24 Easy-care Indoor Trees Ideal for Beginners
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Indoor trees are a powerful way to bring nature inside your home while improving air quality, aesthetics and mental well-being. These Tree-like Plants create height, structure and a bold statement, making them ideal for living rooms, offices and apartments.
Trees for Indoors are large, woody plants that adapt well to indoor growing conditions such as limited light, controlled humidity and container growth.
Most Indoor Trees are low-maintenance under room conditions and generally require little attention making them perfect for beginners. While selecting a tree for your space, consider the level of care required as well as the available space.
These Trees for Indoors grow 4–10 feet tall and thrive in bright indirect light. A few of the trees can grow quite large, but the size can be controlled by pruning.
If you are looking to add Indoor Trees to your indoor jungle, we have herebelow outlined 24 Tree-like Plants that are perfect for beginners to make it easier for you to make your selection.
24 Best Beginner-friendly Indoor Trees
Best indoor trees for beginners are Madagascar Dragon Tree, Rubber Plants, Palms, Umbrella Tree, Lace Tree Philodendron, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Aralia balfouriana, Spineless Yucca among others.
1. Madagascar Dragon Tree
Botanical name: Dracaena marginiata
Common name: Madagascar Dragon Tree
Origin: Madagascar and other Indian Ocean Islands
Height: 8-10 ft
Madagascar Dragon Tree is among reknowned Dracaena varieties for its air-cleaning ability, ease of care and ability to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.
Madagascar Dragon Tree thrives in bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata).
2. Rubber Plants
Botanical name: Ficus elastica
Common names: Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree, Indian Rubber Bush
Origin: Eastern parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia
Height: 6-10 ft
Rubber Plants are popular, large-sized, large-leafed plants that make a bold statement in any space, and easily adapt to a wide range of growing conditions.
There are many Rubber Tree varieties like Ficus elastica 'Decora', Ficus elastica 'robusta' (Bronze Rubber Plant), Ficus elastica 'Black Prince', Ficus elastica 'Tineke', Ficus elastica 'Shivereana' among others.
Ficus elastica blossom in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, warmth of 15-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Rubber Plants (Ficus elastica).
3. Areca Palm
Botanical name: Dypsis lutescens
Common names: Areca Palm, Butterfly Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Yellow palm
Origin: Madagascar
Height: 6-10 ft
Areca Palm is among popular Palm varieties due to its long, feathery, drooping fronds and the yellowish cane-like stems which lend an air of elegance and sophistication in any space.
Areca Palm prefers bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil accompanied by monthly feeding in the growing season. Check out our guide on how to grow and care for Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens).
4. Dwarf Umbrella Tree
Botanical name: Schefflera arboricola
Common names: Dwarf Umbrella Tree, Hawaiian Schefflera, Dwarf Schefflera
Origin: Taiwan and Hainan
Height: 4-6 ft
Dwarf Umbrella Tree is a delightful plant with about ten leaflets radiating from each leaf-stalk on account of its ability to easily adapt to various growing conditions.
Hawaiian Schefflera is much easier to grow than its relative Schefflera actinophylla (Umbrella Tree) and will happily grow as a bush if the growing tip is removed.
Schefflera arboricola thrives in medium to bright indirect light (dappled light), moderate warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola).
5. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Botanical name: Ficus lyrata
Common name: Fiddle Leaf Fig
Origin: western Africa; Cameroon West to Sierra Leone
Height: 6-10 ft
Fiddle Leaf Fig is among popular Ficus varieties on account of its large, striking, violin-like leaves with a leathery texture, prominent veins and a wavy margin and is perfect for the large spaces.
Ficus lyrata prefers bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata).
6. Fishtail Palm
Botanical name: Caryota mitis
Common names: Fishtail Palm, Clustering Fishtail Palm
Origin: Tropical Asia; India to Java to Southern China
Height: 6-8 ft
Fishtail Palm is among the popular indoor palms on account of its spectacular, ragged-edged leaflets on arching fronds. It gets its name from the shape of the leaflets which look-like fish tails.
Caryota mitis requires bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Fishtail Palm (Caryota mitis).
7. Aralia balfouriana
Botanical name: Polyscias balfouriana
Common names: Aralia balfouriana, Dinnerplate Aralia, Balfour Aralia
Origin: New Guinea to Queensland, Australia
Height: 8 ft
Aralia balfouriana bears an abundance of attractive, dark-green leaves and easily adapts to a wide range of growing conditions making an ideal indoor tree.
Polyscias balfouriana like Polyscias fruticosa (Ming Aralia0 thrives in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Aralia balfouriana (Polyscias balfouriana).
8. Spineless Yucca
Botanical name: Yucca gigantea
Common names: Spineless Yucca, Soft-tip Yucca, Blue-stem Yucca, Giant Yucca, Yucca Cane, Itabo
Origin: Mexico and Central America
Height: 8-10 ft
Yucca gigantea is an ideal False Palm for a hallway or a large space and features a woody trunk on which a crown of long, leathery, strap-like, spineless leaves is borne. White bell-shaped flowers may appear on mature plants.
Blue-stem Yucca requires a deep, well-drained container and a well-lit spot with some sunshine to thrive, placing it among the sun-loving plants for the home.
Yucca gigantea prefers very bright light with 6-8 hours of direct sunshine, warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, well-drained, fertile succulents mix coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Spineless Yucca (Yucca gigantea).
9. Copperleaf Plant
Botanical name: Acalypha wilkesiana
Common name: Copperleaf Plant, Jacob's Coat, Fire Dragon Plant
Origin: Fiji islands, New Caledonia
Height: 9-10 ft
Acalypha wilkesiana also called Jacob's Coat or Fire Dragon is a popular, vibrant tree-like plant which exhibits attractive leaf colors making it a great accent plant in any plant collection.
Its broad, ovate to heart-shaped, serrated leaves can range from red, copper, bronze to pink, green and white, giving them a beautiful vibrant appearance. It is among the best plants for the living room where it will create a delightful first impression.
Acalypha wilkesiana prospers in bright indirect light, warmth of 18-270C, humidity of 55-70% and evenly moist, rich, well drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Copperleaf Plant (Acalypha wilkesiana).
10. Ficus Audrey
Botanical name: Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey'
Common names: Ficus Audrey, Bengal Fig, Banyan Fig, Banyan Tree, Indian Banyan, Strangler Fig
Origin: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan
Height: 5-10 ft
Ficus Audrey features green, oval leaves with a fuzzy surface and a smooth light-colored trunk. It has a high tolerance to drought and frosty conditions, and is considered much easier to grow than most Ficus Plants.
Ficus benghalensis 'Audrey' thrives in bright light with some morning or late afternoon sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Ficus Audrey (Ficus Audrey).
11. Lacy Tree Philodendron
Botanical name: Philodendron selloum, Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, Philodendron bipinnatifidum
Common names: Lacy Tree Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron
Origin: Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay
Height: 5-6 ft
Lacy Tree Philodendron is among favoured Philodendron varieties and bears simple, large, deeply-lobed, ruffle-edged, drooping, dark-green leaves and is most impressive in a large space for a bold statment.
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum like Philodendron 'Summer Glory' and Philodendron selloum 'Sun Red' is a non-climbing, upright bush which looks magnificent in a pot. Use a moss pole to give it support and to encourage it to grow the large magnificent leaves.
Philodendron selloum prospers in medium to bright indirect light (filtered light), warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 55-65% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, aroids potting mix coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Lacy Tree Philodendron (Philodendron selloum).
12. Barberton Groundsel
Botanical name: Senecio barbertonicus
Common names: Barberton Groundsel, Succulent Bush Senecio, Barberton Senecio
Origin: Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, eastern South Africa
Height: 6 ft
Barberton Groundsel also called Succulent Bush Senecio or Barberton Senecio is among the perennial Senecio varieties and is densely packed with lime-green, finger-like, fleshy leaves on semi-succulent stems.
Senecio barbertonicus flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunshine, warmth of 20-260C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, succulents soils coupled with regular feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Barberton Groundsel (Senecio barbertonicus).
13. Variegated Triangle Leaf Fig
Botanical name: Ficus triangularis
Common name: Triangle Leaf Fig
Origin: South and West Africa
Height: 4-6 ft
Variegated Triangle Leaf Fig is an evergreen, shrubby plant which bears glossy, triangular-shaped, dark-green-variegated leaves with creamy-white veins and edges.
Ficus triangularis 'Variegata' grows best in bright light with some sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soil which is rich in organic matter coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Triangle Leaf Fig (Ficus triangularis).
14. Angel Wing Begonia
Botanical name: Begonia coccinea
Common name: Angel Wing Begonia, Scarlet Begonia
Origin: Atlantic Forest of Brazil, distributed in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo
Height: 6-8 feet
Angel Wing Begonia also called Scarlet Begonia is among popular Begonia varieties and comes with large, glossy, red-margined leaves. The leaves are 'angel wing' shaped and hence the common name.
Scarlet Begonia is an evergreen, shrubby, flowering plant which bears large clusters of waxy flowers which hang from the stems and come in red, white, orange and pink. Like Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculata) and Begonia lucerna, it has the advantage of keeping its beautiful 'Angel Wing' leaves through out the year.
Begonia coccinea grows best in bright indirect light, warmth of 18-260C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained potting mix with weekly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Angel Wing Begonia (Begonia coccinea).
15. Ponytail Palm
Botanical name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Common names: Ponytail Palm, Elephant Foot
Origin: Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosi in eastern Mexico
Height: 6 ft
Ponytail Palm is a popular succulent plant that does not require a lot of attention which makes it ideal for a beginner or the forgetful plant parent.
This is because the large, swollen bulb which resembles an elephant's foot stores water enabling this plant to go for considerably long periods without being watered, placing it among the hard to kill plants as it will withstand some level of neglect.
Beaucarnea recurvata grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth, moderate humidity and moderately moist, rich, free-draining succulents soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Check out our guide on how to grow and care for Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata).
16. Lady Palm
Botanical name: Rhapis excelsa
Common name: Lady Palm
Origin: India and Asia
Height: 6 ft
Lady Palm belongs to the group of palms called fan palms as they produce fronds which are split into numerous segments radiating from a point at the base (fan-like segments which resemble a lady's fan).
Lady Palm grows best in bright to medium indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa).
17. Ficus Alii
Botanical name: Ficus maclellandii 'Alii'
Common names: Ficus Alii, Banana Leaf Fig, Banana Leaf Ficus, Long Leafed Fig, Narrow Leafed Fig
Origin: Asia, India and China
Height: 9-10 ft
Banana Leaf Fig is an evergreen, perennial plant with glossy, long, slender, willow-like, medium-green leaves which hang downwards. The new leaves are reddish-bronze and change to medium-green as they mature.
Ficus Alii thrives in bright light with some sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Ficus Alii (Ficus maclellandii 'Alii').
18. Canary Island Date Palm
Botanical name: Phoenix canariensis
Common names: Canary Island Date Palm, Pineapple Palm
Origin: Canary Islands
Height: 6 ft
Canary Island Date Palm features pinnate leaves with numerous leaflets on a stiff and straight rachis and is considered to have a high tolerance to a wide range of soil conditions, light variations and drought conditions.
Phoenix canariensis grows best in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, rich well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis).
19. Buddhist Pine
Botanical name: Podocarpus macrophyllus
Common names: Buddhist Pine, Yew Plum Pine, Japanese Yew, Fern Pine
Origin: southern Japan, southern and eastern China
Height: 6 ft
Buddhist Pine also called Yew Plum Pine, Japanese Yew or Fern Pine is a durable tree-like plant which does not mind a drafty situation and requires little attention.
The upright stems bear dark-green, narrow and glossy, leathery leaves making it a great plant for the any space. With regular pruning it will remain a compact shrub.
Podocarpus macrophyllus flourishes in bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, warmth of 15-240C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained potting soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Buddhist Pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus).
20. Weeping Fig
Botanical name: Ficus benjamina
Common names: Weeping Fig, Benjamin Fig, Ficus Tree
Origin: Asia and Australia
Height: 6-8 ft
Benjamin Fig bears gracefully drooping branch-lets and glossy leaves, oval with an acuminate tip. It has a high tolerance to various growing conditions though it does not like sudden changes in light conditions as they can lead to excessive leaf loss.
Ficus benjamina grows best in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina).
21. Leea Burgundy
Botanical name: Leea coccinea
Common names: Leea Burgundy, Red Leea, Hawaiian Holly, West Indian Holly 'Rubra'
Origin: Australia, New Guinea, Asia, Africa
Height: 6-8 ft
Leea Burgundy is a rare statement plant whose foliage in young plants is bronzy red but turns green when mature, placing it among the purple-leafed plants and will create a great focal point in any space.
Leea coccinea blossoms in medium to bright light (filtered light), warmth of 18-290C, humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Check out our guide on how to grow and care for Leea Burgundy (Leea coccinea).
22. Ficus Yellow Gem
Botanical name: Ficus altissima 'Yellow Gem'
Common names: Ficus Yellow Gem, Council Tree, Lofty Fig
Origin: Southeast Asia
Height: 6-8 ft
Ficus Yellow Gem features glossy, oval leaves with green and bright yellow variegation and lighter veining, and has a high tolerance to drought conditions, but prefers humid conditions to thrive.
Ficus Yellow Gem prefers bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Ficus Yellow Gem (Ficus altissima 'Yellow Gem').
23. African Fig Tree
Botanical name: Ficus cyathistipula
Common names: African Fig Tree, Birchbark Fig
Origin: Africa
Height: 6-8 ft
African Fig Tree is an evergreen, vigourously-growing, shrubby plant with a thin trunk and bears glossy, leathery, tumbler-shaped, dark-green leaves arranged spirally on a 4 cm long petiole.
Ficus cyathistipula thrives in bright light with some direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for African Fig Tree (Ficus cyathistipula).
24. Dracaena deremensis
Botanical name: Dracaena deremensis
Common name: Dracaena deremensis
Origin: Tropical Africa and Asia
Height: 4-6 ft
Dracaena deremensis is a slow-growing plant which features dark-green foliage with one or more longitudinal stripes in a different color, and is perfect for the limited spaces.
Dracaena deremensis like Dracaena draco (Dragon Blood Tree) grows best in bright indirect light, average warmth and humidity, and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Dracaena deremensis.
