Hard-to-Kill Houseplants

Nothing seems to warm up a room and make it feel alive the way houseplants can. Besides adding color and form to a room, houseplants clean the air in our homes, making for a healthier home. The disappointments come when those healthy little houseplants we bring home start to wither and die. However, even the most prolific houseplant killers among us can have a thriving indoor garden. The key is to pick "tough as nails" houseplants. The following list of plants thrive, even with neglect, overwatering, underwatering, poor light conditions....you name it, they'll survive it.

7 Hard-to-Kill Houseplants

1. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra)

It's not called "Cast Iron Plant" for nothing. This tough plant will tolerate dust, heat, cold (down to 28 degrees), overwatering, underwatering, and low light conditions, all while maintaining its attractiveness. Cast Iron Plant has dark green, shiny leaves that resemble the leaves on corn stalks. It's a slow grower that will eventually reach about twenty-four inches tall. These plants will thrive anywhere in your home, including those dark corners where nothing else will grow.

2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Peacy Lily is often found in offices, waiting rooms, and shopping malls---all places where you can be sure they suffer from neglect and less-than-ideal conditions. Yet they always look great. The shiny green leaves look great, and if the plant gets adequate light, it will send up flower stalks, and will hold its white blooms for quite a while. If it doesn't get much light, Peace Lily won't flower, but it will still look great. This is the perfect plant for those of us who tend to drown our plants, as it doesn't mind wet conditions.

3. Mother-in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria)

Sansevieria is a tough plant that is perfect for those of us who tend to forget to water. It will tolerate most light conditions, but does best in low light. Overwatering will result in mushy leaves, so this should be avoided. There are several types of Sansevieria available, in colors ranging from dark green to light yellow. The upright, rigid leaves provide great structural interest in a room. Sansevieria is also often called "Snake Plant."

4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

Chinese Evergreen is a very attractive plant can be found either with light green leaves with dark green streaks, or with the reverse: dark green leaves with light green streaks. This low-light plant is perfect for those of us who forget to water, since it prefers its soil a bit on the dry side.

5. Umbrella Plant (Cyperus alternifolius)

Umbrella Plant is a very attractive, almost palm-tree looking plant that can grow up to three feet tall in the home. It is impossible to over-water this plant, as it loves moisture. In fact, the wetter the soil is, the happier Umbrella Plant is. This is the perfect plant for those of us who kill our plants by constantly watering them.

6. Heart-leaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

Heart-Leaf Philodendrons are very pretty plants with dark green, heart shaped leaves. As they grow, philodendrons have a trailing habit, making them very pretty for hanging baskets or high shelves where you'd like a little color. They can handle low light fairly well, and aren't picky about watering. Just keep the soil evenly moist, and if it dries out a little between waterings, the plant will still be fine.

7. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ZZ Plant is nearly indestructible. It thrives in dimly lit areas, and can go weeks without water, due to the fact that it grows from a tuber that stores water for the plant. Besides being almost impossible to kill, ZZ Plant is very pretty, with glossy green leaves on stems that can grow up to three feet tall.

There you have it: seven plants that are nearly impossible to kill. Now, there's no reason not to enjoy housplants in every room of your home!