19 Hard to Kill Indoor Plants | Near-impossible to Kill Plants


Hardy Houseplants Collage

If you are one who normally kills houseplants or are too busy and have very little time to care for your plants or you just want hassle-free plants, these hard to kill plants are perfect for you.

The hard to kill indoor plants are those plants that can tolerate some level of neglect and are especially ideal for the forgetful and busy plants parent.

These near-impossible to kill houseplants are hardy, easily adapt to low light conditions, do well in average room humidity and tolerate some level of neglect.

We have outlined for you herebelow 19 best hard to kill indoor plants that will thrive in your home.

19 Hard to Kill Plants that will Thrive in Your Home

Our list of the hard to kill or near-impossible to kill plants comprises of the hardy Snake Plant, Cast Iron Plant, Pothos, Monstera, Spider Plant, English Ivy, Jade Plant, Rubber Plant, Ponytail Palm among others.

1. Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

Snake plant, Dracaena trifasciata

Snake Plant also called Mother-in-law's Tongue or Saint George's Sword Plant is a slow growing, low maintenance and extremely hardy (almost indestructible) plant.

Dracaena trifasciata can withstand low light, dry air, draughts and periods of dryness. The only drawback for this plant is root-rot which is brought about by waterlogging.

Mother-in-law's Tongue is also a good indoor air cleaner which removes formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene from indoor air. Read on how to grow and care for Snake Plant.

2. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Cast iron plant, Aspidistra elatior

Cast Iron Plant is one of the highly tolerant plants, almost an indestructible plant that easily adapts to varying indoor growing conditions.

Cast Iron Plant is slow growing and can withstand periods of dryness at the roots if the temperature is not too high.

Cast Iron Plant will withstand both pollution and neglect if kept away from direct sunlight. The plant is very tolerant to shade and can withstand some level of neglect. Learn how to grow and care for Cast Iron Plant.

3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum

Spider Plant also called Airplane Plant, Spider Ivy or Ribbon Plant is extremely adaptable and will grow in hot or cool rooms, in sun or shade and will withstand dry air conditions.

Spider Plant is a popular indoor plant for a hanging basket. It is fast growing and easy care plant which easily propagates from the numerous plantlets borne on the stems as the plant matures.

Spider Plant is also a good indoor air cleaner and gets rid of benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toulene from indoor air. Learn how to grow and care for Spider Plant.

4. Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)

Pothos, Scindapsus aureus

Pothos also called Money Plant or Devil's Ivy has a high ability to withstand draught and excess moisture and generally pest resistant.

Pothos does well in the hardest of conditions. If kept away from direct sunlight and with moderate watering, Pothos will thrive.

Devil's Ivy can be treated as a trailer or climber, reaching up to 6 ft or more under good conditions. A moss stick or a hanging basket are ideal for growing this plant. Learn more on how to grow and care for Pothos.

5. Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica)

Japanese Aralia, Fatsia japonica

Japanese Aralia also called Paperplant or Glossy-leaf Paper Plant is a popular indoor plant with a tough constitution.

Fatsia japonica an excellent stand alone plant, growing to a height of 4 ft or more which grows quickly, is extremely durable and accepts a wide range of growing conditions.

Paperplant has been shown to be a good indoor air cleaner, which effectively removes formaldehyde gas from indoor air. Find out how to grow and care for Japanese Aralia.

6. Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Monstera deliciosa, Swiss Cheese Plant

Swiss Cheese Plant also called Mexican Breadfruit or Windowleaf Plant is a favorite indoor plant whose large, deeply-cut, perforated leaves are a sight to behold.

Monstera deliciosa easily adapts to a wide range of growing conditions. It will thrive even in the poor conditions if given enough light and moisture.

Swiss Cheese Plant is ideal as a stand alone plant for occupying large empty spaces. To produce an upright plant, provide a moss stick to support it and also push the aerial roots into the soil. Read more on how to grow and care for Swiss Cheese Plant.

7. Asparagus Fern (Asparagus plumosus)

Asparagus fern, Asparagus plumosus

Asparagus Fern also called Asparagus Grass, Lace Fern or Ferny Asparagus is not a true fern and is much easier to grow than true ferns.

Asparagus Grass adapts well to a wide variation in light, heat and frequency of watering. In other words it can withstand some level of neglect.

The cascading growth habit makes Asparagus plumosus ideal for a hanging basket where the branches can cascade downwards beautifully. Read more on how to grow and care for Asparagus Fern.

8. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

Heartleaf Philodendron, Philodendron scandens

Heartleaf Philodendron also called Sweetheart Plant is a popular plant due to its ease of care and ability to withstand neglect and poor growing conditions.

The Heartleaf Philodendron is ideal for a hanging basket and can also be grown as a climber. Firm support for the stems needs to be provided for the climber as it can become heavy.

Sweetheart Plant is also a good indoor air cleaner which gets rid of trichloethylene from indoor air. Learn how to grow and care for Heartleaf Philodendron.

9. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ZZ Plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia

ZZ Plant also called Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Aroid Palm or Emerald Palm is a highly tolerant plant with attractive glossy foliage and is ideal for small spaces.

Zanzibar Gem is highly tolerant to low light, dry conditions but does not like direct sunlight. The plant is considered to be amongst the hard to kill plants.

The foliage in Zuzu Plant contains unusually high content of water up to 90% and has an individual leaf longevity of at least 6 months. Read on how to grow and care for ZZ Plant.

10. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy, Hedera helix

English Ivy is easy to grow and adapts easily to a wide range of growing conditions. It is a hardy plant that will not die from a few days neglect.

The attractive English Ivy is useful as a screen for the unattractive spots, as a hanging basket plant or as a climber on a trellis or on a moss-stick.

Hedera helix is also a good indoor air cleaner which gets rid of common VOCs like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene from indoor air. Learn how to grow and care for English Ivy.

11. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonema

Chinese Evergreens are popular plants on account of their spectacular foliage, ease of care, air cleaning properties and ability to adapt to indoor growing conditions.

Being slow growers, Aglaonemas require minimal feeding and infrequent repotting and are perfect for limited spaces. They are good indoor air cleaners effective in the removal of benzene and formaldehyde.

Chinese Evergreens are ideal for the poorly lit spaces especially the all green varities are very tolerant to low light or shade conditions. Learn how to grow and care for Chinese Evergreens.

12. Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)

Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dracaena marginata

Madagascar Dragon Tree is a colorful plant that easily adapts to a wide range of indoor growing conditions and is also a good indoor air cleaner.

Dracaena marginata is a tough, drought-resistant plant with aggressive root system and is considered to be one of the hard to kill plants.

Madagascar Dragon Tree requires bright, indirect light, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil It has no need for high humidity. Read on how to grow and care for Madagascar Dragon Tree.

12. Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm)

Ponytail Palm, Beaucarnea recurvata

Ponytail Palm also called Elephant Foot is an easy care plant that does not require a lot of attention which makes it ideal for a beginner or the forgetful plant parent.

Beaucarnea recurvata has a large, swollen bulb that stores water which is is topped by a plume of long strap-like leaves which give this plant its common name.

Elephant Foot is a hardy, slow-growing succulent which requires very bright light with some direct sunlight and moderately moist free-draining soil. It does not like soggy soil. Learn how to grow and care for Ponytail Palm.

13. Spineless Yucca (Yucca gigantea)

Spineless Yucca, Yucca gigantea

Spineless Yucca also called Blue-stem Yucca, Giant Yucca or Yucca Cane can grow in a variety of soils and is drought-tolerant. It grows best in a hot semi-arid climate, so the plants are susceptible to root-rot if overwatered.

Yucca gigantea is an ideal False Palm for a hallway or large space in which a woody trunk bears a crown of long, leathery, strap-like, spineless leaves and white bell-shaped flowers may appear on mature plants.

Giant Yucca requires a deep, well-drained container and a well-lit spot with some sunshine inorder to thrive. Learn how to grow and care for Ponytail Palm.

14. Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Jade Plant, Crassula ovata, Crassula argentea

Jade Plant is a popular succulent plant that can withstand a great deal of neglect and mismanagement and is easy to grow even for a beginner.

Crassula ovata is an evergreen plant with thick branches and thick, shiny and smooth, yellowish-green leaves which grow in opposite pairs along the branch. The leaves may develop red edges in some varieties when exposed to very bright light.

Jade Plant can survive a considerable period of time without water due to the fleshy leaves and stems which store water and allow the plant to go for a considerably long period without being watered. Read more on how to grow and care for Jade Plant.

15. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Rubber Plant, Ficus elastica

Rubber Plant also called Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Bush, Indian Rubber Tree or Indian Rubber Bush is a popular tree-like plant that is easy to grow and easily adaptable to indoor growing conditions.

Ficus elastica has a high tolerance to drought conditions. When provided with bright light and fertile, moderately moist soil, the plant will thrive.

Rubber Plant is also a good air cleaner which gets rid of formaldehyde from indoor air. Learn how to grow and care for Rubber Plant.

16. Silver Inch Plant (Tradescantia zebrina)

Silver Inch Plant, Tradescantia zebrina

Silver Inch Plant is an easy care plant that will withstand a wide range of growing conditions and easily propagates; just a node of this plant will sprout into a beautiful plant in no time.

Tradescantia zebrina bears glistened, fleshy leaves which are multicolored above where the surface color is bluish-green, banded with silver and edged in purple.

Silver Inch Plant grows best under bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It has no need for high humidity. Learn how to grow and care for Silver Inch Plant.

17. Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

Pepper Face Plant, Baby Rubber Plant, Peperomia obtusifolia

Baby Rubber Plant also called Pepper Face Plant or American Rubber Plant is a compact upright growing Peperomia with cupped leathery leaves which resembles a rubber plant and hence its common name.

American Rubber Plant is a hardy plant that will thrive even when the growing conditions are less than perfect. It does not require too frequent watering but needs bright light away from direct sunshine.

Pepper Face Plant grows best bright, indirect light, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It has no need for high humidity. Read on how to grow and care for Baby Rubber Plant.

18. Haworthia Plants

Haworthia Plant, Haworthia

Haworthia Plants have firm, tough, fleshy leaves, usually dark-green in color while others are softer and contain leaf windows with translucent panels through which sunlight can reach internal photosynthetic tissues.

Haworthia are interesting plants in that, when stressed like when deprived of water, their color can change to reds and purple. If deprived of nitrogen the leaves become paler.

Haworthia Plants thrive in bright light with some direct sunlight and slightly moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Read more on how to grow and care for Haworthia Plants.

19. Aloe Plants

Aloe Plant

Aloes are low maintenance succulent plant which form a stemless rosettes of fleshy leaves and tubular, yellow, orange, pink or red and are borne , densely clustered and pendant at the apex of simple or branched leafless stems.

Aloe Plants are easy care plants which come in all shapes and sizes. There are numerous species of Aloes and a few are popular as indoor plants.

Aloe Plants thrive in bright light with some direct sunlight, average warmth away from drafts and moderately moist, rich, well- drained soil. Read more on how to grow and care for Aloe Plants.

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