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Whether you work from home, commute to a shared space or do a little of both, your office could benefit from a low-maintenance indoor plant. Many of the ones we share below require minimal light and water, so no green thumb is required. Plants are great for sparking creativity, improving your health and welcoming positive energy through feng shui, so it's worth adding them to your home office. These days, so many plants — spider plants, snake plants, majesty palms and more — are available online. But with this list, your search for the best office plants is over!
Before choosing plants, consider your work environment. While many of the plants we share here can tolerate low light, some greenery, like the Peace Lily, thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, making them better suited for offices with large windows. Bring visual appeal to smaller offices with succulents, like aloe vera plants, while spacious rooms can accommodate tall indoor trees (think ponytail palms and olive trees). In fact, the best office plants are "extremely tolerant and forgiving," says Bloomscape's gardening expert, Lindsay Pangborn. Picking the right one will leave you with "more bandwidth for working rather than stressing about a needy plant baby," she says.
Check out our roundup below for some of the best (and cheapest!) office plants to personalize your space. While you're at it, browse through this list of stylish pots and planters, along with our favorite plant picks for the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. And if you're not up for caring for the real thing, you can always opt for artificial plants as decor instead.
First-time plant parents may want to start off easy with a family of baby cacti, which are incredibly low maintenance — although they prefer sunny spots. Decorate a corner of your desk, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves or console table with a few of these spiny succulents. Note: Be careful not to poke yourself on the needles.
Whether displayed in a hanging planter or draping down a windowsill, English ivy serves as gorgeous home office decor. With proper care, the vines can grow up to 10 feet long and may even wrap around your space. The trailing plant does best in a moderate to bright interior, and should be watered about once a week.
RELATED: Best Indoor Hanging Planters to Fill Your Home With Greenery
Not only are ZZ plants popular for their air-purifying qualities (which means cleaner air during your 9-5), they thrive in different conditions. Their waxy green leaves do best in bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate low light (even spaces without windows!) and really low humidity. Keep in mind: The plant can be toxic to cats and dogs.
RELATED: Best Air-Purifying Plants to Infuse Greenery Into the Home
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One of the best plants for feng shui, the money tree is believed to bring positive energy, good luck and prosperity to its plant parents. The popular houseplant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight and should be watered about once a week (or when the soil is 50 to 75% dry).
RELATED: How to Care for Your Money Tree to Help It Bring You All the Luck
5
Jade Plant
When properly cared for, this "lucky" succulent can live for up t0 50 years — maybe, it'll see you through to retirement. The smooth, oval-shaped leaves and strong, woody stems do best in indirect to bright light and only require watering when the soil is completely dry. Bloomscape suggests keeping the plant's pest-free by dusting it regularly.
RELATED: How to Grow and Care for a Jade Plant
Another super beginner-friendly option: the air plant. Air plants don't require soil and can tolerate in most lighting conditions, they just need to be soaked in water every week. Then, allow them to dry completely and put them back in your air plant holder — whether you go for a hanging option or a sleek tabletop stand for your desk.
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The white flowers may catch your eye, but it's the plant's air-purifying properties that will really make an impact at work. Keep it out of bright, direct sunlight, but make sure it is still placed in a well-lit area. Water it weekly and spritz the leaves on occasion, especially during the hot summer months.
Here's one of the toughest houseplants you'll ever meet: This hardy plant doesn't require tons of water or sunlight to grow. In fact, a smaller plant (like the one shown here) only needs to be watered every two to three weeks. Always make sure the soil is completely dry before watering to prevent root rot.
RELATED: How to Grow and Care for a Snake Plant
With this large tropical plant, you'll have instant jungle-like vibes that'll make you feel as if you're on vacation (while working). Since they do love bright light, keep them in the sunniest corner of the room.
RELATED: Best Tall Indoor Plants to Liven Up Your Space
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Place this plant on the corner of your desk or in a hanging pot, so its spiderettes (the official word for its thin, long leaves) can dangle without disruption. While it may prefer indirect light, this sprawling green grows well in low-light conditions, like your dimly-lit office. Water it frequently, keeping the soil moist at all times.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Caring for a Spider Plant
Curious to know why this two-toned leafed plant is called the prayer plant? Well, while the leaves remain flat during the day, they fold up to replicate praying hands at night. Bloomscape describes it as an easy plant that you mist once a week and keep in a sunny spot.
If you have floor space to fill, make a statement with this potted plant. Sometimes called the Swiss cheese plant (look at the leaves!), this beauty can grow just about anywhere with very little light. Water the plant when the top half of the soil is completely dry and feed it with plant food monthly.
RELATED: How to Care for a Monstera Deliciosa Plant
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It's one of the most common houseplants for a reason: You can place it in any room that receives indirect sunlight or very little light. Be sure to water it when the soil is dry to the touch — every week or so.
Fill a drab office corner with this tall statement plant, boasting wide leaves with white, green and chartreuse stripes. Watering it just once a week, every other week, should be enough. As for ideal lighting conditions? It can maintain its distinctive color and form in lower light.
The Aglaonema is unique and is also said to be lucky! With its striking pink foliage, the plant will surely bring joy and positive energy to your office. Plus, it can tolerate low light, making it a colorful addition to your desk.
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If you happen to sit near a window, then this double-duty succulent is your best bet. Place it in a spot where indirect light hits and water it every two to three weeks. Once the leaves mature, you can remove them from the plant and squeeze out the gel to treat burns, bruises and sores.
RELATED: How to Grow and Care for Your Aloe Vera Plants Indoors and Outdoors
Be prepared: The crinkled fronds on this fern give off tropical vibes, so it may put you in OOO mode. But really, it'll be something to shoot for during your 9-5. Luckily, this green is extremely easy to care for: Give it indirect to low light and water every one to two weeks.
These gorgeous plants typically grow on trees or rocks, but can thrive indoors and add a tropical feel to any home office. They love moisture, so keep a mister or humidifier in your office. Since their leaves soak up nutrients through the air, the soil can tolerate minimal watering.
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The Hoya carnosa variegata is also known as a "wax plant" for its thick and waxy green, white and red variegated leaves. The Sill notes that they may produce sweet-smelling flowers when exposed to medium to bright indirect light. It's an easy-to-care-for, pet-friendly plant that requires watering every one to two weeks (which works great if you have a hybrid schedule).
Yes, the same plant you get your coffee beans from is a low-maintenance houseplant you'll want in your work area (not just the kitchen!). The Sill recommends watering them every one to two weeks, with less water needed if displayed in low light.
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
Alyssa Gautieri
Associate Lifestyle Editor
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
