12 Houseplants for dry air and heated rooms
Central heating and dry winter air crisp the leaf tips of a lot of tropical houseplants - but not these. Every plant here is one whose own notes say it copes with average or dry household air, so you can skip the daily misting and still keep it looking good.
Even tough plants dislike sitting right on top of a hot radiator, where the air is driest and warmest. Give them a little clearance and they'll take dry rooms in their stride.
Asparagus Fern
The asparagus fern looks feathery and fern-like but is actually a member of the asparagus…
Autumn Fern
The autumn fern flips the fern colour script - new fronds emerge coppery-bronze and pink before…
Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum)
The Burro's Tail - Sedum morganianum, also known as the donkey's tail - is a trailing succulent…
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The Cast Iron Plant earned its name honestly: it is famous as the toughest, most indestructible…
Desert Rose
The desert rose is a spectacular caudex succulent that swells into a fat, sculptural…
Fishbone Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger)
The Fishbone Cactus - Epiphyllum anguliger - is a trailing jungle cactus grown above all for…
Foxtail Fern
The foxtail fern grows dense, upright, plume-like fronds that really do look like bushy fox…
Madagascar Palm
The Madagascar palm is not a palm at all, but a striking spiny succulent with a thick, silvery…
Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
The Sago Palm - Cycas revoluta - is one of the most striking architectural houseplants you can…
Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata)
Tall, sculptural, and almost indestructible, the Snake Plant thrives on neglect, survives in…
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
With glossy, almost artificial-looking leaves and a near-supernatural tolerance for low light…
ZZ Raven (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven')
The ZZ Raven is a dark cultivar of the classic ZZ Plant whose new leaves emerge bright…
Prefer to filter yourself? Try the Plant Finder to narrow all houseplants by light and watering.
Choosing a plant for a home with pets? Our table of plants toxic to cats and dogs shows what every profile says - and the reference behind it is the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.