8 Best Indoor Plants for Apartments

Adding plants to your apartment can make the space feel more inviting, but not every apartment offers the same growing conditions. The best plants for apartments are those suited to the room and natural light you have available. Whether you’re short on square footage, sunlight, or a little of both, there are plenty of plants that can work with what you have.

Choosing the Right Plant for Your Apartment

Choosing a plant that matches your apartment can make it easier to keep it healthy. Some varieties are better suited to tight spaces, while others tolerate lower-light conditions. A few can handle both.

Plant	Best For	Small Spaces	Low Light
Snake Plant	Upright growth with a narrow footprint	✓	✓
Pothos	Shelves and hanging planters	✓	✓
Baby Rubber Plant	Desks, shelves, and tabletops	✓	—
Compact Succulents	Sunny windowsills and small surfaces	✓	—
ZZ Plant	Easy-care and slow growth	—	✓
Cast Iron Plant	Especially low-light areas	—	✓
Chinese Evergreen	Colorful and patterned foliage	—	✓
Parlor Palm	Tropical texture and height	—	✓

Best Plants for Small Apartments

When space is limited, look for plants that make the most of the room you have. Smaller varieties and plants with vertical or trailing growth habits can add plenty of greenery without requiring much floor or tabletop space.

Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

A snake plant in a tall gray planter in a bright apartment interior — Ecopots Rotterdam Tall Square Planters

Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, the snake plant is known for its sharp, upright leaves and dark green markings. Its vertical growth and narrow footprint make it a natural fit for small apartments where floor space is at a premium. As an added benefit, snake plants handle everything from lower light to bright, indirect light. They also prefer the soil to dry out between waterings, making them fairly forgiving if you occasionally forget.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos plant trailing over the side of a silver bowl planter on a wooden coffee table — American Essence Helena Hanging Bowl Planter

Pothos plants are low-maintenance houseplants with trailing vines that can drape from hanging planters, cascade from shelves, or climb a trellis. Their trailing habit lets you add greenery without giving up valuable floor or tabletop room. Pothos also perform well in lower light, making them especially useful when both square footage and sunlight are in short supply. Let the top few inches of soil dry before watering to help prevent root rot.

Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

A close-up of a baby rubber plant with thick, glossy green leaves

With its tidy form and thick, glossy leaves, the baby rubber plant fits easily into apartments where every inch counts. Its manageable size works well on a desk, shelf, side table, or other tabletop spot. Baby rubber plants prefer bright, indirect light and moderate watering, with time for the soil to dry slightly in between.

Compact Succulents

A mixed succulent arrangement in a low black bowl planter on a coffee table — Crescent Garden Delano Oval Bowl Planter

Succulents, such as echeveria, offer plenty of visual interest in a petite package. Their small size makes them easy to tuck onto a windowsill, narrow shelf, small table, or other spot where a larger houseplant wouldn’t fit. Most succulents need strong natural light and infrequent watering, so a sunny apartment window is an ideal location.

Best Plants for Low-Light Apartments

Choosing houseplants can be more challenging in apartments with few windows or darker rooms. Fortunately, some plants are more adaptable than others. Keep in mind that low light doesn’t mean no light, as all plants need some light to grow.

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

A ZZ plant in a tall black column planter beside a bed in a modern apartment — Jay Scotts Fiberglass Column Planter

With its glossy, dark green leaves and upright growth, the ZZ plant makes a striking addition without demanding ideal growing conditions. It handles lower light well and grows slowly, making it a practical option for areas where other houseplants may struggle. ZZ plants are also relatively low maintenance and need less frequent watering than many common houseplants.

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

A close-up of broad green cast iron plant leaves

True to its name, the cast iron plant is a tough, adaptable houseplant that can handle a variety of indoor environments. Its deep green leaves hold up well in darker areas, and its hardiness makes it a good option for less-than-ideal growing conditions. Water when the soil has dried somewhat rather than keeping it constantly moist.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema spp.)

Chinese evergreen plants in a rectangular rose gold planter on a countertop — American Essence Mesa Rectangle Planter

Chinese evergreens are known for their attractive foliage, which comes in a variety of colors and patterns ranging from shades of green and silver to pink and red. While many low-light plants are prized primarily for their deep green foliage, Chinese evergreens offer a more decorative alternative for darker rooms. Allow the soil to partially dry between waterings to keep plants healthy.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

With its slender stems and feathery green fronds, the parlor palm brings tropical texture and height to indoor spaces. Unlike many palms that require abundant light, it can handle shadier indoor conditions while still providing the lush look of a larger tropical plant. Parlor palms prefer evenly moist soil but should not be left sitting in water.

A smaller apartment or a room with limited natural light doesn’t mean you have to give up on houseplants. With so many varieties that stay compact, grow vertically, trail, or tolerate lower light, you can find options that fit nearly any apartment.