30 Best Plants for Small Apartments

In this guide, we’ve rounded up 30 of the best houseplants to consider for small apartments and homes that will flourish in all sorts of tiny spots and hidden corners. From your kitchen windowsill to your at-home office desk, each surface presents an opportunity to add a touch of greenery to your space. But in a small apartment, there are common concerns about buying plants, like space and lighting requirements and toxicity to pets.

1. Snake Plants (Dracaena trifasciata)

The snake plant makes an excellent first houseplant. This tall, green, and yellow species can survive in any location in your apartment with very little maintenance. Additionally, NASA studied the snake plant in their Clean Air Study, revealing its ability to filter toxins from the air. I think they also make great companion plants for Monstera.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Grows well in low to bright indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Depending on the variety, from eight inches tall to six feet or higher.

2. Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Lucky bamboo is a great houseplant to consider if you want to explore the benefits of Feng Shui in your small apartment. This perennial herb resembles true bamboo and symbolizes luck, growth, and new beginnings. Place this compact species in your kitchen or on your desk to represent career growth and success.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light and rotation to maintain even growth
Growth Expectations:	Can grow as much as one foot per year to reach an average height of three feet.

3. String of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)

String of pearls is a beautiful succulent that grows creeping vines of spherical leaves that spill over its container. It adds a unique texture to any space, whether positioned on a surface or in a hanging basket. The plant’s minimal upkeep will make it a perfect fit for your small apartment.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight.
Growth Expectations:	The plant’s vines will grow around one foot per year.

4. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas)

The ZZ plant is another beginner favorite, with glossy foliage that stays lively even with minimal care. Additionally, the plant brings Feng Shui benefits to your home. The practice recommends placing your ZZ plant in the wealth corner of your living space to invite good fortune into your life.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Medium to low, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	It will reach its maximum height, from two to three feet tall, in three to five years. It will also spread outward around one inch per year until it reaches maturity.

5. Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Broadleaf lady palms are a great indoor floor plant to try if you want to grow a tree in your small space. The species is said to filter toxins from the air, and they are easy to grow in low-light environments.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Can grow up to 14 feet outdoors but stays a reasonable size for small spaces with pruning and maintenance.

6. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Ponytail palms are another easy tree to grow in your small apartment. These palms have thin, wispy leaves that cascade from their trunk, and stay small if kept in smaller containers.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	This is a slow-growing plant. It will reach around 15 feet tall outdoors but will stay small if kept in a small planter.

7. Aloe Vera Plants

Aloe vera plants are a popular choice among apartment owners for their minimal maintenance and healing properties. While the gel in this plant’s fleshy leaves is known to soothe the skin, the plant itself symbolizes protection and good luck in some cultures.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	The plant can reach two to three feet in height over three to four years.

8. Prayer Plants (Maranta leuconeura)

Prayer plants have striking leaves that lift up at night, as if in prayer. Given this unique quality, the prayer plant has come to represent a sense of gratitude. It makes a great apartment plant as it is tolerant of various light conditions.

General Care:	Low maintenance. Thrives in rich, moisture-retentive soil.
Light Requirements:	Prefers bright, indirect light. This is when you will see your prayer plant’s leaves lift up at night, but the species can tolerate low light conditions as well.
Growth Expectations:	The average height depends on the variety, but you can expect them to reach around one foot.

9. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are a lively, low-maintenance species that will grow well anywhere from your desk surface to a hanging planter in your living room. Their thin, green, and white striped leaves arch away from the plant, creating a unique appearance that livens up any room.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	These plants grow quickly and can reach between two to three feet in width and length.

10. Boston Ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Boston ferns are among the most popular fern varieties, boasting long fronds that add drama and texture to your small apartment space. Like the snake plant, they were also featured in NASA’s Clean Air Study and demonstrated the ability to eliminate certain toxins from the air.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Medium, indirect, and filtered light
Growth Expectations:	Fronds can reach up to four feet in length.

11. Succulent Plants

Succulents are small yet hardy houseplants, making them a great choice for a home with limited space. They come in all kinds of sizes and varieties, so you can choose a few to create an interesting aesthetic throughout your home.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Succulents do best with bright, indirect light. However, some varieties can tolerate suboptimal lighting conditions.
Growth Expectations:	Size will vary greatly depending on your succulent. They can be as small as six inches or as big as 12 feet around in certain environments.

12. Jade Plants (Crassula ovata)

Jade plants will feel right at home in your small apartment, whether perched on a bright windowsill or nestled into a hanging basket. Feng Shui recommends placing one at the entrance of your home to invite wealth into your life.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Keep in bright, indirect light until mature. From there, the plant will enjoy direct sunlight.
Growth Expectations:	It grows slowly, about two inches a year, but can reach up to six feet tall.

13. Burgundy Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

The burgundy rubber tree is a moody variety that will add drama and elegance to any room. These plants can purify the air and bring a sense of abundance into a smaller space, according to Feng Shui.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	This plant grows fast and can reach up to 40 feet outdoors and around 10 feet maximum indoors. However, it will stay smaller with pruning.

14. Pilea Peperomioides 

Your pilea peperomioides plant will add a playful air to any space with its vibrant, round green leaves. This small plant looks great placed on a bookshelf, as long as it gets enough light to thrive. We recommend turning your Pilea peperomioides regularly, so the foliage gets even exposure to sunlight. 

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	It can reach around 12 inches in height and width.

15. Monstera Adansonii 

Monstera adansonii is a fascinating plant with leaves that have holes, creating a unique, eye-catching pattern. This plant makes a great apartment dweller as it stays small with pruning. Additionally, the plant will contribute to your decor with stems that trail delicately from a countertop or shelf.

General Care:	Medium maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Monstera adansonii can grow up to eight feet tall and three feet wide indoors but will stay small with proper pruning.

16. Air Plants (Epiphytes)

Air plants bring a unique aesthetic to any small space, as you can grow them in hanging glass containers, mounted on a wall, or even inside seashells. Epiphytes are a great choice for new plant owners, as they are a low-maintenance yet rewarding plant type to grow.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs low to bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Air plants grow slowly and vary in size depending on the variety.

17. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

Bird’s nest fern is an epiphytic variety that grows in nest-like clumps. Its bright green leaves bring life to small living spaces. The plant has also proven to remove toxins from the air, making it a beneficial choice for your small apartment.

General Care:	Medium maintenance. Thrives in loose, fast-draining, and slightly acidic soil. Water sufficiently to maintain moisture in the soil. Horticultural oil can help to keep pests at bay.
Light Requirements:	Needs medium indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight.
Growth Expectations:	Typically, a slow-grower indoors. Fronds can grow two to five feet long.

18. Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

The Fiddle leaf fig is a popular statement plant that is sure to become the focal point of any room. Despite their large growth potential, they work well placed on the floor in small spaces. You can prune your fiddle leaf fig tree to maintain a manageable size.

General Care:	High maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, direct light
Growth Expectations:	This plant can grow up to 10 feet indoors but stays smaller with proper pruning.

19. Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia)

Prickly pear cactus plants bring a desert aesthetic into your home. Between their easy care needs and small indoor size, the prickly pear makes a great choice for small apartments. Just be sure to place yours in a well-lit area and avoid coming into contact with its needles.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, direct light
Growth Expectations:	This cactus will grow to around two feet high indoors.

20. Hoya Heart Cactus (Hoya kerrii)

The hoya heart cactus has sweetheart-shaped leaves that grow from trailing vines. The plant adds a charming element to indoor spaces, and its slow-growing tendency makes it a great choice for your small apartment.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs medium to bright indirect light
Growth Expectations:	These plants grow slowly indoors, but their climbing vines can reach around 13 feet in length.

21. Lavender (Lavandula)

If you’re looking for a plant to sit on your windowsill, lavender is an excellent choice. This species loves direct sunlight, takes up minimal space, and has minimal care needs. It also has a soothing scent and represents well-being in Feng Shui, making it a great option if you’re trying to achieve a peaceful and restorative environment.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, direct light
Growth Expectations:	Lavender plants can grow up to two feet tall.

22. Anthurium 

Anthurium plants have large, green leaves and beautiful red blooms that can bring a cheerful touch to small living spaces. The plant was also a part of NASA’s Clean Air Study, proving its ability to remove toxins like ammonia and formaldehyde from the air.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs medium to bright indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Anthuriums grow slowly and can reach 12 to 18 inches tall with a 9 to 12-inch spread.

23. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily is an excellent choice for small apartments, as it can thrive even in low-light environments. Their dark green foliage and upright, white blooms offer a gorgeous contrast to a home office space, and bring positive energy, according to Feng Shui.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Grows well in low to bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Peace lilies can grow to be one to four feet tall.

24. Pothos

If you love the look of vines trailing from a shelf or hanging basket, pothos plants are a great selection. They work well in small apartments, as you can position their climbing vines however you’d like to add a natural element to your decor.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Grows well in low to bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Pothos plants typically reach between six to 10 feet in vine length indoors.

25. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus aethiopicus)

The asparagus fern is similar to true ferns in its appearance and care needs, but it is actually a member of the Asparagus genus. The delicate, bushy plant grows well in pots, and its foliage will cascade nicely from a shelf or countertop.

General Care:	Medium maintenance
Light Requirements:	It needs bright indirect, filtered light, though it can tolerate some direct light.
Growth Expectations:	Asparagus ferns grow slowly, and their foliage can reach between two to six feet long.

26. Money Plant (Pachira aquatica)

The money plant is a fun tree to grow indoors with minimal maintenance requirements and an attractive braided trunk. What’s more, the plant represents good fortune in Feng Shui and is said to minimize anxiety and sleep troubles.

General Care:	Low maintenance. Ensure to use a loamy, well-draining soil mix.
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Money tree plants can grow up to 59 feet tall outdoors. However, they are easy to keep small with proper pruning and maintenance.

27. Kalanchoe

Kalanchoe plants are the perfect choice if you want to add a pop of color to your small apartment space. This plant is small, easy to care for, and comes in various cheery colors like red, orange, pink, yellow, and white. Some even produce beautiful blooms (such as the Kalanchoe pinnata).

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright, direct light
Growth Expectations:	Kalanchoe plants can reach between one and three feet in height and width.

28. Oxalis 

Oxalis plants are a small yet luxurious choice for your small apartment space. Their leaves come in a variety of colors, from bright gold to a rich shade of violet. This small plant has easy care needs and will grow well in any space with enough sunlight.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs bright indirect or direct light
Growth Expectations:	Oxalis plants can grow to be about one foot tall with a similar-sized spread.

29. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Chinese evergreen plants boast bold, beautiful foliage that grows in a range of attractive patterns and shades like silver, pink, and deep green. Caring for this plant is easy and rewarding, and it may even produce a few blooms with the right care. The key is to ensure they have a lightweight, well-draining soil mix.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs low to medium indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Chinese evergreen plants can reach between one and three feet in height and width.

30. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

The cast iron plant is a low-maintenance, beginner-friendly plant that looks beautiful on the floor or a shelf. It’s a great choice for your small space as it is a slow-grower and stays compact as it matures.

General Care:	Low maintenance
Light Requirements:	Needs low to medium indirect light
Growth Expectations:	Cast iron plants grow slowly and reach up to two feet in height and two feet in width. These plants prefer loose, well-draining soils.

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Considerations When Choosing a Plant for Your Small Apartment

The right houseplants can brighten up even the smallest apartment space. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before buying your new leafy companion. Remember these key points when choosing which plants to bring into your home.

Light Conditions 

First, you will want to consider how much light your new plant requires to thrive. Some species, like the jade plant, need a lot of sunlight, while a snake plant does well in lower light conditions.

Think about the location you want your new plant to be and how much light that spot receives throughout the day. From there, you can narrow your search to find the ideal plant for the space.

Growth Expectations 

In a small apartment, houseplant growth is a natural concern. The last thing you want is to buy a plant only to realize your space is too small for it to flourish.

For this reason, we recommend researching the average maximum size of the species you’re considering. This will help you determine if the plant is a good fit for your apartment.

Maintenance Requirements 

Another aspect to consider is the maintenance involved with your new plant. Each species has its own requirements ranging from minimal care to high maintenance needs.

If you’re new to indoor plant care, you may want to test out your green thumb on a low-maintenance houseplant. More seasoned plant owners may opt for the reward of a more challenging species.

Toxicity and Pet Friendliness

Additionally, it is important to know any toxicity characteristics when purchasing a houseplant. This is especially crucial for pet owners and families with young children.

Some houseplants are harmless, while others are considered toxic to animals or humans. A quick search will tell you if a particular species is safe for your small apartment space.

Positioning and Location Options

Next, you’ll need to consider where you want to position your new houseplant in your small apartment. You should consider the factors listed above when making this decision.

Does the location offer enough sunlight and space for your plant to grow, and is it out of reach of pets and children? Some plants also require regular rotation to ensure even light distribution across their foliage, so remember this when positioning your plant. With these considerations in mind, you’re sure to zero in on the perfect plants for your small space.

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Wrapping Up

Any space looks better when peppered with a few vibrant houseplants, and your small apartment is no exception. From purifying the air to elevating your mood, your houseplants are sure to offer immense value and make your small space feel even more like home. Keep our considerations in mind and select one or two to begin a rewarding journey as a houseplant owner.