Royal Horticultural Society on 'hard to kill' houseplants
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House plants add more beauty and comfort to the way you live thanks to their lush green foliage and flowers. Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, living rooms – there isn’t one area of the house that a house plant wouldn’t suit. But while, yes, they look amazing, some can be hard to take care of and many first-time house plant owners find their baby has whittled and died before they know it. House plants are living things, which is hard for us to remember sometimes, but that means they need proper maintenance and care. Luckily though, there are lots out there which are virtually impossible to kill, and this might be more up your street – here they are.
Peace lily
If you’re prone to over-watering, then the peace lily is for you.
Known as ‘Spathiphyllum’ in the botanical world, peace lilies can even produce stunning, white flowers throughout the year as long as they get enough light.
Calathea
A Calathea, also known as a prayer plant thanks to the way the leaves turn inwards at night, makes a stunning addition to any home space.
These plants produce enough foliage to outshine any bouquet of flowers, and they are really easy to maintain.
Rubber plant
The rubber plant gets its name from the shiny, thick leaves it produces and in their native Asia, can grow over 100 feet tall.
All the rubber plant needs is sunlight, but try and keep it in a more shaded spot, and just water as soon as the soil has dried – simple.
Philodendron
Philodendrons are a beauty to behold, and their name literally comes from the Greek words ‘philo’, meaning love, and ‘dendron’, meaning tree.
Most kinds of philodendron can withstand dark spots as well as infrequent watering, so if you’re someone who forgets to take care of the greens around the house, this one’s for you.
Snake plant
A snake plant is probably the most resilient of all the house plants, and still looks good, making it a home decor winner.
One of many from the sansevierias family, snake plants can go up to one month without water.
Pothos
Another resilient plant, pothos is a beautiful, trailing plant that looks good on top of shelves or other high spots.
With the nickname ‘Devil’s ivy’, this plant has earned a reputation for its ability to withstand pitch black conditions as well as under and over-watering.
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Aglaonema
If you’ve been known to over-water, the Chinese evergreen is the plant for you.
This plant can withstand excess levels of water, and as an added bonus, comes in a wide variety of colours, including green, pink, white and red.
Asparagus fern
This type of fern tolerates a lot more abuse than other ferns can, thanks to the fact it’s actually, technically not a fern.
Asparagus Setaceus, as its known to Botany lovers, adapts to both bright spots and dark corners, and as long as you keep the soil moist, this plant will give you everything you wanted out of foliage.
Aloe Vera
Aloe prefers to be in indirect sunlight, making it the perfect partner for your desk or bedside table.
For optimal growth, water it a little bit once every week or so.
Dragon Tree
A Dragon Tree can add that tropical touch you’ve been longing for in your space.
This tree doesn’t like a lot of light or water, so it can be kept away from the windowsill.
But if you’re a pet owner, this one may not be for you as it’s toxic to both dogs and cats, so keep them far away.
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