Deepest, darkest winter may not be the most obvious time to buy and nurture a new houseplant (festive evergreens notwithstanding) but choose the right cold-coping varieties and you could bring a fresh feel to your home precisely when you need it the most.
At a time when millions suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a bright and cheerful bunch of green leaves can help improve mood, cut stress and help improve indoor air quality, especially useful when windows are shut firmly against the elements for weeks on end.
With limited daylight and central heating both major factors, choosing a hardy plant with the right resilience is key. Luckily, there are more options out there than you can shake a watering can at.
Whether you’re after brightening up your bathroom, want to naturally purify your bedroom space or need something that won’t wither and die in low light conditions, there’s a plant out there with your name on it.
While evergreen options naturally spring to mind, they’re not always the best idea for indoor environments. You could be vacuuming dead needles for months, or inadvertently choose one that’s hazardous to humans or pets which could spell disaster for most households. Always double-check the variety you’re eyeing up first.
For budding plant parents who like the idea of a flowering newcomer, there are a few winter-resistant varieties that will oblige with sweet petals. According to the RHS, things like Amaryllis, Jasmine, Cyclamen and Christmas cactus are all wintertime winners, showcasing pretty colours against the considerable odds.
When the garden and London’s parks are dead and you need a green fix, we’ve rounded up the winter-defying plants to invest in now and love all year round.
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Christmas Cactus Collection
It's the biggest event of winter, so we may as well lean into it with a festive flowering plant. Christmas cactus is the head-turning plant to introduce into winter interiors, creating a natural decoration with a palette that’ll chime with a festive mood board. When the weather warms, the plant may lose its blooms but will continue to flourish, offering year-round impact.
Buy now £28.95, Amazon
Evergreen Perennial & Flowering Garden Plant
Enjoy silver leaves on this evergreen now and watch tiny yellow flowers bloom come the summer. While it will do well in winter months, it does best in plenty of sunlight, so one to stick on a sunny shelf or a balcony that gets most of the natural daylight available.
Buy now £11.99, Amazon
Cyclamen Potted Plants
Inject a flurry of unexpected colour into your interiors with this six-set of Cyclamen potted plants. The hardy, tuberous perennials will showcase flowers from winter until spring, turning dormant in summer until autumn when fresh foliage will appear.
Buy now £16.99, Amazon
Patch Plants Starter Set
This is the perfect trio set to kick-start your indoor garden. Easy to look after – suitable for all light conditions and only requiring a little water every now and then – these low-maintenance plants are super chilled, pretty difficult to kill and will add some calming natural aesthetics to your home. Patch Plants provide quick facts and care instructions for each plant, regarding the water, light and humidity they like, and give them each a quirky name – a unique feature we love.
Pippa the peace lily will fill your space with its green luscious full leaves and will sprout pretty white flowers in spring. Susie snake plant’s long build will bring a stylish edge to your interiors, and Rapunzel the golden pothos will look great draped over a table or shelf with its molten quick-growing stems. Pay a little extra to have the chic pots included.
Buy now £37.00, Patch Plants
Gardener's Dream Snake Plant Sansevieria
Dark leaves framed by lighter borders, the snake plant adores dwelling in hot and humid environments, making central heated British homes in winter ideal. The variety is naturally air purifying, so perfect for keeping in houses that are close to busy roads and traffic hot spots.
The good news is that they do well in a spectrum of light brightnesses. They don’t like being overwatered though, so easy does it with the watering can - a light misting will be just fine. This plant will stand at a maximum height of 40cm, but if you’re after a taller fella, Amazon sells versions that can go up to 80cm.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Maranta Fascinator Tricolour Prayer Plant
This is one of the hardest grafters in removing carbon dioxide from your home. Also known as Calathea, the Prayer Plant nickname comes from the way that the leaves fold together at night like hands in prayer - it’s a real treat to see them unfold if you’re an early riser.
Easy to care for, the plants enjoy indirect or medium light, and regular watering making them ideal for the bathroom or kitchen, helping to elevate the space. They have beautifully patterned leaves and come in a variety of colours, from green to purple, but keep away from sunny windows as this may cause them to fade.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Patch Plants Pippa Peace Lily
For calm and tranquillity, a Peace Lily is an excellent addition to your plant collection.
The pretty plant with white flowers helps to create a serene, spa-like ambience and is easy to care for, thriving best in high moisture, low-light conditions - ideal for bathrooms without a window (well, there had to be some sort of silver lining).
Waitrose’s flowering version comes ready to place in a woven basket and is also an excellent option if you’re looking for a foolproof housewarming gift.
Buy now £10.00, Patch Plants
Crocus Buxus sempervirens
For year-round green smartness, head to Crocus where you can pick up these tightly clipped box spheres in a variety of sizes to best suit your space. The manicured looks come in pots that range from 3 - 10 litres. They’ll do best in partially shaded areas and flanking doorways for ultimate impact.
From £39.99.
Buy now £39.99, Crocus
