Beginner-friendly plants

Pothos is the forgiving, trailing friend that thrives on neglect. Low light, irregular water, and the occasional trim — it'll happily vine across your shelf for years.

The Swiss Cheese plant — big, iconic split leaves and a laid-back attitude. Give it bright light and something to climb, and your monstera will become the room's centerpiece.

The nearly indestructible one. Tall, architectural swords of green that tolerate low light and forgotten waterings. The perfect plant if you've killed everything else.

Glossy, waxy leaves that look fake because they're so perfect. The ZZ stores water in thick roots, so it thrives on neglect and low light. A true set-it-and-forget-it plant.

A classic trailing beauty with heart-shaped leaves and an easygoing nature. Like a pothos with softer, greener foliage — it vines happily and forgives a missed watering.

Elegant dark leaves and white blooms that tolerate low light. The peace lily is a dramatic communicator — it flops when thirsty and pops right back up after a drink.

Arching striped leaves and little baby plantlets on long stems. The spider plant is pet-safe, fast-growing, and almost embarrassingly easy to multiply.

Rosettes of fleshy leaves built to hoard water. Succulents want sun, fast-draining soil, and to be left alone. The trick is resisting the urge to water them.

If you love large pet-friendly plants, consider getting the splendid Parlor Palm. This small, easy-care palm grows to 3–4 ft. tall over time and thrives in the kind of low light most rooms actually have.

One of the most popular pet-friendly low-light plants, the Boston Fern grows best in medium indirect light and is one of the most low-maintenance fern types — as long as you keep it humid.

A pet-safe favorite with vibrant lime-green leaves marked with dark green spots and red veins. The Lemon Lime Prayer Plant folds its leaves up at night like hands in prayer — a charming, low-light-tolerant houseplant.

Lush, pointed leaves patterned in silver and green — and one of the most tolerant houseplants there is. The Chinese Evergreen shrugs off low light and forgetful waterers, making it a quiet workhorse for dim corners.

Named for being nearly indestructible. Long, arching dark green leaves that tolerate low light, neglect, and dry air — a true set-it-and-forget-it plant that's also pet-safe.

Big, glossy oval leaves on a sturdy upright trunk — a sculptural statement plant. Give it bright light and a little room to grow, and the rubber tree becomes a room-defining centerpiece.

Thick, waxy leaves on long vining stems — and clusters of star-shaped flowers if you're patient. The wax plant (Hoya) is pet-safe, trailing, and forgives a missed watering thanks to its succulent-like leaves.

A swollen bulbous base topped with a fountain of long, curling leaves like a ponytail. Despite the name it's not a palm at all — it's a succulent, which means it stores water and forgives neglect. Pet-safe, too.

Thick, fleshy leaves on a sturdy trunk that thickens with age — the jade plant looks like a tiny tree and lives for decades. It's a succulent, so it stores water and forgives neglect, making it one of the easiest plants to keep happy.

A fern with attitude — wavy, bright green fronds that unfurl from a central rosette instead of feathery plumes. The bird's nest fern is pet-safe, loves humidity, and is one of the easier ferns to keep happy indoors.

Spiky, fleshy leaves full of soothing gel — the aloe vera is a practical succulent that lives on a sunny windowsill and forgives neglect. Give it sun, fast-draining soil, and infrequent water, and it'll thrive for years.