17 Best Small Houseplants to Grow in Tiny Spaces

1. ARROWHEAD VINE

Falling Arrows^® Champaign Reign^™
Syngonium podophyllum
Low to medium light
Height: 12”, with vines that can trail up to 72” long

Named for the arrow-shaped foliage, this tropical houseplant has a compact stature, developing a trailing habit as it matures. Falling Arrows^® Champaign Reign produces pale green leaves with irregular splotches of champaign pink. Display younger varieties on a small tabletop, or in a hanging basket when plants begin to vine.

2. ANGEL WING BEGONIA

Begonia Bold Belles^™ Dappled Morning^™
Begonia maculata
Low to medium light
Height: 8” - 14”

Angel wing begonia is grown for the upright habit and elongated wing-shaped foliage that lends instant appeal to any indoor space. Begonia Bold Belles^™ Dappled Morning^™ has rich green leaves punctuated with bright silvery spots and a paler green underside. This plant features a compact upright habit suitable for display on a nightstand or end table.

3. BIRD'S NEST FERN

Living Lace^® Hurricane
Asplenium antiquum
Low to medium light
Height: 8” - 24”

This lush rainforest plant is named for the center that resembles a bird’s nest. Living Lace^® Hurricane bird’s nest fern has unusually shaped leaves that twist and swirl around the center for an intriguing appearance. Display on a small shelf or windowsill in a bathroom or kitchen where this humidity lover can thrive.

4. BLUE STAR FERN

Living Lace^™ Davana
Phlebodium aureum
Low to medium light
Height: 10” - 14”

Blue star fern produces lance-shaped, blue-green leaves that complement the fuzzy golden rhizomes. Davana forms robust clumps with ruffled, scalloped fronds that arch gracefully from the base. This fern is more adaptable to home environments than other ferns, making it a good choice for beginners.

5. BUTTON FERN

Living Lace^® Cute as a Button^™
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Low to medium light
Height: 8” - 12”

This slow-growing fern is a smaller version of common Boston fern, with a compact habit suitable for displaying on a desktop or bathroom shelf. The pale-green leaves give off a faint lemony scent when crushed. These petite plants prefer average water and high humidity. Mist leaves regularly to boost humidity levels.

6. PRAYER PLANT

Color Full^® Like a Prayer^™
Calathea roseopicta
Low to medium light
Height: 12” - 24”

Prayer plant comes in a range of foliage colors, shapes and patterns. This variety has mesmerizing brushstroke patterns of pale green and dark green. The pinstripe midribs are pink, while the undersides are a rich shade of burgundy-purple that reveal themselves when the leaves fold up at night, resembling praying hands. Place on a desk or small tabletop in medium indirect light and provide high humidity as found in its native habitat.

7. CHINESE EVERGREEN

Igneous^™ Ruby Crab^™
Aglaonema x
Low to medium light
Height: 8” - 14”

Chinese evergreen is a no-fuss houseplant that tolerates a range of growing conditions, making it a good choice for those with a busy lifestyle. Igneous^™ Ruby Crab^™ has an elegant vase shape with shiny lance-shaped leaves. The eye-catching foliage exhibits bright irregular patterning of pink and cream, with contrasting dark green margins and veins. Provide a warm environment and place in medium indirect light to retain the vivid coloring.

8. INCH PLANT

New Vogue^™ Feeling Flirty^™
Tradescantia fluminensis
Medium to high light
Height: 2” - 4”, trailing up to 24 inches long

Also known as spiderwort, inch plant can be grown indoors and placed outside during warmer months. Plants produce colorful pointed leaves, with a trailing habit suitable for hanging baskets or wall-mounted containers. This unique variety has a vigorous growth habit, with pink and green striped leaves and vivid magenta-pink undersides for a striking effect. Inch plant is easy to care for and thrives with regular moisture, bright indirect light and high humidity.

9. NERVE PLANT

Network News^™ All the Time^™
Fittonia albivenis
Medium to high light
Height: 4” - 8”

These tiny houseplants, which are sometimes confused with polka dot plant, have a low creeping habit and small rounded leaves with distinct veining. Network News^™ All the Time^™ produces dark green leaves with a fishnet pattern of white veining for sophisticated elegance. The short stature is suitable for display on a small tabletop or shelf. Provide a warm environment, bright indirect light and high humidity.

10. BABY RUBBER PLANT

Savory Delights^™ Spice is Nice^™
Peperomia obtusifolia
Medium to high light
Height: 6” - 12”

Not to be confused with Ficus rubber plant, peperomia is a diverse group of tropical plants with thick succulent-like leaves in a range of colors, patterns and shapes. This variety has rounded cup-shaped dark green leaves with a shiny sheen and cinnamon-colored stems. The compact upright habit may develop trailing stems over time. Peperomia plants prefer bright light, warmer temperatures and moderate to high humidity.

11. PEPPER ELDER

Savory Delights^™ Sweet and Sour^™
Peperomia obtusifolia
Medium to high light
Height: 6” - 12”

Pepper elder produces decorative foliage in a range of colors and shapes, and is tolerant of different growing conditions. The fleshy rounded leaves of Savory Delights^™ Sweet and Sour^™ are green with wide creamy yellow margins and marbled green centers. These small plants have an upright compact habit, but may eventually trail. Display in a hanging basket or on a tabletop near a bright bedroom window.

12. PHILODENDRON

Prismacolor^™ Birkin
Philodendron hybrid
Low to medium light
Height: 12” - 24”

One of the most commonly grown houseplants, philodendron tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, making it a perfect choice for beginner houseplant growers. One of the best indoor plants to purify the air, philodendron can be grown on a bedroom nightstand to help improve sleep. Prismacolor^™ Birkin has shiny dark green leaves with creamy white pinstripe veining, and a compact clumping habit rather than trailing stems like most philodendron varieties.

13. POTHOS

Beautifall^® Snowy Morning
Epipremnum aureum
Low to high light
Height: 6” - 108”

One of the easiest houseplants to grow, pothos has similar-looking foliage to philodendron, and adapts to most indoor environments. The elegant heart-shaped leaves of Beautifall^® Snowy Morning are delicately marbled in variable patterns of green, white, and creamy yellow. Display in a hanging basket, on a bookcase, or in a wall-mounted container where the long trailing stems can cascade down.

14. MOUNT EVEREST

Mirage^™ Turquoise Tentacles^™
Curio ficoides
High light
Height: 8” - 16”

Native to South Africa, this exotic tropical succulent has an upright habit and vertical spiky leaves that resemble sea coral. Mirage^™ Turquoise Tentacles^™ has striking blue-green coloring and slender needle-like leaves that wrap around the stems like tentacles. Plants perform best with several hours of direct sunlight and prefer well drained soil, low moisture and minimum fertilizer. Display in a south-facing window on a tabletop or shelf.

15. SNAKE PLANT

Austere Luster^™ Superba
Sansevieria x
Low to high light
Height: 24” - 36”

Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants are a tropical succulent with a slender upright habit and thick sword-shaped leaves. Some of the easiest houseplants to care for, snake plants can grow in a wide range of light conditions and require little water or fertilizer. Austere Luster^™ Superba has green foliage and creamy yellow margins, with horizontal patterns of dark green and silver. Smaller specimens can be displayed on a tabletop, while taller plants are suitable for tight floor spaces.

Find more: Stacy Ling of Bricks ’n Blooms shares some of her favorite easy-to-grow houseplants

16. SPIDER PLANT

Urban Arches^™ Pixie Punk^™
Chlorophytum comosum
Medium to high light
Height: 12” - 24”

This popular houseplant has a compact arching habit, slender grass-like foliage and baby spiders produced on long trailing stems. Urban Arches^™ Pixie Punk^™ has broader leaves than other spider plant varieties, with bright green coloring and slender white margins. Spider plant is tolerant of neglect and variable growing conditions, performing best with regular moisture and bright indirect light. Place on a tabletop, in a space-saving hanging basket or wall-mounted pot.

17. WAX VINE

Endless Cascades^™ Teacup Anemone^™
Hoya fitchii
Medium light
Height: 12” - 24”

Hoya is a tropical vining succulent with thick waxy leaves and clusters of fragrant star-shaped flowers. Endless Cascades^™ Teacup Anemone^™ produces dainty vines and oval green leaves with light-colored veining. Provide bright indirect light and well drained soil. Wait until soil dries out before watering. Display this trailing houseplant in a hanging basket or train up a vertical trellis.