Easy houseplants: 15 hard-to-kill picks with pet safety notes

The easiest houseplants for beginners are ZZ plant, snake plant, pothos, and cast iron plant. All four grow in low light (about 50 to 250 foot-candles), handle missed waterings, and die mostly from too much water, not too little. If you have cats or dogs, start with cast iron plant, parlor palm, or spider plant, which the ASPCA lists as non-toxic.

Below is a table of 15 hard-to-kill houseplants with light, water, and pet safety for each one. Short profiles follow, then a low light list, a pet safe list, the mistakes that kill easy plants, and winter tips for cold climates.

15 easy houseplants at a glance

Light levels use the University of Missouri Extension ranges: low is 50 to 250 foot-candles, medium is 250 to 1,000, and high is 1,000 or more. Pet safety comes from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant listings for dogs and cats.

Plant	Light	Water	Dogs and cats (ASPCA)
ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)	Low to bright indirect	Let soil dry out fully	Toxic (calcium oxalate)
Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)	Low to bright indirect	Let soil dry between waterings	Toxic (saponins)
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)	Low to bright indirect	Let soil dry between waterings	Toxic (calcium oxalate)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)	Low to medium	Keep slightly moist	Toxic (calcium oxalate)
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)	Low (no direct sun)	Water regularly, less in winter	Non-toxic
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)	Medium (no direct sun)	Keep moist, less in winter	Non-toxic
Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)	Low to bright indirect	Let surface dry slightly	Non-toxic
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)	Low to bright indirect	Let surface dry between waterings	Toxic (calcium oxalate)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)	Low to medium (no direct sun)	Keep moist, not soggy	Toxic (calcium oxalate)
Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)	Bright indirect (tolerates low)	On the dry side	Non-toxic
Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)	Low to medium (no direct sun)	Evenly moist, high humidity	Non-toxic
Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis fasciata)	Bright indirect	Let soil dry out fully	Non-toxic
Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)	Sunny window	Deep soak, then dry out	Non-toxic
Jade plant (Crassula ovata)	Bright, some direct sun	Water when dry, less in fall and winter	Toxic
Aloe (Aloe vera)	Bright, some direct sun	Let soil dry out fully	Toxic (saponins, anthraquinones)

What makes a houseplant easy?

An easy houseplant forgives the two things beginners get wrong: light and water. Most homes are darker than plants like. The University of Missouri Extension notes that even low light plants usually do not get enough light more than 10 feet from an average window.

The toughest plants store water in thick roots, rhizomes, or leaves. That lets them ride out a missed watering. It also means they rot if the soil stays wet. So “easy” mostly means “hard to underwater.”

Look for these traits when you shop:

• Thick, waxy, or fleshy leaves that hold water.
• Tolerance of low or medium light.
• Comfort in average room air (no humidifier needed).
• Slow, steady growth, so the plant rarely needs a bigger pot.
• Clear signals, like wilting or soft leaves, when it needs water.

The hardest to kill houseplants

These four survive dim rooms and long gaps between waterings better than any others on this list. They are the safest first plants if you do not have pets that chew leaves.

1. ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

The ZZ plant grows from fleshy rhizomes that store water. NC State Extension calls it one of the easiest, low-maintenance houseplants. It grows in low light, even under office fluorescent lights, but does best in bright indirect light. Direct sun can scorch the leaves.

• Water: about twice a month in summer, only when the soil is fully dry. About once a month in winter.
• Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide.
• Pets: toxic. The ASPCA lists ZZ plant among plants with insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.

For a season-by-season schedule, see how often to water a ZZ plant.

2. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

Snake plant (sold as Sansevieria for years) has stiff, upright leaves that store water. It tolerates low light, low humidity, and cool rooms around 50°F (10°C). The one thing it will not forgive is wet soil. NC State warns that overwatering rots the roots.

• Water: let the soil dry between waterings from spring to fall. In winter, water only every one to two months.
• Light: low to bright indirect. Part-day sun is fine.
• Pets: toxic to dogs and cats (saponins). Signs are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

More detail is in our guide on how to grow snake plant.

3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is a trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves. It prefers bright indirect light but survives long periods in low light. Variegated types lose some of their pattern in dim rooms. Cuttings root in a glass of water, so one plant can become many.

• Water: let the potting mix dry between waterings. Overwatering causes root rot and black leaf edges.
• Light: low to bright indirect.
• Pets: toxic. Chewing releases calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth.

See how to grow pothos for pruning and propagation.

4. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Cast iron plant is named for its toughness. It grows in deep shade, with less than two hours of direct sun or none at all, and it does not like direct sun. Growth is slow, so it rarely needs repotting. It is the best pick for a dark corner in a home with pets.

• Water: regularly from spring to fall, sparingly in winter.
• Light: low. Keep it out of direct sun.
• Pets: non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

More easy houseplants for beginners

These plants are almost as tough. Each one has one need to watch, noted below.

5. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

Heartleaf philodendron looks like pothos but has softer, matte leaves. NC State says it can survive long periods in deep shade, though it prefers medium light. It likes slightly moist soil, more than pothos does. Slow down on watering in winter.

Pets: toxic (calcium oxalate).

6. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plant has arching striped leaves and makes baby plantlets on long stems. It prefers medium light, tolerates deep shade, and dislikes direct sun. It grows best in moist soil but tolerates drought. Keep it above 45°F (7°C).

Watch for: brown leaf tips. NC State links them to chlorine and fluoride in tap water. Rainwater or distilled water helps. Too much fertilizer cuts down on plantlets.

Pets: non-toxic on the ASPCA list. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center adds that a pet that eats some leaves may still get a mild upset stomach, with vomiting or diarrhea.

7. Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Parlor palm is a small, slow palm that handles dry air and dim light that most palms cannot. NC State suggests a north or east window. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. It can go dry for short periods but grows fuller in moist soil. Indoor stems can reach 5 feet but usually stay smaller.

Pets: non-toxic to dogs and cats.

8. Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema)

Chinese evergreen has patterned leaves in green, silver, pink, or red. NC State calls it one of the easiest plants to grow in a home or office and an excellent low light plant. Keep the mix moist from spring to fall and let it dry between waterings. Water less in winter, and avoid cold water.

Watch for: cold. It prefers 70 to 80°F (21 to 27°C) in the day and does not tolerate chilly spots.

Pets: toxic (calcium oxalate).

9. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peace lily is the only plant on this list grown for its flowers. It prefers partial to deep shade and no direct sun. It droops when dry, then recovers after watering, so it shows you when it needs water. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Bottom watering works well.

Watch for: cold drafts. NC State says it likes 68 to 85°F (20 to 29°C). Temperatures from 40 to 60°F (4 to 16°C) slow growth, and long spells below 40°F damage the plant.

Pets: toxic (calcium oxalate). It is not a true lily, though. True lilies (Lilium), such as Easter lily, can cause kidney failure in cats. Peace lily causes mouth and stomach irritation instead. Our post on how often to water peace lily plants covers the drooping cycle.

10. Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

This compact peperomia has thick, glossy leaves and fits on a desk. NC State says it tolerates low light for several months, especially the solid green forms. It prefers bright indirect light and dry soil. Overwatering is its main problem and shows up as yellow leaves and root rot.

Pets: non-toxic to dogs and cats.

11. Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura)

Prayer plant gets its name from its patterned leaves, which fold upright at night. It tolerates low to medium light, but direct sun bleaches the color. It is the fussiest plant on this list, because it needs high humidity. A tray of wet pebbles under the pot helps. Keep the soil evenly moist in the growing season and let it dry a bit more in winter.

Pets: non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

Easy succulents for a sunny window

Succulents are easy only in bright light. In a dim room they stretch, flop, and rot. Put these four in your sunniest window, and let the soil dry out fully between waterings. The University of Maryland Extension notes that succulents and cacti need far less water than most houseplants.

12. Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis fasciata)

Zebra haworthia is a small succulent with white-striped leaves. It stays 4 to 6 inches tall and wide. It is somewhat tolerant of low light but prefers bright indirect light, so it copes with a less sunny window better than the other succulents here. It is comfortable at 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C) and in normal home humidity.

Pets: non-toxic. This is the best pet safe succulent to start with.

13. Ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Ponytail palm is not a palm. It stores water in a swollen trunk base and has long, curly leaves. It wants a sunny window. Water deeply in summer, let it dry out, and cut water back hard in winter. NC State notes it handles dry, heated indoor air that bothers many houseplants. In a pot it can grow 6 to 8 feet tall over time.

Pets: non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.

14. Jade plant (Crassula ovata)

Jade plant has thick, round leaves on woody stems. It needs bright light and average to cool room temperatures. A sunny window with some afternoon shade suits it. Water in moderation when the soil is dry and reduce watering from fall to late winter. Overwatering causes leaf drop and root rot.

Pets: toxic. The ASPCA says most pets that eat jade get vomiting and diarrhea, and cats seem more sensitive than dogs.

15. Aloe (Aloe vera)

Aloe grows in full sun to partial shade in fast-draining succulent mix. Let the soil dry completely between waterings and water less in winter. It can go outside for the summer once nights stay warm.

Pets: toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Signs include vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea.

Low light houseplants for beginners

“Low light” is not “no light.” The University of Missouri Extension puts low light at 50 to 250 foot-candles, medium light at 250 to 1,000, and high light at 1,000 or more. East and west windows suit medium light plants. South windows suit plants that want some direct sun. If a spot is more than 10 feet from a window, add a grow light or move the plant closer.

Best picks for low light, from toughest down:

1. Cast iron plant (pet safe)
2. ZZ plant
3. Snake plant
4. Heartleaf philodendron
5. Pothos (solid green types hold up best)
6. Chinese evergreen
7. Parlor palm (pet safe)
8. Peace lily

Plants in low light use less water, so the soil stays wet longer. Check the soil before you water, every time.

Pet safe easy houseplants (ASPCA listed)

These easy plants appear as non-toxic to both dogs and cats on the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list:

Pet safe plant	Light	Best spot
Cast iron plant	Low	Dark corner, hallway
Parlor palm	Low to bright indirect	North or east window
Spider plant	Medium	Hanging basket near a window
Baby rubber plant	Bright indirect	Desk or shelf
Prayer plant	Low to medium	Humid room, such as a bathroom with a window
Zebra haworthia	Bright indirect	Bright windowsill
Ponytail palm	Sunny	South or west window
Boston fern	Medium	Bright room, soil kept moist

“Non-toxic” does not mean “edible.” The ASPCA notes that even spider plant, which it lists as non-toxic, can cause a mild upset stomach if a pet eats it. Cats that chew leaves will also shred a plant, so hang it or put it on a high shelf.

Popular easy houseplants that are toxic to pets

Many of the easiest plants are toxic. Pothos, philodendron, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, ZZ plant, and monstera all contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals. In its guide to these plants, the ASPCA lists drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, and diarrhea as common signs. Rarely, the throat swells and makes breathing hard.

Snake plant and aloe contain saponins. Jade plant can cause vomiting, and in some pets, wobbliness and a fast heart rate. The ASPCA rates jade and dracaena as moderately toxic in its list of problem houseplants.

If your pet eats a toxic plant, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A fee may apply.

How to keep an easy houseplant alive

1. Use a pot with a drainage hole. Water that cannot drain sits at the roots and rots them.
2. Match the plant to the light. Use the table above. Put sun lovers in south or west windows and shade lovers farther back.
3. Check the soil, not the calendar. The University of Maryland Extension suggests pushing a finger about 2 inches into the soil. If it is dry, water. Succulents can go longer.
4. Water deeply. Pour until water runs out the bottom. Then empty the saucer. Never let the pot sit in water.
5. Flush out salts. Fertilizer salts build up and burn leaf tips. Watering from the top until it drains carries them out.
6. Feed lightly in spring and summer. Too much fertilizer adds to salt buildup. Spider plants make fewer babies when overfed.

Common mistakes that kill easy houseplants

Sign	Likely cause	Fix
Yellow leaves, leaf drop, soggy soil	Too much water	Let the soil dry. Check for a drainage hole. Water less in winter.
Mushy, dark stems or roots	Root rot	Cut off soft roots and repot in fresh, dry mix.
Wilting, gray-green leaves, dry soil	Too little water	Water deeply until it drains.
Brown, crispy leaf tips	Salts, fluoride, or dry air	Flush the soil. Try rain or distilled water.
Long, weak stems and small leaves	Not enough light	Move closer to a window or add a grow light.
Bleached or scorched patches	Too much direct sun	Move back from the glass or behind a sheer curtain.
Faded variegation	Low light	Give variegated types brighter, indirect light.

The wet and dry signs above come from the University of Maryland Extension. Overwatering is the top killer of the plants on this list. NC State names it as the main risk for snake plant, ZZ plant, pothos, peperomia, jade, and aloe.

Winter care in cold climates (zones 3 to 6)

Here in the North Okanagan of BC, winter days are short and the furnace runs for months. Houseplants slow down, and that changes their care. These tips apply anywhere in zones 3 to 6.

• Water less. Snake plant may need water only every one to two months in winter, and ZZ plant about once a month.
• Move plants closer to windows. Winter light is weaker, so a medium light plant may need a sunnier spot until spring.
• Keep leaves off cold glass. Chinese evergreen and peace lily dislike cold. Spider plant needs at least 45°F (7°C).
• Keep plants away from heat vents. Hot, dry air dries soil fast and browns leaf tips.
• Raise humidity for fussy plants. Set prayer plant and Boston fern on a tray of wet pebbles.
• Pick dry-air plants. Ponytail palm, snake plant, and ZZ plant handle heated air better than ferns.

Do easy houseplants clean the air?

Not in a way you would notice. A 1989 NASA chamber test started the idea that houseplants purify air. A 2019 Drexel University review of 30 years of studies found that normal air exchange in a home removes pollutants far faster than plants do. The authors estimated it would take 100 to 1,000 plants per square meter of floor to match a building’s ventilation. Grow houseplants because you like them, not as air purifiers.

Easy houseplants FAQ

What is the easiest houseplant to keep alive?

ZZ plant and snake plant are the easiest. Both store water, grow in low light, and need water only when the soil is fully dry. For a home with pets, cast iron plant is the easiest non-toxic choice.

What houseplant is hardest to kill in low light?

Cast iron plant and ZZ plant. Cast iron plant grows in deep shade, and ZZ plant can live under office fluorescent lights. Both still need some light, so keep them within about 10 feet of a window.

Which easy houseplants are safe for cats and dogs?

Cast iron plant, parlor palm, spider plant, baby rubber plant, prayer plant, zebra haworthia, ponytail palm, and Boston fern are all non-toxic to dogs and cats on the ASPCA list.

Is a snake plant safe for cats?

No. The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats. It contains saponins, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How often should I water easy houseplants?

Water when the soil is dry about 2 inches down, not on a set schedule. Succulents, snake plant, and ZZ plant can go longer, until the soil is dry all the way through. All plants need less water in winter.

Can easy houseplants live in a room with no windows?

Only with artificial light. The University of Missouri Extension notes that a few low light plants can get by on as little as 10 foot-candles under artificial light. ZZ plant, snake plant, pothos, and cast iron plant are the best tries.

Why are the leaf tips on my easy houseplant turning brown?

Brown tips usually come from salt buildup, fluoride or chlorine in tap water, or dry air. Spider plant and peace lily are prone to it. Flush the pot with plain water and try rainwater or distilled water.

Are succulents good houseplants for beginners?

Yes, if you have a sunny window. Without bright light, succulents stretch and rot. For a dimmer home, pick ZZ plant or snake plant instead. Of the succulents on this list, zebra haworthia copes best with less light.

Where to start

Pick one plant that matches your light and your pets. A ZZ plant or snake plant suits a dim room with no pets. A cast iron plant or parlor palm suits a home with cats or dogs. A spider plant suits a room with medium light. Pot it with a drainage hole, check the soil with your finger before you water, and water less in winter. Once that plant is growing, add a second. If you want more tropical options, see our list of easy tropical plants.