repotting
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata, Red Edge Dracaena)
The Dracaena marginata is a stylish indoor plant with thin, arching leaves edged in red or burgundy. Its tall, slender canes (stems) and compact growth make it ideal for corners or modern interiors. It can get tall and leggy as it grows, so don’t be afraid to chop off the heads and take down the canes to encourage new growth.
More info: Dracana Marginata Care, Dracaena Marginata Pruning
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema spp)
Light requirements: Low to medium.
I’m including these plants because certain varieties grow into low, bushy floor plants. I have a “Silver Bay” in my living room that stands 3′ x 3′, and I love looking down on the beautifully patterned leaves. “Silverado” is another large variety to consider.
Light requirements: Medium.
More info: Aglaonema Care Tips
Our No-Nonsense Indoor Plant Care Guide
Even if you’re a serial plant killer, this ebook aims to turn your brown thumb green! Get a multitude of practical plant care tips. Some of the 33 plants included in this book are Pothos, Agalonema, Spider Plant, Kentia Palm, a variety of Dracaenas, some succulents, plus many more.
Light Levels Briefly Explained
I have no experience with artificial light, so I’m referring to natural light here. Be aware that light levels vary with the seasons, so you might have to move your plants closer to a light source in the winter months. Very few houseplants can take strong, direct sun, so keep them out of hot, sunny windows (south or west-facing windows), or else they’ll burn.
Conversely, a few of the plants above will tolerate low light conditions, but they won’t do too much, if any, growing. Bright indirect light is the sweet spot for most indoor plants.
Low light – Low light isn’t no light. This is a northern exposure with no direct light.
Medium light – This is an east or west exposure with 2-4 of the sun coming in the windows per day.
High light – This is a west or south exposure with at least 5 hours of the sun coming in per day.
You can have a low light plant in a medium or high light room, but it needs to be at least 10 feet away from the windows. A high light plant won’t survive in a low light room for long.
I use my instincts when it comes to light and houseplants. If a plant isn’t doing as well as it should, I move it. You can find more detailed information on light and houseplants here.
Indoor Floor Plants Video Guide
Tips For Growing Large Indoor Plants
Use these tips before buying large houseplants to know how to grow and maintain them.
Start Small
If you’re brand new to houseplant gardening, start with smaller tabletop or hanging plants first. Floor plants aren’t any harder to care for, but they’re more expensive experiments!
Do Your Research
Know the plant’s requirements, if they have any special needs, and where it’s going before buying it.
You wouldn’t want to put a Kentia Palm in a hot, sunny sliding glass door. Conversely, a Spineless Yucca in a dimly lit room would get very thin and spindly over time.
Buy a Healthy Plant
I buy the majority of my houseplants at independent nurseries and garden centers where I know the stock is well taken care of.
I’ve bought a few plants at Home Depot and Lowe’s, but I rummage through the inventory to see if I can find a good-looking, healthy plant.
Move Them Around
Plants grow towards the light. It’s best to rotate a floor plant every few months so it gets exposed to light evenly on all sides. That way, it won’t look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa! In the darker winter months, you may have to move plants to a brighter spot where they get more light.
Consider Height
I’ve seen all these floor plants, except the Kentia Palm, available in smaller 6″ and 8″ grow pot sizes and sold as tabletop plants. Don’t think they’ll grow to 6′ in a hurry.
These plants will grow much slower in your home than they would in a greenhouse. If you want a 6′ Dracaena Lisa for that spot in your family room, then buy a 5-6′ plant; not one that’s 3′.
Avoid Overwatering
Watering too often is the most common cause of houseplant death. It’s better to keep the majority of houseplants on the dry side rather than consistently moist. The roots also need oxygen and will die from root rot. As I say, “Go easy with the liquid love”!
Humidity
Most houseplants are tropical plants and favor humid conditions. You may have to up the ante on the humidity level; more details on that here.
Feeding/Fertilizing
Even if you only have a couple of houseplants, they’ll benefit from a little nourishment now and then. Fertilizing your indoor plants keeps them healthy and supports strong growth—like how we take our vitamins!
I’ve had great experiences with all of these easy care floor plants. I hope you find this list helpful and give at least one of these houseplants a try to add to or start your indoor garden. You’ll be living surrounded by a gorgeous green jungle in no time!
Happy gardening,
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Nell, the founder of Joy Us garden, was born into a gardening family and grew up in Connecticut’s countryside. After living in Boston, New York, San Francisco, & Santa Barbara, she now calls the Arizona desert home. She studied horticulture & garden design, working in the field all her life. Nell is a gardener, designer, blogger, Youtube creator, & author. She’s been gardening for a very long time & wants to share what she’s learned with you.
