The houseplant difficulty index
All 341 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.
Yucca (Yucca elephantipes)most forgiving (26 ease signals, 1 warnings)
Alocasia (Elephant Ear)biggest diva (14 warnings vs 5)
341houseplants scored
🛡️ Nearly unkillable (31)
Ease language everywhere, warnings almost nowhere. Forget one for a fortnight and it forgives you.
Yucca (Yucca elephantipes) +25 Philodendron Brasil (Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil') +24 Homalomena (Queen of Hearts) +22 Clusia (Autograph Tree) +21 Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) +21 Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata) +21 Dracaena (Dracaena marginata, fragrans & more) +19 Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) +19 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) +19 Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) +18 Watermelon Peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) +18 Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) +18 Portulacaria Afra (Dwarf Jade / Elephant Bush) +18 Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks) +18 Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) +17 Philodendron Micans (Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum) +17 String of Bananas (Curio radicans) +17 Gasteria (Ox Tongue) +17 Ghost Plant +17 Holly Fern +17 Ice Plant +17 Peperomia +17 Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior) +16 Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) +16 Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus) +16 Haworthia (Zebra Plant & Window Plants) +16 ZZ Raven (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven') +15 Gynura (Purple Passion Plant) +15 String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii) +15 ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) +15 Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides) +15
😌 Easy going (70)
Solidly forgiving - a sensible first shelf.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) +14 Pothos (Epipremnum aureum / Devil's Ivy) +14 Aloe Vera +14 Crassula Perforata (String of Buttons) +14 Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) +14 Gymnocalycium (Chin Cactus) +14 Korean Rock Fern +14 Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) +14 Schefflera (Umbrella Plant) +14 Tradescantia (Inch Plant / Wandering Dude) +14 Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum) +13 Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) +13 Autumn Fern +13 Cretan Brake Fern +13 Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) +13 Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) +12 Button Fern +12 String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata) +12 Hoya (Wax Plant) +12 Jelly Bean Plant +12 Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) +12 Parodia (Ball Cactus) +12 Tiger Jaws +12 Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) +11 Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) +11 Baby Rubber Plant Peperomia +11 Fishbone Cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) +11 Foxtail Fern +11 Monstera Siltepecana (Silver Monstera) +11 Oxalis (False Shamrock / Purple Shamrock) +11 Philodendron Brasil +11 Rhipsalis (Mistletoe Cactus) +11 Tillandsia Aeranthos +11 Euphorbia Trigona (African Milk Tree) +10 Kangaroo Paw Fern +10 Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana) +10 Old Lady Cactus +10 Ripple Peperomia +10 Wax Begonia +10 Beefsteak Begonia +10 Bunny Ears Cactus +10 Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera) +10 Gollum Jade +10 Moonstones +10 Pincushion Cactus +10 Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) +9 Echeveria +9 Philodendron Moonlight +9 Raindrop Peperomia +9 String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus / Curio rowleyanus) +9 Bear's Paw +9 Claret Cup Cactus +9 Clivia (Clivia miniata - Bush Lily) +9 Golden Barrel Cactus +9 Rebutia (Crown Cactus) +9 Silver Torch Cactus +9 Ludisia discolor (Jewel Orchid) +8 Peperomia Hope +8 Bromeliad (Guzmania, Aechmea, Neoregelia & more) +8 Ladyfinger Cactus +8 Philodendron Birkin +8 Philodendron Micans +8 Anubias +8 Blue Chalksticks (Curio repens) +8 Fairy Castle Cactus +8 Flaming Katy +8 Panda Plant +8 Peanut Cactus +8 Tillandsia Tectorum +8 Watch Chain Plant (Crassula muscosa) +8
🙂 Middle of the road (100)
Fine once you know its one or two preferences.
Aeonium +7 Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum) +7 Ficus Audrey (Ficus benghalensis) +7 Nerve Plant (Fittonia) +7 Agave +7 Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata) +7 Lemon Button Fern +7 Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) +7 Dwarf Hygro +7 Echinopsis (Sea-Urchin Cactus) +7 Epidendrum (Reed-Stem Orchid) +7 Ludwigia Repens +7 Prickly Pear Cactus +7 Watermelon Peperomia +7 Peperomia Ginny +6 Dwarf Sagittaria +6 Streptocarpus (Cape Primrose) +6 Tillandsia Harrisii +6 Anacharis +6 Crinkle-Leaf Plant +6 Lifesaver Plant (Huernia zebrina) +6 Mother of Thousands +6 Philodendron Birkin +6 Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma (Mini Monstera) +6 Sarracenia (American Pitcher Plant) +6 Tassel Fern (Polystichum) +6 Tillandsia Stricta +6 Tillandsia Xerographica +6 Blue Star Fern (Phlebodium aureum) +5 Paddle Plant (Flapjacks) +5 Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) +5 Anthurium Superbum +5 Calathea Musaica +5 Dischidia (Button Orchid / Ant Plant) +5 Dragon Wing Begonia +5 Nepenthes (Tropical Pitcher Plant) +5 Peperomia Maculosa +5 Peperomia Rosso +5 Rabbit's Foot Fern (Davallia fejeensis) +5 Rat Tail Cactus +5 Vallisneria +5 Asparagus Fern +5 Brassia (Spider Orchid) +5 Calico Hearts (Adromischus maculatus) +5 Cymbidium Orchid +5 Darlingtonia (Cobra Lily) +5 Feather Cactus +5 Hoya Australis +5 Hoya Obovata +5 Hoya Retusa +5 Java Fern +5 Mexican Butterwort +5 Philodendron Prince of Orange +5 Stapelia (Starfish Flower) +5 String of Turtles Peperomia +5 Madagascar Palm +4 Alocasia Wentii +4 Cholla Cactus +4 Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) +4 Peperomia Frost +4 Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) +4 Anthurium Hookeri +4 English Ivy (Hedera helix) +4 Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) +4 Hoya Pubicalyx +4 Philodendron Squamiferum +4 Tillandsia Brachycaulos +4 Tillandsia Ionantha +4 Cape Sundew +4 Fishhook Barrel Cactus +4 Hoya Kerrii (Sweetheart Hoya) +4 Java Moss +4 Moon Cactus +4 Philodendron Silver Sword +4 Rotala Rotundifolia +4 Ruby Necklace (Othonna capensis) +4 Spathoglottis (Ground Orchid) +4 Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis) +3 Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Vine) +3 Pig's Ear (Cotyledon orbiculata) +3 String of Dolphins (Senecio peregrinus) +3 Alocasia Odora +3 Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) +3 Catasetum Orchid +3 Desert Rose +3 Hatiora (Easter Cactus) +3 Indoor Citrus (Dwarf Lemon, Lime & Calamondin) +3 Lithops (Living Stones) +3 Phalaenopsis Orchid (Moth Orchid) +3 Split Rock (Pleiospilos nelii) +3 Bladderwort +3 Bucephalandra +3 Cryptocoryne Wendtii +3 Eyelash Begonia +3 Hornwort +3 Hoya Wayetii +3 Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) +3 Old Man Cactus +3 Saguaro Cactus +3 Spoonleaf Sundew +3
🧐 Wants attention (81)
Readable, but the guide starts using its careful voice.
Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) +2 Ctenanthe (Never Never Plant) +2 Angel Wing Begonia +2 Beetle Peperomia +2 Philodendron Mccolley Finale +2 Philodendron Pink Princess +2 African Violet (Saintpaulia / Streptocarpus) +2 Alocasia Macrorrhiza +2 Amazon Sword +2 Dendrobium Orchid +2 Monkey Tail Cactus +2 Philodendron White Knight +2 Propeller Plant (Crassula falcata) +2 Tillandsia Caput-Medusae +2 Water Sprite +2 Air Plant (Tillandsia) +2 Amazon Frogbit +2 Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii - Angel's Tears) +2 Blue Columnar Cactus +2 Brain Cactus +2 Cattleya Orchid +2 Dwarf Hairgrass +2 Hoya Curtisii +2 Hoya Macrophylla +2 Vanilla Orchid +2 Water Wisteria +2 Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura) +1 Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum) +1 Oncidium Orchid (Dancing Lady Orchid) +1 Rex Begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum) +1 Anthurium Warocqueanum +1 Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) +1 Peperomia Columbiana +1 Polka Dot Begonia +1 Rhizomatous Begonia +1 Anthurium Andraeanum +1 Hoya Linearis +1 Paphiopedilum (Slipper Orchid) +1 Philodendron Florida Ghost +1 Philodendron Tortum +1 Zygopetalum Orchid +1 Baseball Plant (Euphorbia obesa) +1 Bishop's Cap Cactus +1 Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) +1 Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) +1 Heart Fern +1 Hoya Bella +1 Hoya Compacta (Hindu Rope) +1 Hoya Multiflora (Shooting Star) +1 Masdevallia Orchid +1 Organ Pipe Cactus +1 Silver Lace Fern +1 Star Cactus +1 Tillandsia Fuchsii +1 Tillandsia Juncea +1 Totem Pole Cactus +1 Turk's Cap Cactus +1 Alocasia Dragon Scale +0 Calathea Lancifolia +0 Cephalotus (Albany Pitcher Plant) +0 Dragon Fruit Cactus +0 Peruvian Apple Cactus +0 Shrub Begonia +0 Alocasia Sinuata +0 Alocasia Stingray +0 Bulbophyllum Orchid +0 Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus / Columnea) +0 Hoya Lacunosa +0 Anthurium Vittarifolium +0 Baby Toes +0 Byblis (Rainbow Plant) +0 Cabomba +0 Crocodile Fern +0 Duckweed +0 Dwarf Water Lettuce +0 Heliamphora (Sun Pitcher) +0 Hoya Serpens +0 Miltoniopsis (Pansy Orchid) +0 Phragmipedium (S. American Slipper) +0 Red Root Floater +0 Sand Rose (Anacampseros rufescens) +0
👑 The divas (59)
More warnings than reassurance. Gorgeous - and they know it.
Calathea Medallion -1 Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculata) -1 Selaginella (Spikemoss / Resurrection Plant) -1 Aralia (Polyscias) -1 Anthurium Crystallinum -1 Philodendron Pink Princess (Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess') -1 Alocasia Black Velvet -1 Anthurium Pedatoradiatum -1 Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens) -1 Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) -1 Iron Cross Begonia -1 Philodendron Verrucosum -1 Vanda Orchid -1 Alocasia Maharani -1 Rieger Begonia -1 Salvinia -1 Spiral Cactus -1 Tillandsia Bulbosa -1 Tuberous Begonia -1 Water Hyacinth -1 Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) -2 Alocasia Jacklyn -2 Alocasia Zebrina -2 Calathea Zebrina -2 Alocasia Silver Dragon -2 Anthurium Clarinervium -2 Anthurium Forgetii -2 Calathea Roseopicta -2 Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig) -2 Philodendron Gloriosum -2 Alocasia Polly -2 Rex Begonia -2 Tillandsia Streptophylla -2 Anthurium Veitchii -3 Alocasia Sarian -3 Begonia Maculata Wightii -3 Calathea Orbifolia -3 Alocasia Cuprea -3 Begonia Soli-Mutata -3 Calathea Rattlesnake -3 Frosty Fern (Spikemoss) -3 Painted-Leaf Begonia -3 Peacock Begonia -3 Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Sanguinea 'Triostar') -4 Calathea Freddie -4 Alocasia Frydek -4 Anthurium Magnificum -4 Begonia Luxurians -4 Calathea White Star -4 Escargot Begonia -4 Calathea Makoyana -5 Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) -5 Anthurium Regale -5 Calathea Ornata -5 Philodendron Melanochrysum -5 Calathea Warscewiczii -7 Calathea / Prayer Plant (Calathea & Maranta) -8 Aphelandra squarrosa (Zebra Plant) -9 Alocasia (Elephant Ear) -9
📐 Methodology, in full
Each of our 341 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, low-maintenance, neglect(-proof), 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, not for beginners, difficult, temperamental, picky, unforgiving, experienced growers, dramatic, sensitive to, prone to leaf drop or sulking. Negated ease ("won't tolerate", "rarely survives") is counted against. 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.