10 Top Flowering Houseplants

By Leah De Graaf
September 16, 2014
Blooming plants add a welcome touch of color to inside spaces. Here are 10 of our favorites.
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Shrimp plant

Named for its unusually shaped and colored blooms, shrimp plant grows well at average room temperatures and humidity. It likes bright light with some direct sunlight for best bloom. This interesting branching shrub also works well in hanging baskets, and if conditions are right, it may produce flowers year-round.

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Flowering maple

When properly cared for, the flowering maple is rarely without blossoms. This tropical shrub or small tree does well in regular home temperatures and can tolerate temperatures as low as 50 degrees in winter.

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Clivia

Exotic-looking orange, red or yellow blooms appear in February or March after clivia has been exposed to about five weeks of cool, dry conditions. The best bloom comes on older, pot-bound plants. To keep the plant looking nice, remove any yellowed bottom leaves.

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Lipstick plant

An African violet relative, lipstick plant produces most its blooms in fall but also blooms sporadically throughout the rest of the year. Showy flowers and an arching growth pattern makes lipstick plant one of the best indoor plants for hanging baskets.

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Zebra plant

Even when its bright yellow flowers are not in bloom, this tropical shrub is striking. The plant will wilt when soil is too wet or too dry, so pay close attention to water needs. The plant typically does not live longer than a year but can be propagated indefinitely.

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Orchid

Orchids come in many varieties; most grow best when temperatures drop at night to between 50 and 65 degrees and rise during the day to 65 to 75 degrees. In general, hybrids (such as beallara, pictured) tend to be hardier.

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Hibiscus

This Hawaiian native features some of the largest blooms of any indoor plant. Flowers can reach more than 8 inches wide; the plant blooms intermittently from late spring to late fall, and even sometimes in winter. For best results, keep hibiscus in bright light and warm temperatures near a south or west window.

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Anthurium

Also known as the flamingo flower, anthurium is most often red, but hybrids are available in shades of pink, lavender and green. To keep the plant looking its best, wipe the leaves regularly with a sponge and lukewarm water. Anthurium blossoms last a long time after being cut, so they're ideal for flower arrangements.

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African violet

African violets are among the easiest and prettiest indoor plants to grow. The flowers vary in color-white, purple, lavender, wine, pink, or bicolored. African violets do better in lower light than most blooming houseplants and will bloom year-round with a minimum of care.

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Chenille plant

This plant adapts well to life in a pot, and its striking "caterpillars" can reach 12 to 18 inches long and up to an inch wide. Chenille plant likes warm temperatures and high humidity and grows best in bright to intense light. The fuzzy flowers are tempting to touch but chenille plant can irritate skin and be mildly toxic if ingested, so wear gloves when working with chenille plant and keep it out of reach of children and pets.

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By Leah De Graaf