Houseplants have exploded in popularity over the past several years.

From the common ficus to designer houseplants (lest we forget the golden era of the Fiddle Leaf Fig ✌️), we’ve seen them artfully styled into every interior design photo on social media.

There’s good reason for it, of course. Greens create energy in the home, bringing the most modest rooms to life. And in the midst of winter, when otherwise surrounded by a leafless landscape, they invite you to turn your planting attention from outside to inside.

The easiest houseplants

I’ve dabbled in a number of houseplants. While my green thumb is strong outdoors, it’s less so indoors. As a result, I’ve honed my houseplant selection to only the ones that provide big impact with little maintenance.

On most easy-care lists, you’ll find a number of succulents and cacti. If that’s your vibe, you’ll be happy to find they are super easy to keep alive.

However, I prefer the lush, wild romance that a tumble of leaves provides. So you’ll find no pointy plants in this particular curation.

• Philodendron and Pothos: These are two different types of plants, but they achieve a very similar effect. The leaves are both relatively heart shaped, and spill over the sides of the pot in a cascading trailing habit. Both plants have variegated varieties, adding more dimension to the foliage.

• Ivy: I have an aversion to ivy in the garden (so invasive!), but it’s lovely in a controlled environment. The most popular types are English Ivy and Algerian Ivy, each with an elegant and airy trailing habit. Leaves may be solid or variegated. My algerian ivy boasts painterly strokes of creams and greens on subtle merlot-colored stems. My favorite plant of the bunch.

• Pelargoniums, aka scented geranium: Pelargoniums are usually grown outdoors as annuals. However, they can also be grown indoors. Think voluminous, scented foliage with occasional bursts of pink flowers. I don’t know why, but it’s not as common to grow these as houseplants in the States. I’ve been admiring them in British homes for a long while, and will be trialling a few varieties as houseplants this spring!

• Inch plant: Also called wandering spiderwort. This houseplant has striped, silver and purple leaves that seem to glisten. This is a nice option for introducing unique color in a wild tangle of foliage.

• Peace lily: My very first houseplant was a peace lily, so it holds a special place in my heart. I was drawn to its big leaves and the promise of indoor blooms. I had no clue about light and watering needs, and deprived it of both for far too long. While it visibly suffered, the peace lily somehow persevered. After ten years and careful attention, I revived the plant back to its big, healthy and blooming glory. If you’re not sure of what you’re doing when it comes to houseplant care, take heart—this one is forgiving.

🌸 Flower I’m admiring

Snowdrops! The snowdrops are finally poking their heads out, ready to open up and greet the world. I’ve noticed them in the most obscure places—a clump under a random hedge, a smattering deep in the woods at the end of our road. I myself am attempting double snowdrops for the first time—so far their stems have only poked above the soil. I can’t wait to meet them.

👩🏻‍🌾 What I’m sowing

This year, I’m growing lisianthus from seed. They are one of the earliest seeds to start; recommended plant time is 12-13 weeks before the last frost. I first discovered these rose-like flowers in a bouquet from a local florist. Last year I planted up a container with plugs (aka, young plants—often from nurseries or online retailers) and had success. Growing them from seed is considered super tricky, wish me luck!

🎧 Song I’m listening to

Music for a Sushi Restaurant by Harry Styles. On repeat. Still.

Tell me about your favorite houseplants! What have you had success with? How about epic failures? And do you know how to keep a rainbow fern alive? Asking for a friend.

xx

Courtney