If you’ve ever walked into a room full of big leaves, trailing vines, and glossy green everything and thought “I want my home to feel like this” – you’re thinking about tropical plants. These are species native to warm, humid regions close to the equator, where light filters through a canopy and the temperature barely changes from season to season. The good news is that many of them adapt surprisingly well to life indoors, because a heated apartment with indirect light is actually not so different from life under a forest canopy.
Here are 12 of the best tropical plants for indoors, from low-light survivors to dramatic statement pieces. If you’re still narrowing down what works in your space, it also helps to compare them with our guides to easy houseplants for beginners, low light indoor plants, and cat-safe indoor plants.
1. Monstera Deliciosa
The one with the big split leaves that seems to be on every plant account everywhere. Monstera earns the attention. She grows fast, makes a real statement in a corner, and is genuinely forgiving for beginners. Give her bright indirect light and let the soil dry out halfway between waterings. New leaves unfurl every few weeks – it never gets old. If you want a full care routine, start with our Monstera deliciosa care guide.
Light: Bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
2. Golden Pothos
If you want a plant that will survive almost anything, start here. Pothos trails beautifully from shelves, tolerates low light, and keeps going even when you forget about it for two weeks. The golden-yellow variegation on the leaves brightens up dark corners in a way few plants can. She’s also one of the best plants to propagate in water – just snip a stem below a node and put it in a glass. Our golden pothos care guide goes deeper on watering, propagation, and troubleshooting.
Light: Low to bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
3. Peace Lily
Peace lily is one of the rare tropical houseplants that genuinely thrives in low light, which makes her invaluable in north-facing rooms or office spaces. She’ll tell you when she needs water by drooping slightly – then perk back up within an hour of a good drink. The white flowers are a nice bonus, but honestly the deep green foliage alone is worth it. If low-light plants are your thing, pair this with our roundup of the best low light indoor plants.
Light: Low to medium indirect | Pet-safe: No
4. Heartleaf Philodendron
One of the most cheerful plants to grow indoors. The heartleaf philodendron has velvety, heart-shaped leaves on long trailing stems, and she grows quickly enough that you’ll notice the difference week to week. She’s happy in lower light conditions, doesn’t need much humidity, and very rarely has problems. A good plant to grow confidence with before moving on to more demanding species. For the full breakdown, see our heartleaf philodendron care guide.
Light: Low to bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
5. Bird of Paradise
This one is a statement plant. The broad, paddle-shaped leaves and upright form of the bird of paradise make it feel like you’ve brought a corner of a botanical garden inside. She needs bright light to do well – ideally right next to a sunny window – and she grows slowly, so be patient. Water thoroughly, let her dry out a bit between waterings, and she’ll reward you with leaves that can reach a meter long indoors. We cover placement and watering in more detail in our bird of paradise plant care guide.
Light: Bright indirect to some direct | Pet-safe: No
6. Snake Plant
Snake plant might be the most resilient tropical plant you can own. She stores water in her thick leaves, tolerates neglect, handles low light, and keeps her upright, architectural form no matter what. If you travel often or simply forget to water, she’s a reliable constant. The variegated yellow-edged varieties add a bit of warmth to a room without needing much from you in return. If you’re deciding between easy-care options, compare this with our snake plant care guide and easy houseplants for beginners.
Light: Low to bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
7. Anthurium
The lacquered red spathes of anthurium look almost artificial, which is part of their charm. She blooms for months at a time and then rests before cycling again. Anthuriums like bright indirect light, consistent warmth, and a bit more humidity than most indoor plants – a pebble tray or a spot near the kitchen works well. Not the most forgiving plant, but not especially difficult either.
Light: Bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
8. Calathea
Calathea is for people who find plants genuinely interesting rather than just decorative. The leaves fold upward at night and open in the morning – a movement called nyctinasty that you’ll notice once you start paying attention. The patterns on her leaves are unlike anything else: stripes, feathering, deep purple undersides. She needs consistent moisture, no direct sun, and appreciates humidity. Rewarding when you get her conditions right. If you want the care details before buying one, read our calathea care guide.
Light: Low to medium indirect | Pet-safe: Yes
9. Bird’s Nest Fern
If you have a low-light bathroom or a kitchen with a window that doesn’t get much sun, bird’s nest fern is one of the best choices available. The wide, rippled fronds grow outward from a central rosette in a way that feels genuinely lush. She likes humidity and consistency – keep her evenly moist, avoid getting water in the crown, and she’ll stay full and healthy for years.
Light: Low to medium indirect | Pet-safe: Yes
10. Alocasia
Alocasia has some of the most dramatic foliage in the houseplant world – arrowhead leaves with raised veining that seems almost sculpted. She likes bright indirect light, good drainage, and warmth. She also goes dormant in winter, which can look alarming the first time it happens. A leaf or two dying back when the light drops in autumn is normal. She’ll come back in spring.
Light: Bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
11. ZZ Plant
The ZZ plant grows from underground rhizomes that store water and energy, which is why she handles drought and low light so well. Her deep green, waxy leaves stay glossy without any special care. She’s one of the slowest-growing plants on this list, but also one of the most forgiving. If you want something tropical-looking that genuinely requires very little, ZZ is a strong choice. It also belongs on our list of easy houseplants for beginners.
Light: Low to bright indirect | Pet-safe: No
12. Bromeliad
Bromeliads are a different kind of tropical plant – they absorb water and nutrients through a central cup formed by their leaves rather than through the soil. Fill that cup with water, let it dry out, refill it. They bloom once in their lifetime, but the flower lasts for months, and they produce offsets (pups) that you can separate and grow on. If you want color without much effort, few plants deliver it as reliably.
Light: Bright indirect | Pet-safe: Yes
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
Most tropical houseplants share a few common needs: they don’t like cold drafts, they appreciate humidity above what a typical dry apartment provides in winter, and they’re generally more likely to be killed by overwatering than underwatering. If a plant on this list is struggling, the watering schedule is usually the first thing worth checking.
Start with one or two that match your light conditions and your honest assessment of how attentive you are. The collection tends to grow on its own from there. If you also want pet-friendly options, our cat-safe indoor plants guide is a useful next stop.