10 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Kitchen

Adding houseplants to the kitchen freshens the space and also has practical applications. The right plant can help purify the air, add a splash of color, or even provide fresh produce year-round.

Remember that not all plants will thrive in every kitchen since each space has unique light, humidity, and temperature conditions. However, these 10 types of popular houseplants for the kitchen are a great place to start.

WARNING

Some of the following houseplants may be toxic to humans or animals and are noted below.

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• 01of 10Pothos  The Spruce / Cori SearsPothos (Epipremnum aureum) are truly some of the easiest houseplants to care for. They adapt well to a variety of different light conditions and are considered to be relatively drought-tolerant. Plus, they make excellent hanging plants so there is no need to waste valuable counter space. Pothos is toxic to animals and humans.¹²
  • Color Varieties: Green to marbled yellow foliage
  • Sun Exposure: Bright light to partial shade
  • Soil Needs: General potting mix rich in peat moss
• 02of 10Philodendron The Spruce / Alexandra ShytsmanPhilodendrons (Philodendron spp.) are another genus of low-maintenance houseplants that look great in hanging baskets. Similar to pothos, they are considered relatively drought-tolerant and can grow in bright to medium indirect light. These foliage plants come in a wide variety of shapes and colors and are notorious for being great air purifiers. It’s also toxic to humans and animals.³⁴
  • Color Varieties: Dark-green foliage; some cultivars have variegated leaves
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil Needs: Regular potting mix
• 03of 10Herbs  Westend61 / Getty ImagesGrowing herbs in the kitchen may seem like an obvious choice, because there is truly nothing better than cooking with fresh, organic, home-grown herbs year-round. As long as your kitchen has a location that receives bright, direct sunlight for the majority of the day, herbs will grow easily. Alternatively, you can also grow herbs with the help of a grow light. Easy herb varieties to grow indoors include chives, parsley, mint, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and cilantro.
  • Color Varieties: Green
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light, depending on the herb
  • Soil Needs: High-quality organic potting mix
• 04of 10Succulents  The Spruce | Cori SearsIf you have a bright sunny windowsill in your kitchen, succulents are a great option. The term ‘succulent’ describes plants that store water in various structures such as their leaves and/or stems, which makes them drought-resistant and generally low-maintenance. There are hundreds of different types of succulents that come in a variety of stunning shapes, colors, and sizes. Popular succulent species include echeveria, haworthia, aloe vera, crassula, kalanchoe, sedum, and more. Though most succulents are not toxic, note that kalanchoe and euphorbia succulents can be toxic to humans and animals.⁵
  • Color Varieties: Soft greens, pinks, purples, blues, blue-grays, deep purple, or nearly black; some show green and pink variegations; some grow reddish tips or margins
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light but it depends on the succulent
  • Soil Needs: Succulent or cacti potting mix
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• 05of 10Spider Plant  Veena Nair / Getty ImagesSpider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are among the easiest houseplants to care for. They make excellent hanging plants and when they are happy, they flower and send out offshoots prolifically. Avoid placing a spider plant in direct light as it will cause the leaves to burn.
  • Color Varieties: Green foliage, sometimes striped with white
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect sunlight
  • Soil Needs: Loose, well-draining potting mix
• 06of 10Snake Plant  The Spruce / Cori SearsSnake plants (Dracaena trifasciata, previously Sansevieria trifasciata),⁶ also commonly known as “mother-in-law’s tongue,” are among the most popular houseplants, and for good reason. They come in different colors, shapes, and sizes and are generally low-maintenance. There’s no need to take up valuable window space with these tropical plants—they do well in bright to low-light conditions. Snake plant is toxic to animals.⁷
  • Color Varieties: Deep green leaves with gray-green or golden-yellow stripes
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, warm light but avoid direct sunlight
  • Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained potting mix
• 07of 10Rubber Tree The Spruce / Cara CormackIf you are looking for a large statement plant for your kitchen, rubber trees (Ficus elastica) are a great choice. These relatives of the fiddle leaf fig are adaptable to many growing conditions and can grow into full-sized trees in their native habitat. When grown indoors, regular pruning keeps their size and shape under control. Choose from several varieties of rubber trees for colors to match your kitchen’s design. The plant is toxic to animals.⁸
  • Color Varieties: Emerald to dark green; variegated green, pink, gray, yellow, and white
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil Needs: Fast-draining potting soil, such as one with perlite and peat moss or coconut coir
• 08of 10Coffee Plant  The Spruce / Cori SearsWhether you are a coffee lover or not, the coffee plant (Coffea arabica) makes a great addition to any kitchen. While it is unlikely that you’ll be able to harvest coffee beans from an indoor plant, the glossy leaves and compact growth habit make it attractive nonetheless. Coffee plants require bright, indirect light and frequent watering to thrive. Note the coffee plant differs from the pet-toxic coffee tree (Polyscias guilfoylei).⁹
  • Color Varieties: Dark green with small white blooms and red berries
  • Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
  • Soil Needs: Peat-based potting soil, well-draining
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• 09of 10ZZ Plant The Spruce / Cori SearsIf you are looking for a low-maintenance addition to the kitchen, look no further than the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), also commonly known as the “zanzibar gem.” These stately houseplants are extremely adaptable and thrive in low-light and bright-light conditions. Plus, since they grow from rhizomes they hardly need to be watered. The plant is toxic to humans and pets.¹⁰
  • Color Varieties: Green, variegated white and yellow, dark purple-maroon foliage
  • Sun Exposure: Partial
  • Soil Needs: Standard, well-draining potting mix; add perlite or sand for better draining
• 10of 10African Violet  onepony / Getty ImagesFor those who enjoy flowers in the kitchen, African violets (Sauntpaulia ionantha) are the perfect houseplant substitute! A happy African violet will flower just about year-round and come in several beautiful colors. These compact houseplants enjoy bright, indirect light and frequent watering.
  • Color Varieties: Thousands of cultivars available; flowers may be pink, blue, purple, or white, with picotee or stippling
  • Sun Exposure: Indirect light
  • Soil Needs: Well-draining, soilless mix

FAQ

• What is the best houseplant to put in a kitchen?The best houseplants for a kitchen are those that can grow well in the type of air that’s in your space. Kitchens can be humid or dry at various times. Some succulents (aloe vera and the snake plant, for example) and herbs are ideal houseplants for the kitchen.
• Can I put plants in my kitchen?You can put plants in your kitchen but matching the right plant to your kitchen’s environment is key. For example, some plants require more light than others; consider using grow lights if your kitchen is dark.
• Is it considered good feng shui to have houseplants in the kitchen?In feng shui, plants are fine in the kitchen if the number of them is kept to a minimum. Feng shui principles explain that plants represent wood, wood feeds fire, and too many plants can “feed the fire” and create an imbalance.