These 10 Houseplants Are the Easiest to Grow—We Promise

Snake Plant

• Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
• Sun exposure: Low to bright, indirect light
• Soil type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
• Soil pH: 4.5–7.0

The Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), also commonly known as Mother-In-Law's Tongue, is one of the easiest plants to care for. It's popular for being tolerable of low light, but can actually thrive in higher light conditions such as bright, indirect sunlight. Basically, it can be happy in most places. Snake plants are used to drought-like conditions, so they need very little water to survive.

Ponytail Palm

• Botanical name: Beaucarnea recurvata
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
• Soil pH: 6.5-7.5

Ponytail palms (Beaucarnea recurvata) actually aren't palm trees at all, and they require care similar to a succulent or cactus, making them relatively easy to care for. The wild green leaves that shoot out from the top of this plant earn it its "ponytail" name.

Ponytail palms thrive in bright, indirect light, and can even be happy outside in warmer months. Like the snake plant, let the soil dry out completely in between waterings.

English Ivy

• Botanical name: Hedera helix
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil type: Standard potting soil
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.8

English Ivy (Hedera helix) is the wallcover you've likely seen rampant on the sides of buildings. It easily grows in the wild, and can also easily grow as a beautiful, trailing houseplant in your home.

Although it can tolerate a variety of light positions, it will be happiest in bright, indirect light. Let it dry out completely in between waterings, but your ivy might also enjoy a daily mist.

Aloe Vera

• Botanical name: Aloe barbadensis miller
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light or some daily direct sun
• Soil type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
• Soil pH: 7.0–8.5

Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) is not only an easy addition to your plant collection, but it's a useful one as well. It thrives in bright, indirect light, and even direct sun. Let the soil completely dry out in between waterings.

Kentia Palm

• Botanical name: Howea forsteriana
• Sun exposure: Low light
• Soil type: Well-draining potting soil
• Soil pH: 6.1–6.5

By its tall and luscious appearance, you'd never be able to tell that the Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) is low-maintenance. This palm can thrive in low light and drought-like conditions, but don't let it completely dry out in between waterings—just check that the top inch of soil is dry before giving it a drink.

Dracaena Plant

• Botanical name: Dracaena
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil type: Well-draining potting mix
• Soil pH: 6.0-6.5

Dracaena plants, also sometimes labeled Corn Plants, provide an exotic look to your space while remaining easy to care for. There are a few popular varieties of this plant, but all of them are super low-maintenance.

Dracaena prefer bright, indirect light and like to dry out completely in between waterings, and they will also appreciate a daily mist.

Cacti

• Botanical name: Cactaceae
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light to full sun
• Soil type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
• Soil pH: 5.0-6.5

Cacti are so notoriously easy to care for, it's impossible to pick which one is the easiest—so just go with the one that pleases your aesthetic. They like bright, indirect light to direct sun and prefer to dry out completely in between waterings.

Haworthia

• Botanical name: Haworthia attenuata
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light to direct sun
• Soil type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
• Soil pH: 6.6-7.5

Haworthia (Haworthia attenuata) is an adorable succulent with spiky leaves boasting pearly warts that look like small white polka dots. Like many succulents, it likes bright, indirect light and prefers to dry out completely between waterings.

Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree

• Botanical name: Schefflera arboricola
• Sun exposure: Bright, indirect light
• Soil type: Standard potting mix
• Soil pH: 6.0-6.5

The Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai tree (Schefflera arboricola) is not as popular as the low-maintenance Snake Plant, but it's also very easy to care for and can offer an interesting look to your current plant collection.

While it can tolerate low light, your Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai tree will be happiest in bright, indirect light and prefers to have moist soil, so keep up with regular waterings.

ZZ Plant

• Botanical name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
• Sun exposure: Low light to partial, indirect sunlight
• Soil type: Standard potting mix
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

And, finally, the notoriously easygoing ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). This plant is virtually indestructible. It can thrive in a variety of light conditions, including low-light apartments.

ZZ Plants can store water for months, so they are able to completely dry out in between waterings and take care of themselves if you forget about them for a few weeks. However, hopefully, you don't completely forget about them. They are certainly eye-catching and do need some water to live.