There are many benefits to having houseplants in your home. They look pretty, add life and character, and improve air quality. Studies show they can also improve mood, reduce stress, boost productivity, increase attention span, and even reduce blood pressure.
For those without a green thumb, choosing low-maintenance plants can be the safest bet – but what if you’re after something more dramatic? Just like people, plants have personalities, and if you want to inject a bit of charisma into your home, plenty of plants will do the job without creating lots of extra work.
Ferns and palms are usually seen as relaxed, easygoing plants, while tall, branching plants make more of a statement. With so many different plants to choose from, you’re sure to find something that suits your personality and space.
From tropical plants with big, bold leaves to quirky cacti that look like they’re from another planet, here are 10 houseplants with huge personalities.
1. Banana plant
With their large, shiny leaves and dramatic upright form, banana trees will add an instant tropical touch to your home. In the UK, temperatures are too low for these plants to fruit, and they rarely flower, either. However, the big, bold leaves make a real statement by themselves. Mature plants can grow to 10 feet tall, but most indoor plants typically reach a more reasonable five feet.
Being so large, banana plants need space, so do bear that in mind when thinking about where you’ll place them. Because they’re tropical plants, they also need plenty of direct sunlight. A bright, sunny window is a good spot, ideally one that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day. They also prefer warm rooms and humid air.
Though not the easiest plant to care for, if you have enough space and light in your home, banana plants are an excellent choice. If you’re short on space, you can always go for one of the dwarf varieties instead. Banana plants can live for many years if cared for properly.
To find out more about banana plants, head over to the RHS.
2. Moon cactus
For something lower-maintenance, there’s the moon cactus. If you don’t have much space in your home, these plants are perfect, as they’re small enough to sit on a windowsill. They come in bright, vibrant colours – hot pink, brilliant orange, and a near-neon yellow – giving them a quirky, eye-catching appeal.
Moon cacti are interesting plants. They’re something of a mutant, as they’re actually two plants that have been grafted together. The bottom plant is a white-fleshed pitahaya (the dragon fruit plant) while the bright-coloured top is the gymnocalycium mihanovichii, a species of cactus from South America – which is why they look so otherworldly!
Luckily, moon cacti are easy to care for. They like bright, indirect light, and dry soil – so if you tend to under-water your houseplants, they’re a good choice. If you have a room that gets a couple of hours of morning or late afternoon sunshine, this would make a great home for your cactus.
To find out more about caring for moon cacti, head over to UK Houseplants.
3. Passionflower
Another plant that looks like it’s found its way here from another planet is the passionflower. These vines have alien-like flowers in vivid shades of purple, blue, green, and white. When framed against their lush green leaves, they’re incredibly striking. Even the lime green flower buds of this plant are unusually pretty, and bring a sense of fun, not to mention a pop of colour, to any indoor space.
Passionflowers can be grown outside or inside. However, while they can need frequent pruning to stay manageable, they’re better behaved as house plants. A good way to manage their growth is to grow the vines around a wire support.
The P. caerulea, also known as the common passionflower or blue passionflower, is the variety most commonly grown as a houseplant. They like plenty of bright light, especially in summer, so try to place your plant somewhere it can get six hours of sunlight a day.
To find out more about caring for passionflowers indoors, head over to The Spruce.
4. Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a big, bold houseplant. It isn’t the easiest plant to care for, but if it gets lots of bright light and isn’t moved around much, it should thrive. The large, fiddle-shaped leaves command attention, and can grow up to 10 feet tall – so make sure your ceiling is high enough!
Native to West Africa, the fiddle leaf fig plant likes warm temperatures and some humidity. So, if you have dry air in your home, remember to mist the leaves from time to time. Though, this plant doesn’t like being over-watered, so if the top few inches of soil don’t feel dry, it’s best to wait a while before giving it a drink.
The fiddle leaf fig is very sensitive to change, so once you’ve found a sunny spot, try not to move it. This can shock the plant and cause the leaves to wilt or droop.
For more on caring for the fiddle leaf fig, head over to Gardeners World.
Note: Fiddle leaf figs are toxic to pets, so keep out of reach of cats and dogs. They can also be mildly toxic to humans, so make sure they’re out of the way of small children too.
5. Kalanchoe
If you don’t have the space for a big plant, plenty of small plants have big personalities. An excellent example is the kalanchoe, which is often grown for its tiny, colourful blooms that come in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, salmon, and white.
These succulent plants are very low maintenance, and usually flower for around eight weeks. Many people discard them once they’ve flowered, but with some effort, they can flower again. The best-known variety of kalanchoe is the blossfeldiana, which was named after Robert Blossfeld, who first discovered the plant in Madagascar.
Because these plants grow in arid areas in their native habitat, they don’t need to be fussed over. Simply, keep your plant in a bright sunny spot, allow it to dry out between waterings, and deadhead the fading flowers.
For more on caring for kalanchoe plants, head over to The Spruce.
6. Monstera Deliciosa
Interested in a large, exotic plant that’s easier to care for? The Monstera deliciosa might be for you. This big, beautiful plant is originally from the tropics of Central America, and was first cultivated in 1752. In the wild, the leaves can be two or three feet wide, and the climbing vine can grow up to 70 feet!
Luckily, indoor plants are far more manageable – although their size will still make a statement, and a single plant is showy enough to add some tropical flair to a room. Monstera plants are commonly known as Swiss cheese plants due to the holes that form as the plant matures. However, the leathery leaves of the Monstera deliciosa split as the plant grows, giving it a lush, jungle-like feel.
Despite their size and tropical roots, the Monstera deliciosa is easygoing. It likes bright, indirect light, but can still thrive in moderate light levels. You only need to water the plant when the top few inches feel dry. If you want your plant to climb, stick a stake or pole in the soil while it’s still small. Otherwise, you can leave the plant to sprawl naturally, for a wilder aesthetic.
To find out more about caring for Monstera plants, head over to Country Living.
7. Angel wing begonia
There are all kinds of beautiful begonia plants, but the angel wing begonia is perhaps the best variety to grow inside. The glossy green leaves have red-tinted backs and speckled or streaked white patterns on the front, so they’ll always draw attention. When the plants are particularly happy, large clusters of pink, white, orange, or red flowers appear, making the display even more magnificent.
While other begonias need more careful care, angel wing begonias are pretty low maintenance. They like bright, indirect light – and if you’re not fussed about your plant blooming, a partial shade location will let it thrive without producing flowers. These plants look great on windowsills, but because they can get pretty big, you may need to move them as they grow.
Angel wing begonia plants like to be kept moist; if the edges of their leaves start to brown, they’re probably lacking in water. These plants also love humidity, so they do well in bathrooms and kitchens. To keep up your plant’s moisture levels, try to mist it regularly.
For more on caring for begonias, head over to Gardening Know How.
8. Rojo Congo Philodendron
With its big, glossy leaves and deep red stalks, the Rojo Congo philodendron is an especially striking plant. Being a cross between the Philodendron tatei and Philodendron imperial red, it’s also a hybrid. Its unique red and green colouring is beautiful at all stages. The leaves start a coppery red, and change to a deep green as they grow – although the stalks stay red.
Despite its bold, exotic appearance, the Rojo Congo philodendron is a low-maintenance plant that thrives indoors. Unlike other philodendrons, it doesn’t have a vining nature, which means it grows upwards and outwards, often ending up just as wide as it is high. So, if you’re looking for an easygoing plant that will make a big statement, this could be the one for you.
The Rojo Congo philodendron needs several hours of bright, indirect light a day, and should only be watered once the top half of the soil is dry.
For more on caring for your Rojo Congo philodendron, head to The Jungle Collective.
Note: Rojo Congo philodendrons, like all philodendrons, are toxic to pets, so keep out of reach of cats and dogs. They can also be mildly toxic to humans, so make sure they’re out of the way of small children too.
9. Dragon Tree
If you’re looking for a plant to add texture to a room, the dragon tree is a wise choice. The combination of spiky spray foliage and slim, intertwined branches adds a sleek yet dramatic appeal to your home. The green leaves have streaks of red, too, so it will still inject some colour.
Although striking, this is an easy plant to care for. It stores water in its trunk, so can tolerate underwatering, and will thrive in low light. In its native habitat, Madagascar, the dragon tree produces small white flowers in spring, but this rarely happens indoors. However, its explosive green foliage is attractive enough on its own!
Aside from its beauty and easygoing nature, the dragon tree is one of the healthiest plants around. According to NASA’s clean air study, it’s one of the top air-purifying plants, and was found to help remove cancer-causing pollutants such as formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from the air.
To find out more about caring for dragon tree plants, head over to The Spruce.
10. Hawaiian Palm
And finally, there’s the Brighamia insignis, more commonly known as the Hawaiian Palm. If you’d like to add some tropical appeal to your home but don’t have the space for a bigger plant, the Hawaiian palm is a good choice. Its long stem and compact size are ideal for small spaces and, with proper care, it’ll thrive for years to come.
This plant’s unique appearance goes well with various decor styles, and its pretty trumpet-shaped flowers range from white to pale yellow. The fleshy, succulent leaves often have a unique, silvery-grey hue that adds to the plant’s exotic appeal. Sadly, in its native Hawaii, very few of these plants remain, so by growing one at home, you’ll be playing a part in its conservation.
Brighamia insignis is an easy-care plant, but it likes lots of light. A sunny spot that gets at least one to three hours of direct light is key for it to flourish. You should only water when the soil is dry, and ideally, water with lukewarm water to avoid root stress.
To find out more about caring for Hawaiian palms, head over to UK Houseplants.
Final thoughts…
Houseplants are a wonderful way to add life, vibrancy, colour, and texture to your home.
If you’re new to caring for plants, it can be tempting to go for the lowest maintenance plants around – but as this article shows, many of the most unique and striking plants are surprisingly easy to look after.
No matter how much space you have in your home, there’s probably room for another plant. If you’re lucky enough to have high ceilings and lots of space, you might want to go for a big, bold plant that will act as a feature. But, if you only have a windowsill going, there are still several plants that can add some punchy personality to your home.
For more on houseplants, you might want to read our other articles, 11 of the best bathroom plants, 12 shade-loving houseplants for low-light rooms, and 10 unique houseplants to upgrade your indoor space.
Do you have any of the plants listed in this article? Or are you tempted to add any to your collection? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.