10 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Kitchen (2024)

Gardening

Houseplants

Add a splash of color, purify the air, or grow fresh produce year-round

Cori Sears

Cori Sears is a writer with over a decade of experience, specializing in houseplants, gardening, and home decor. She writes about trending news, interior design, houseplants, and gardening for The Spruce. Her expertise in these areas has led her to contribute to other major publications including Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy.

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Updated on 03/02/24

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Reviewed byKathleen Miller

Kathleen Miller is a highly-regarded Master Gardener and horticulturist with over 30 years of experience in organic gardening, farming, and landscape design. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column.

Learn more about The Spruce'sReview Board

Warning

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

17 Best Houseplants for Your Bathroom

01 of 10
Pothos

Pothos (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.
- Color Varieties:Green to marbled yellow foliage
- Sun Exposure:Bright light to partial shade
- Soil Needs:General potting mix rich in peat moss
02 of 10
Philodendron

Philodendrons (Philodendronspp.) 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.
- Color Varieties:Dark-green foliage; some cultivars have variegated leaves
- Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
- Soil Needs:Regular potting mix
03 of 10
Herbs

Growing 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
04 of 10
Succulents

See Also
12 Great Houseplants for the Kitchen

If 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.
- 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
Continue to 5 of 10 below
05 of 10
Spider Plant

Spider 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
06 of 10
Snake Plant

Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata, previouslySansevieria trifasciata), 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.
- 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
07 of 10
Rubber Tree

If 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.
- 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
08 of 10
Coffee Plant

Whether 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).
- Color Varieties:Dark green with small white blooms and red berries
- Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
- Soil Needs:Peat-based potting soil, well-draining
Continue to 9 of 10 below
09 of 10
ZZ Plant

If 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.
- 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
10 of 10
African Violet

For 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.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Devil's Ivy. ASPCA.
Epipremnum Aureum.North Carolina Extension Toolbox.
Dieffenbachia and Philodendron. National Capital Poison Center.
Heartleaf Philodendron. ASPCA.
Are Succulents Poisonous and Which Ones? Missouri Poison Center.
Snake Plant (Dracaena). New York Botanical Garden.
Snake Plant. ASPCA.
Indian Rubber Plant. ASPCA.
Coffee Tree. ASPCA.
The zz plant | horticulture and home pest news. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

10 Houseplants That Will Thrive in Your Kitchen (2024)

Warning

Pothos

Philodendron

Herbs

Succulents

Spider Plant

Snake Plant

Rubber Tree

Coffee Plant

ZZ Plant

African Violet