Why We Love It: In a bright window, this plant will bloom almost constantly. It’s fun to collect several different varieties with all sorts of flower colors and shapes. Botanical Name: Saintpaulia ionantha Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 8 inches tall and 16 inches wide Why We Love It: The shamrock-shape leaves are striking. Plus, it makes a fun gift on St. Patrick’s Day. Botanical Name: Oxalis triangularis Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 60-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 12 inches tall and wide Buy It: Oxalis ($7, Etsy) Why We Love It: Its large, deep green leaves add an instant tropical touch to any room, and it’s one of the easiest flowering houseplants you can grow. Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum wallisii Growing Conditions: Low to bright light; 60-85°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide Note: This plant is poisonous if eaten or chewed on. Why We Love It: Its cute factor: The flowers and foliage are both heart-shape. Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil evenly moist, barely moist in fall and winter Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide Note: This plant is poisonous and can cause illness if eaten or chewed. Buy It: Red Anthurium ($17, Etsy) Why We Love It: It’s an old-fashioned favorite with captivating flowers. Botanical Name: Schlumbergera x buckleyi Growing Conditions: Bright light; 70-80°F, 55°F in fall; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide Why We Love It: This fast-growing plant is almost constantly in bloom. Botanical Name: Abutilon x hybridum Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide Why We Love It: The beautiful pink or white blooms are some of the most fragrant you’ll find on any houseplant. Botanical Name: Jasminum spp. Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F, 40-60°F in winter; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide Why We Love It: It’s extra easy to grow and the flowers brighten up January days when there’s not a lot else in bloom. Botanical Name: Clivia miniata Growing Conditions: Medium light; 60-75°F, 50-55°F in winter; keep soil barely moist Size: To 2 feet tall and wide Note: This plant is poisonous and can cause illness if eaten or chewed on. Why We Love It: You can harvest the fruits after they ripen and use them like lemons or kumquats or make them into marmalade. Botanical Name: x Citrofortunella microcarpa Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-80°F, 55-65°F in winter; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 4 feet tall and wide Why We Love It: It’s always attractive. You never have to worry about what it looks like when it’s done blooming because the green leaves have eye-catching silver markings. Botanical Name: Porphyrocoma pohliana ‘Maracas’ Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide Why We Love It: It’s an easy-care, low-water plant whose colorful bract-like flowers last for weeks. Botanical Name: Euphorbia milii Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 65-75°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 3 feet tall and wide Note: This plant is poisonous and the milky sap can cause illness or skin irritation if eaten or chewed by children or pets. It’s also very thorny. Buy It: Pink Crown of Thorns Plant ($24, Etsy) Why We Love It: The huge, bell-shaped flowers are so eye-catching. Botanical Name: Sinningia speciosa Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F, 55-75°F when dormant; keep soil evenly moist except when dormant Size: To 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide Why We Love It: How can you not love a plant whose flowers look like goldfish! It’s a fun plant for getting children excited about houseplants. Botanical Name: Nematanthus spp. Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-80°F, 50-55°F in winter; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide Why We Love It: It’s an easy-to-grow plant with flashy red flowers that really do look like little tubes of lipstick. Botanical Name: Aeschynanthus radicans Growing Conditions: Medium light; 60-80°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 20 inches tall and 36 inches wide Why We Love It: Its flowers are so unique, and do look a bit like shrimps. Your friends will definitely notice it. Botanical Name: Justicia brandegeeana Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide Why We Love It: Its big clusters of orange, pink, red, or yellow flowers are wonderful treats on winter days. Botanical Name: Ixora coccinea Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-80°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide Why We Love It: The bloom colors are so vibrant. Botanical Name: Pelargonium spp. Growing Conditions: Bright to intense light; 60-75°F; keep soil moderately dry Size: To 3 feet tall and wide Why We Love It: Its beautiful wing-shaped leaves are just as attractive as the blooms so it’s pretty all year long. Botanical Name: Begonia spp. Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. Why We Love It: It’s an easy-to-grow plant with gorgeous, rose-like blooms. Botanical Name: Begonia x hiemalis Growing Conditions: Medium to bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 18 inches tall and wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. Why We Love It: It’s an easy bloomer with waxy foliage and colorful red, white, or pink flowers. Botanical Name: Begonia semperflorens Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75°F; keep soil evenly moist Size: To 18 inches tall or wide Note: The roots and stems can cause painful irritation of the mouth, lips, or throat if eaten or chewed on. Buy It: Wax Begonia Seeds ($6, Etsy) Why We Love It: Its colorful red, orange, yellow, or purple flower bracts look very tropical. Botanical Name: Guzmania lingulata Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-80°F, 60-65°F in winter; keep soil moderately dry, but water in the vase Size: To 3 feet tall and wide Why We Love It: It’s one of the most dramatic, easy indoor plants you can grow. Botanical Name: Aechmea fasciata Growing Conditions: Bright light; 65-75°F; pour water into the vase formed by the foliage rather than onto the soil Size: To 3 feet tall and wide
