1
Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)
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While most popular during the holiday season as a Christmas tree alternative, the Norfolk Island Pine looks gorgeous year round with its thin, needle-like leaves. This cone-bearing tree is actually a tropical plant that originates from Norfolk Island (hence the name), so it prefers temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees and can thrive in high humidity, according to The Sill. The indoor tree thrives in medium to bright, indirect light, but appreciates a few hours of direct sun.
- Height: 3-8 feet
- Water: Every 1-2 weeks
- Light: Medium to bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 65º – 85ºF
2
Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Bloomscape
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Add a tropical touch to any space with this small palm plant, originating from rainforests in Mexico and Guatemala. The feathery, green fronds love bright, indirect light, but the delicate leaves may burn in direct sunlight. Since overwatering can lead to root rot, it’s best to water a cat palm only once the top inch or so of soil has dried completely, according to Planet Natural. As the name may suggest, this clustering palm is non-toxic to cats (and other pets).
- Height: 4-6 feet
- Water: Every 1-2 weeks
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 70º – 80ºF
3
Mass Cane (Dracaena massangeana)
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Originally from Africa, this lush houseplant is known for its stalky stems and long, light green leaves. While it prefers bright, indirect light, it can tolerate low light, making it a versatile choice for indoors. The low-maintenance houseplant will be content with watering once per week or when soil is a little damp or slightly dry, according to Dengarden.
- Height: 4-6 feet
- Water: Every 1-2 weeks
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 65º – 90ºF
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4
Lemon Tree (Citrus limon)
Terrain
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The easiest lemon tree to grow indoors is a Dwarf Improved Meyer, which is technically a cross between a lemon and mandarin orange tree. Depending on the season, the tree will produce beautiful white blooms or sweet, tangy lemons. An indoor lemon tree will do best with 8 to 12 hours of direct light from a south or southwest facing window, according to Terrain. Let your lemon tree dry completely between waterings, and feel free to mist it occasionally.
- Height: 3-4 feet
- Water: Every 1-2 weeks
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 50º – 80ºF
5
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia)
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Native to South Africa, this tropical houseplant is popular for its large leaves and exotic flowers that range in color from creamy white to bright orange. The Bird of Paradise, similar in appearance to a banana tree, can grow upwards of six feet tall indoors, so ensure you’ve got plenty of space for its leaves to sprawl out. The tropical plant thrives in bright, indirect light and should be watered once the soil has completely dried.
- Height: 3-6 feet
- Water: Every 1-2 weeks
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 65º – 80ºF
RELATED: How to Grow Stunning Bird-of-Paradise Plants That Bloom Year After Year
6
Money Tree (Pachira aquaticas)
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Pachira thrives in more swamp-like situations similar to its original home in the South American wetlands. It can tolerate overwatering if there’s good drainage and it appreciates bright, indirect light. You’ll typically find it sold with a braided trunk under the name “money tree” due to its fortuitous associations in East Asia.•
- Height: Up to 6-8 feet, indoors
- Water: 1-2 times per week
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 60º – 85 ºF
RELATED: How to Care for a Money Tree to Garner Good Luck
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7
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
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This tall and hardy beauty comes in many varieties, from tricolor and variegated leaves to almost black ones. Put yours in a spot with bright, indirect light and water it about once a week without water-logging, advises The Little Book of House Plants and Other Greenery.
• Height: Up to 2-10 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 65º – 85ºF
8
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
Fast Growing Trees
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Also known as the bamboo palm, the areca palm is an eye-catching home addition for its feathery and arching fronds that feature more than 100 leaflets on each one. Keeping them in humid environments and by a sunny window will help them grow. Gardening Know How recommends fertilizing them in the spring and using a micronutrient spray in the summer.
• Height: Up to 6-7 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly
• Light: Full sun or bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 65º – 70ºF
9
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
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This uber-trendy plant keeps popping up in design magazines and chicly styled Instagram shots, thanks to its wide, textured leaves. Young plants feature dense foliage that spreads out as they age and grow more “tree-like.” Give it bright, indirect light — near an east-facing window is perfect. Water once the top inch of soil is dry, drench until water comes out the bottom of the pot and then let it dry out again.
• Height: Up to 6-10 feet, indoors
• Water: 2-3 times a week
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 60º – 80ºF
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10
Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)
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Large, lush leaves sprout out of this fast-growing plant, which can reach 5 feet tall or more when content. It’s easy to propagate too: Just lop off a thick stem, leave in water until roots appear and then replant in a new pot.
- Height: Up to 3-5 feet, indoors
- Water: Biweekly
- Light: Bright and indirect light
- Temperature: 65º- 70ºF
11
Calamondin Orange Tree (Citrus mitis)
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While many dwarf fruit trees do well outdoors in pots, this particular variety can survive inside all year long. Calamondin orange trees produce tiny, very sour fruits, and even better, fragrant white flowers that will make your room smell amazing.
• Height: Up to 3-6 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly
• Light: Bright, direct and indirect light
• Temperature: 55º – 70ºF
RELATED: Fruit Trees You Can Grow Right on Your Porch
12
Mini Olive Tree (Arbequina)
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If you value a multipurpose plant, why not invest in one that will actually bear fruit? The self-pollinating olive tree will begin to produce olives and small white flower clusters once it reaches two to four years old. It should be kept in a sunny location and watered frequently.
- Height: Up to 8 feet tall, indoors
- Water: Twice a week
- Light: Direct
- Temperature: 45ºF and above
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13
Ginseng Ficus (Ficus microcarpa)
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This plant’s unique thick trunk will make a beautiful statement in your home. The tree usually stays small indoors and loves sunlight, but bright and indirect light is best. The thick leaves store water, so if you accidentally miss a watering, your plant should still be in good shape.
- Height: Up to 40 inches, indoors
- Water: Every 3-4 days
- Light: Bright, indirect light
- Temperature: 60º – 75ºF
14
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
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With their glossy and long hand-shaped leaves, these evergreen palms need indirect light to grow. They can withstand deep shade and low humidity, along with the cool winter air, making them good picks to keep near the door, according to North Carolina Extension Gardener.
• Height: Up to 6 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 60º – 80ºF
15
Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola)
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This plant can grow up to 8 feet tall inside if you give it sufficient light — too little and the stems can look leggy and sparse. It’s better to be on the side of under-watering versus overwatering, which can cause leaf loss and root rot.
• Height: Up to 3-8 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 60ºF and above
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16
Banana Tree (Musa spp.)
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The large leaves of the banana tree can give any room a tropical feel. According to Houseplant Central, it’s easy to care for a Dwarf Cavendish banana, one of the Musa banana plants, indoors. Keep them in a warm, humid environment where they’ll grow in bright or indirect sunlight. While beautiful, the leaves are prone to damage and tears, so place your tree where they’re less likely to be touched.
- Height: Up to 6-10 feet, indoors
- Water: 2-3 times a week
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 75º – 95ºF
17
Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Bloom Scape
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The dragon tree is known for its spiked, sword-shaped leaves. This species is great for beginners due to its ability to withstand a wide range of light exposures and temperatures. Plus, it’s drought-resistant so it’ll forgive you if you forget to water it once or twice. Keep in mind that this tree has a vast root system, so potting in a large vessel would be best.
• Height: Up to 6 feet tall, indoors
• Water: Weekly to biweekly
• Light: Low, bright direct to medium, indirect light
• Temperature: 65º – 80ºF
18
Jade Plant (Crassula argentea)
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It starts small, but over time, this succulent develops thick, woody stems and grows into a 3-foot-tall (or more) miniature tree. Plant in a well-draining mix, and aim for warm, dry conditions. Moist but not wet soil is the goal — shriveled or brown leaves signal you’re under-doing it on the H2O, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
• Height: Up to 3-6 feet, indoors
• Water: Every 2-3 weeks
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Temperature: 65º- 75ºF
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19
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
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If you need to breathe a little life into a dark dining room, here’s your solution. Tried-and-true parlor palms can withstand sporadic watering and low-light conditions, including near north-facing windows. Bonus: They’re pet-friendly, the ASPCA confirms.
• Height: Up to 2-6 feet, indoors
• Water: Weekly or biweekly
• Light: Low and filtered light
• Temperature: 65º-80ºF
20
Yucca (Yucca elephantipes)
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With spiky, structural foliage, this desert native thrives on as much sunlight as possible. Forgetful waterers will rejoice too: It’s extremely drought-tolerant and needs only infrequent dousing.
- Height: Up to 10 feet, indoors
- Water: Every 7-10 days
- Light: Bright, direct and indirect light
- Temperature: 30ºF and above
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women’s Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master’s degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She’s also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/g26477167/best-indoor-trees/
