Houseplants are a joyous addition to any home. No matter what style your home is, there's bound to be a piece of greenery that will slot right into the space.
But have you ever thought about opting for perennials that would usually live in the yard as houseplant options? There are so many that would make for the best indoor plants to pick, and by giving them the right indoor conditions to grow you'll find most options are low maintenance and reliable.
With the help of plant experts, I have curated a list of six of the best perennials you can grow as houseplants. Discover the conditions needed for optimal growth and exactly how to make them thrive in our guide.
1. Citronella
Citronella plants are a perfect perennial to add to a windowsill to inject greenery into your home. But what's even better is the plant's natural ability to repel unwanted pests.
Tamara Hogan, plant expert at Fast Growing Trees, says, 'Used for its fragrance, this plant is also a great mosquito repellent. People often place citronella on a porch during the summer to help minimize pests but the fragrance and blooms still do great indoors. I recommend cutting this plant back to promote a more bushy growth which is good for indoor plants that you could prune to be more manicured in look.'
Amazon's pack of three garden pruning shears are a good pick for the job as each pair has comfortable hand grips and different blades for precise pruning.
- Light: 8+ hours per day
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix like the back to the roots speciality blend from Amazon. Amazon's HKZ repotting mat for indoor plants may also be useful.
- Humidity: No additional humidity required
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 9-11
- Watering: Water thoroughly to ensure the roots are properly saturated but only when the top two inches of soil feel dry. It's also recommended to plant up your citronella in a pot with drainage holes, like these plant pots with drainage holes and removable bases from Walmart.
- Temperature: 60-80°F
2. Caladium
Caladiums are native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, but have found themselves today to be among the most popular indoor plants. Their heart shaped leaves are eye-catching, coming in a variety of colors
'Caladiums are a dependable leafy ornamental that come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes,' says Tamara. 'There are plenty of caladium bulb options to choose from.'
Including color combos of ivory and red, green and red, and pink and white, these 'angel wing' shaped stunners won't fail to add character to your home.
- Light: 4-8 hours per day
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix
- Humidity: Humidity levels would benefit from being supplemented with a plant humidifier. This mini humidifier from Amazon is a good choice as it's small and quiet.
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 9-12
- Watering: Deep watering with time to dry down between
- Temperature: 60-80°F
3. Lantana
Lantana are a bold flowering plant originating from the American tropics. In colder climates this plant will suffer, but in warmer zones or indoors with adequate levels of sun it can be a low-maintenance perennial, as opposed to an annual.
'This plant sings of summer, and its bright colored blooms bring that feeling indoors,' says Tamara. 'Lantana can have multiple blooms a year so to have it indoors lets you enjoy that color all year round.'
Deadheading lantana is the most effective way to ensure the continued growth of healthy blooms. You can remove shrivelled flowers carefully using your fingers or a pair of pruning shears. The latter is the best option to avoid the potential of accidentally injuring the healthy parts of your plant.
- Light: 8+ hours per day
- Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix
- Humidity: No additional humidity required
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 9-11
- Watering: Deep watering with time to dry down between. If anything, keep on the dry end.
- Temperature: 60-80°F
4. African Violets
Native to Tanzania, African violets are known for their signature deep blue or purple hue. An uncommon fact about this plant is it actually also blooms in magenta.
Paul Le Blanc, owner of Bloomist, says, 'African violets are charming and classic for a reason. Whether you're an experienced gardener or new to indoor growing, they'll definitely give you inspiration to bring the outdoors in and enjoy the joys of gardening no matter the season.'
- Light: Bright, indirect light throughout the day is the best for this plant to thrive. Be careful of windowsills with too much direct light as the heat could be too intense.
- Soil: Well-draining soil that is slightly acidic, with a resting pH between 5.8 and 6.2 for the best results. If you add in peat moss or a soil mix specifically made for African violets, you'll achieve the best results. The Hoffman Canadian sphagnum peat moss from Amazon and the Sun Gro horticulture black gold African violet pack from Amazon are good examples of what to look for.
- Humidity: Consistent humidity levels within the correct USDA plant hardiness zone is preferred, but additional humidity (on a low level) can help a struggling African violet.
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 11-12
- Watering: Water lightly when the soil is touch-dry
- Temperature: 65-80°F
5. Poinsettias
There's much more to poinsettias than their ability to brighten up a table during the holidays. In fact, with the proper care, a home can enjoy the inclusion of a poinsettia plant year-round.
'Poinsettias can actually thrive for years if they're looked after correctly but people don't know this for the most part as they often discard this plant after the holidays, treating it like an annual,' says Paul.
If your poinsettia has stopped blooming that likely doesn't mean it has died off. After winter ends poinsettias lose their vibrant petals, but they will remain alive and re-bloom next winter.
'To re-bloom, they need long nights and short days, which can be achieved by covering them for 12-14 hours each day starting in late September,' says Paul.
It's more than possible to avoid poinsettia mistakes and keep your poinsettia alive for next Christmas, which would create a lovely tradition in the home.
- Light: Bright, indirect light all day
- Soil: Well-draining soil that is slightly acidic, containing lots of organic matter, such as peat moss.
- Humidity: No additional humidity required unless you live in a climate with very little humidity. If this is the case, you can likely spritz your poinsettia's leaves with water or use a humidifier to supplement the absence of humidity in the air.
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 9-11
- Watering: Light watering, allowing the top soil to dry out between watering
- Temperature: 65-75°F
6. Kalanchoe
If you'd rather opt for a perennial succulent, kalanchoes are a choice pick with their vast range of colors and appealing clusters of flowers. Predominantly native to Madagascar and tropical Africa, these plants grow well in optimal light levels, but aren't too picky in terms of other care. A species of kalanchoe was also one of the first plants to be sent into space... an interesting, obscure fact.
'Kalanchoe care is rather low maintenance but this plant can benefit from deadheading,' says Paul. 'Deadhead any faded flowers to encourage the plant to put its energy into producing more blooms.'
- Light: Bright, indirect light all day
- Soil: Well-draining soil that isn't kept too wet. A plant moisture meter will help to keep your watering schedule on track.
- Humidity: Kalanchoe enjoy a relatively humid environment between 40-60%. You can use a hygrometer to monitor this level in your home.
- Plant Hardiness Zone(s): 10-12
- Watering: Water slowly once the top two inches of soil become dry.
- Temperature: 65-85°F
If you're looking to keep expanding your indoor garden, there are plenty of other easy indoor plants out there to help inspire your indoor gardening choices.
