The houseplant difficulty index
All 308 houseplants we cover, ranked from nearly unkillable to full diva. No invented star ratings: each plant is scored by the language of its own care guide - how often the profile reassures ("tolerates neglect", "hard to kill") versus warns ("fussy", "won't tolerate") - written long before this index existed. Method disclosed in full below.
Homalomena (Queen of Hearts)most forgiving (22 ease signals, 0 warnings)
Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant)biggest diva (10 warnings vs 1)
308houseplants scored
🛡️ Nearly unkillable (19)
Ease language everywhere, warnings almost nowhere. Forget one for a fortnight and it forgives you.
Homalomena (Queen of Hearts) +22 Yucca (Yucca elephantipes) +22 Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata) +21 Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) +20 Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) +20 Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) +19 Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) +19 Philodendron Brasil (Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil') +19 Dracaena (Dracaena marginata, fragrans & more) +18 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) +18 Philodendron Micans (Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum) +17 ZZ Raven (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven') +17 Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) +16 Holly Fern +16 Pothos (Epipremnum aureum / Devil's Ivy) +16 Clusia (Autograph Tree) +15 Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) +15 Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) +15 Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) +15
😌 Easy going (62)
Solidly forgiving - a sensible first shelf.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) +14 Gasteria (Ox Tongue) +14 Gymnocalycium (Chin Cactus) +14 Korean Rock Fern +14 Peperomia +14 Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum) +13 Gynura (Purple Passion Plant) +13 Autumn Fern +13 Cretan Brake Fern +13 Ghost Plant +13 Haworthia (Zebra Plant & Window Plants) +13 Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) +13 Portulacaria Afra (Dwarf Jade / Elephant Bush) +13 Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) +13 Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) +13 Tradescantia (Inch Plant / Wandering Dude) +13 ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) +13 Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) +12 Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus) +12 Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) +12 Ice Plant +12 Jelly Bean Plant +12 Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) +12 Parodia (Ball Cactus) +12 String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) +12 Tiger Jaws +12 Aloe Vera +11 Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) +11 Fishbone Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) +11 Hoya (Wax Plant) +11 String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata) +11 Tillandsia Aeranthos +11 String of Bananas (Curio radicans) +10 Baby Rubber Plant Peperomia +10 Euphorbia Trigona (African Milk Tree) +10 Kangaroo Paw Fern +10 Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) +10 Bunny Ears Cactus +10 Crassula Perforata (String of Buttons) +10 Button Fern +9 Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) +9 Old Lady Cactus +9 Philodendron Moonlight +9 Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) +9 Foxtail Fern +9 Gollum Jade +9 Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) +9 Monstera Siltepecana (Silver Monstera) +9 Moonstones +9 Oxalis (False Shamrock / Purple Shamrock) +9 Pincushion Cactus +9 Rebutia (Crown Cactus) +9 Silver Torch Cactus +9 Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis) +8 Philodendron Birkin +8 Ripple Peperomia +8 Wax Begonia +8 Bear's Paw +8 Beefsteak Begonia +8 Echeveria +8 Ladyfinger Cactus +8 Watch Chain Plant (Crassula muscosa) +8
🙂 Middle of the road (91)
Fine once you know its one or two preferences.
Peperomia Hope +7 Bromeliad (Guzmania, Aechmea, Neoregelia & more) +7 Ludisia discolor (Jewel Orchid) +7 Raindrop Peperomia +7 Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) +7 Agave +7 Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum) +7 Clivia (Clivia miniata - Bush Lily) +7 Echinopsis (Sea-Urchin Cactus) +7 Epidendrum (Reed-Stem Orchid) +7 Fairy Castle Cactus +7 Golden Barrel Cactus +7 Lemon Button Fern +7 Madagascar Palm +7 Panda Plant +7 Peanut Cactus +7 Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose) +7 Anthurium Superbum +6 Cholla Cactus +6 Aeonium +6 Blue Chalksticks (Curio repens) +6 Crinkle-Leaf Plant +6 Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) +6 Rat Tail Cactus +6 Rhipsalis (Mistletoe Cactus) +6 Sarracenia (American Pitcher Plant) +6 Tassel Fern (Polystichum) +6 Tillandsia Stricta +6 Tillandsia Xerographica +6 Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata) +5 Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) +5 Peperomia Ginny +5 Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) +5 Alocasia Wentii +5 Dragon Wing Begonia +5 Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant) +5 Peperomia Maculosa +5 Peperomia Rosso +5 String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus / Curio rowleyanus) +5 Anthurium Hookeri +5 Asparagus Fern +5 Brassia (Spider Orchid) +5 Claret Cup Cactus +5 Darlingtonia (Cobra Lily) +5 Feather Cactus +5 Hoya Obovata +5 Hoya Pubicalyx +5 Lifesaver Plant (Huernia zebrina) +5 Mexican Butterwort +5 Mother of Thousands +5 Philodendron Prince of Orange +5 Philodendron Squamiferum +5 Prickly Pear Cactus +5 Tillandsia Harrisii +5 Tillandsia Ionantha +5 Calathea Musaica +4 Peperomia Frost +4 Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis) +4 Alocasia Odora +4 Calico Hearts (Adromischus maculatus) +4 Cape Sundew +4 Catasetum Orchid +4 Cymbidium Orchid +4 Fishhook Barrel Cactus +4 Hoya Australis +4 Hoya Kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya) +4 Hoya Retusa +4 Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Vine) +4 Moon Cactus +4 Philodendron Silver Sword +4 Pig's Ear (Cotyledon orbiculata) +4 Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma (Mini Monstera) +4 Ruby Necklace (Othonna capensis) +4 Spathoglottis (Ground Orchid) +4 Stapelia (Starfish Flower) +4 Tillandsia Brachycaulos +4 Tillandsia Tectorum +4 Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum) +3 Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) +3 Phalaenopsis Orchid (Moth Orchid) +3 Philodendron Mccolley Finale +3 Alocasia Macrorrhiza +3 Bladderwort +3 Desert Rose +3 Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) +3 Hoya Wayetii +3 Monkey Tail Cactus +3 Old Man Cactus +3 Propeller Plant (Crassula falcata) +3 Saguaro Cactus +3 Spoonleaf Sundew +3
🧐 Wants attention (86)
Readable, but the guide starts using its careful voice.
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) +2 Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) +2 Angel Wing Begonia +2 English Ivy (Hedera helix) +2 Hatiora (Easter Cactus) +2 Split Rock (Pleiospilos nelii) +2 Blue Columnar Cactus +2 Brain Cactus +2 Cattleya Orchid +2 Dragon Fruit Cactus +2 Hoya Linearis +2 Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) +2 Paphiopedilum (Slipper Orchid) +2 Peruvian Apple Cactus +2 Philodendron Florida Ghost +2 Vanilla Orchid +2 Ctenanthe (Never Never Plant) +1 Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) +1 Anthurium Warocqueanum +1 Beetle Peperomia +1 Nerve Plant (Fittonia) +1 Dendrobium Orchid +1 Lithops (Living Stones) +1 Peperomia Columbiana +1 Philodendron Tortum +1 Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculata) +1 Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) +1 Tillandsia Caput-Medusae +1 Zygopetalum Orchid +1 Air Plant (Tillandsia) +1 Baseball Plant (Euphorbia obesa) +1 Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) +1 Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) +1 Eyelash Begonia +1 Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig) +1 Hoya Bella +1 Hoya Compacta (Hindu Rope) +1 Hoya Curtisii +1 Hoya Multiflora (Shooting Star) +1 Masdevallia Orchid +1 Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) +1 Organ Pipe Cactus +1 Philodendron White Knight +1 Silver Lace Fern +1 Turk's Cap Cactus +1 Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis) +0 Alocasia Dragon Scale +0 Alocasia Jacklyn +0 Anthurium Crystallinum +0 Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) +0 Oncidium Orchid (Dancing Lady Orchid) +0 Shrub Begonia +0 String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus) +0 African Violet (Saintpaulia / Streptocarpus) +0 Alocasia Black Velvet +0 Alocasia Sarian +0 Alocasia Sinuata +0 Alocasia Stingray +0 Anthurium Andraeanum +0 Anthurium Pedatoradiatum +0 Cephalotus (Albany Pitcher Plant) +0 Dischidia (Button Orchid / Ant Plant) +0 Hoya Lacunosa +0 Indoor Citrus (Dwarf Lemon, Lime & Calamondin) +0 Philodendron Gloriosum +0 Philodendron Pink Princess (Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess') +0 Anthurium Vittarifolium +0 Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii - Angel's Tears) +0 Baby Toes +0 Bishop's Cap Cactus +0 Byblis (Rainbow Plant) +0 Crocodile Fern +0 Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) +0 Heart Fern +0 Heliamphora (Sun Pitcher) +0 Hoya Macrophylla +0 Hoya Serpens +0 Miltoniopsis (Pansy Orchid) +0 Phragmipedium (S. American Slipper) +0 Sand Rose (Anacampseros rufescens) +0 Spiral Cactus +0 Star Cactus +0 Tillandsia Bulbosa +0 Tillandsia Fuchsii +0 Tillandsia Juncea +0 Totem Pole Cactus +0
👑 The divas (50)
More warnings than reassurance. Gorgeous - and they know it.
Calathea Medallion -1 Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum) -1 Calathea Lancifolia -1 Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) -1 Alocasia Silver Dragon -1 Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) -1 Rex Begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum) -1 Rhizomatous Begonia -1 Alocasia Frydek -1 Alocasia Maharani -1 Alocasia Polly -1 Bulbophyllum Orchid -1 Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus / Columnea) -1 Iron Cross Begonia -1 Rieger Begonia -1 Tillandsia Streptophylla -1 Tuberous Begonia -1 Vanda Orchid -1 Anthurium Forgetii -2 Anthurium Veitchii -2 Calathea Roseopicta -2 Alocasia Cuprea -2 Anthurium Clarinervium -2 Anthurium Magnificum -2 Begonia Luxurians -2 Calathea Rattlesnake -2 Calathea Zebrina -2 Painted-Leaf Begonia -2 Philodendron Verrucosum -2 Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura) -3 Aralia (Polyscias) -3 Begonia Soli-Mutata -3 Calathea White Star -3 Escargot Begonia -3 Frosty Fern (Spikemoss) -3 Peacock Begonia -3 Philodendron Melanochrysum -3 Calathea Freddie -4 Selaginella (Spikemoss / Resurrection Plant) -4 Anthurium Regale -4 Calathea Orbifolia -4 Calathea Ornata -4 Calathea Warscewiczii -4 Alocasia (Elephant Ear) -5 Calathea / Prayer Plant (Calathea & Maranta) -5 Alocasia Zebrina -5 Calathea Makoyana -5 Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) -5 Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Sanguinea 'Triostar') -6 Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant) -9
📐 Methodology, in full
Each of our 308 houseplant guides was scanned at build time, so this page recomputes whenever a guide changes. We count ease phrases - hard to kill, indestructible, unkillable, forgiving, easy (to grow or keep, not "easy to propagate"), low-maintenance, tolerates or thrives on neglect, beginner, undemanding, unfussy, fuss-free, carefree, drought-tolerant, adaptable, resilient, tough, hardy, survives, tolerates, tolerant, weeks without - and warning phrases - fussy, demanding, tricky, challenging, diva, drama queen, not for beginners, difficult, temperamental, picky, unforgiving, experienced growers, sensitive to, prone to leaf drop or sulking, punishes neglect. Negated ease ("won't tolerate", "rarely survives", "not drought-tolerant") is counted against. The "Not ideal for" line of a guide is left out, and so are the aquarium plants in our catalogue - this index is about plants on a shelf. Score = ease minus warnings; tiers are fixed score bands.
Limits, honestly: this measures how our writers talk about a plant, not a lab test; longer guides get more chances to score; and difficulty depends on your home - a "diva" beside a humidifier is easier than an "easy" plant over a radiator. Use the tiers as a shortlist, check the light with the window light guide, then read the full profile. Choosing between two? Put them in the comparison tool.
Free to cite with a link back to this page.