Best Moderate Houseplants
This shortlist highlights 134 houseplants that match a moderate care level. It is a curated editorial roundup built from care data, not a substitute for individualized horticultural advice.
How we chose these plants
- •We group plants by the care trait a reader is most likely filtering on first, such as light, watering needs, difficulty, or pet safety.
- •We favor plants with stable curated care metadata so the shortlist reflects dependable indoor-growing guidance.
- •This page is an editorial shortlist rather than a botanical ranking or veterinary recommendation.
Featured plants
134 curated plants for this shortlist.
A
Adanson's monstera
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- High
B
Boston Fern
- Family
- Nephrolepidaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- High
C
Colocasia fallax
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- High
P
Prayer Plant
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- High
A
Adelonema wallisii
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Adenium obesum
- Family
- Nerieae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Adiantum aethiopicum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Adiantum capillus-veneris
- Family
- Pteridaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Adiantum formosum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Adiantum peruvianum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Aechmea fasciata
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
African hemp or African linden
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
African milk tree
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Aichryson × aizoides
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Air Plant
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Amazonian zebra plant
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Anguloa × ruckeri
- Family
- Epidendroideae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Aphelandra squarrosa
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Apocissus antarctica
- Family
- Vitaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Areca catechu
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Asparagus Fern
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Asplenium antiquum
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Asplenium bulbiferum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Asplenium gracillimum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Asplenium nidus
- Family
- Aspleniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
A
Astrophytum asterias
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Begonia bowerae
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Begonia conchifolia
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Begonia taliensis
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Begonia venosa
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Bird's-nest fern
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Boea
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
B
Bromeliaceae
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Calla
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Campanula isophylla
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Campyloneurum phyllitidis
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cane begonia
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Ceropegia woodii
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Chamaedorea cataractarum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Chamaedorea metallica
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Chamaedorea seifrizii
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cissus discolor
- Family
- Vitaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Clusia rosea
- Family
- Clusiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Coleus scutellarioides
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cordyline fruticosa
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cretan brake
- Family
- Pteridaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Curcuma zedoaria
- Family
- Zingiberaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Curio 'Trident Blue'
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Curio × peregrinus
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cyperus alternifolius
- Family
- Cyperaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
C
Cyrtomium falcatum
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Darwin's orchid
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Davallia fejeensis
- Family
- Davalliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Delosperma lehmannii
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Didymochlaena
- Family
- Didymochlaenaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Dioscorea elephantipes
- Family
- Dioscoreaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Disocactus phyllanthoides
- Family
- Cactaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Dumb Cane
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
E
Englerarum
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
E
English Ivy
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
E
Excoecaria cochinchinensis
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Ficus indica
- Family
- Moraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Ficus pumila
- Family
- Moraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Ficus religiosa
- Family
- Moraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Fiddle-Leaf Fig
- Family
- Moraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Fittonia albivenis
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Fittonia gigantea
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
F
Flamingo Flower
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia fasciata
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia insignis
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia kegeljanii
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia makoyana
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia picturata
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia roseopicta
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia zebrina
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Guzmania lingulata
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Guzmania musaica
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Guzmania sanguinea
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
G
Gynura aurantiaca
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Haworthiopsis fasciata
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Heptapleurum arboricola
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Hilo beauty elephant ear
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Homalomena philippinensis
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Huernia macrocarpa
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
H
Hypoestes phyllostachya
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
J
Jatropha podagrica
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
K
Kumara plicatilis
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
M
Maranta arundinacea
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
M
Mexican shrimp plant
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
M
Monstera acacoyaguensis
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
M
Monstera acuminata
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
N
Natal ivy
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
N
Nephthytis
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
N
New Guinea impatiens
- Family
- Balsaminaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Pelargonium radens
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Pellaea rotundifolia
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Petrocosmea kerrii
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Petrocosmea rosettifolia
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Phoenix roebelenii
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Phyllotaenium
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Platycerium bifurcatum
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Platycerium superbum
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Polka Dot Begonia
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
P
Pteris parkeri
- Family
- Pteridaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
R
Rex Begonia
- Family
- Begoniaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
R
Rhaphidophora hayi
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
R
Rhizomatous begonia
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
R
Ruellia makoyana
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
R
Russelia equisetiformis
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Scindapsus pictus
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Scindapsus treubii
- Family
- Araceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Sedum morganianum
- Family
- Crassulaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Selenicereus costaricensis
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Selenicereus megalanthus
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Sinningia muscicola
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Sinningia speciosa
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Sprenger's asparagus
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Stephania pierrei
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Stromanthe thalia
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
S
Swedish ivy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
T
Tolmiea
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
T
Tolmiea menziesii
- Family
- Saxifragaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
V
Variety Of Citrus Fruit
- Family
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
V
Vriesea splendens
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
W
Weeping Fig
- Family
- Moraceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
Y
Yellow Citrus Fruit
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- Moderate
D
Davallia tyermanii
- Family
- Davalliaceae
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
C
Curio rowleyanus
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Light
- Low light
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia rufibarba
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Low light
- Water
- Moderate
P
Petrocosmea forrestii
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Light
- Low light
- Water
- Moderate
G
Goeppertia orbifolia
- Family
- Marantaceae
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
J
Japanese Aralia
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
Care references
- Wikipedia Category: House plants — Primary discovery source for the houseplant corpus used in these shortlists.
- Wikipedia REST summaries API — Used to fetch plant summaries and metadata for care-guide generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best moderate houseplants?
Best Moderate Houseplants highlights options such as Adanson's monstera, Boston Fern, Colocasia fallax. The right pick still depends on your room conditions, watering habits, and household needs.
How did you choose these moderate houseplants?
We curated this shortlist using care data for light, watering, difficulty, and pet safety so the page reflects practical indoor-growing intent.
Should I choose a plant from this moderate houseplants list based on one trait alone?
No. Use the shortlist as a starting point, then verify the plant's full light, water, and toxicity profile against your home setup.