20 Unique Indoor Trees to Spruce Up Your Space (2024)

Warning

Some of the plants on this list are toxic for pets. For more information about the safety of specific plants, consult the ASPCA'ssearchable database.

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Native to the rainforests of western and central Africa, fiddle leaf figs are tropical plants that enjoy warm, humid, environments, meaning that occasionally misting your plant or keeping the pot on a tray of wet rocks will help keep it happy. This plant's broad, waxy leaves will tilt downward when it needs water, and it prefers to be kept away from vents and other drafty environments as it is sensitive to dry air and environmental change.

Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)

Majesty palms have long elegant fronds and thrive in sunny spots with plenty of moisture in the air. These indoor palm trees are found growing along the edges of streams and rivers in the wild, so they also like plenty of water. Make sure this plant is potted in a well-draining planter to prevent root rot. This slow grower should only need to be repotted once every other year.

Lemon Tree (Citrus limon)

All indoor citrus trees need bright light to thrive, and lemon trees are no exception. These fruit trees enjoy gritty soil and twice-yearly fertilizing in the spring and summer. Don't expect your tree to fruit indoors the way it would outside, although that process can be encouraged by leaving planters outdoors in the warmer months and bringing the tree inside to brighten your environment as it flowers in the fall and winter.

Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola)

The names umbrella and octopus tree both refer to two closely related species from the genus Schefflera: arboricola and actinophylla. The care for these two plants is similar, but the arboricola (pictured) features smaller leaflets less than 4-5 inches in size. Native to Taiwan, these plants rarely need fertilizer and only need repotting every few years, making them relatively low maintenance.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

The bird of paradise is a stunning indoor plant that can grow to be 20 feet tall outdoors in its native southern Africa. Inside, it typically reaches between three and eight feet in height, enjoying humid environments and plenty of sunlight. An evergreen perennial, this plant is also known as the crane flower, in reference to the shape of its unique blooms.

Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)

Rubber trees are a popular ornamental house plant with broad, shiny, attractive leaves. Native to southeast Asia, these plants tolerate low light and do not like being moved from more than one location. As it grows, the trunk of this plant may need training or support and the leaves will need to be occasionally dusted with a damp cloth or sponge.

Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)

Native to Central and South America, money trees can grow up to 60 feet tall in their native habitat but are more common as a small, decorative, indoor tree. Featuring a series of slender trunks that braid together, these plants like a humid space and frequent fertilizing. Rotate your tree routinely for even growth.

Olive Tree (Olea europea)

Native to the Mediterranean, olive trees tolerate low humidity well, and dwarf varieties top out at around six feet tall, making them an ideal indoor height. Many gardeners keep their olive trees outdoors after the danger of frost has past and through the summer to encourage potential fruiting and keep the plant healthier. When kept strictly indoors, these trees typically only live around 10 years.

Dwarf Banana Plant (Musa tropicana)

These tropical plants feature broad, paddle-shaped leaves that grow out from a single, central stalk. Native to east Asia, banana plants enjoy humid environments and are one of the oldest cultivated crops in the world. As with most potted trees, a deep planter with adequate drainage works best. Adding stones or even styrofoam to the bottom inches of a pot can help prevent root rot.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

This popular, large indoor palm is native to Central America and has a reputation as a low maintenance and attractive houseplant. Single-stalk specimens are uncommon, with shrub-like patches of new growth appearing in small clumps instead. Parlor palms grow in dense rainforest conditions and dislike intense sunlight.

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

Native to Asia and Australia, weeping fig is the official tree of Bangkok, and can reach 60 feet tall in its ideal tropical and subtropical conditions. With vibrantly green, drooping leaves, these plants reach around three to six feet tall indoors.

Yucca Tree (Yucca elephantipes)

Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees native to arid parts of the Americas as well as the Caribbean. Their preference for hot and dry environments means that they're drought-tolerant, making them a low maintenance indoor plant ideal for those who sometimes forget to water.

Dwarf Valencian Orange Tree (Citrus sinensis)

In addition to dwarf Valencian orange trees, there are a variety of small oranges that can grow indoors including navels and Calamondins. These plants need a large container to allow the roots to develop as well as citrus fertilizer applied routinely. Like the lemon tree already mentioned on this list, dwarf orange trees are not likely to produce fruit unless they're kept outside in the spring and summer.

Jade Tree (Crassula ovata)

A common houseplant around the world, the jade tree is also known as the lucky plant or money tree and is a succulent plant native to South Africa and Mozambique. Well known for its bonsai capabilities, jade trees have thick branches and shiny smooth leaves and propagate easily either from cuttings or leaves that fall directly from the plant.

Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)

These palms get their names from the rounded shape of their leaves extending from a single stalk like a windmill. A hearty evergreen native to China, Japan, Myanmar and India, its leaves have a coarse, fibrous, texture, and historically were used to make rope, sacks, and clothing. Indoors, this plant will reach 6-8 feet in height over the course of several years.

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Also known as elephant's foot, ponytail palms are native to eastern Mexico, where extant trees are more than 350 years old. These evergreen perennials feature an expanded basal stem structure for storing water, a requirement in their native habitat in which a 7-8 month long dry season is typical.

Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)

Native throughout tropical South Africa, the corn plant is a flowering plant commonly seen in Africa as hedges. Fairly slow-growing plants, their thick stems produce long leaves (resembling those of corn) that steadily grow upright, meaning it takes up little horizontal space indoors.

Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa)

Also known as Bodhi trees, sacred figs are native to Indochina and the Indian subcontinent, where they hold significance in several religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. In ideal outdoor conditions, they have a lifespan of more than 1,000 years, and are found in a variety of climates and soil types.

Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

As the name suggests, Norfolk Island Pines are endemic to Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean near Australia. Though it is not a true pine, this tree is also called a star pine, as well as a living Christmas tree, because of its similar, symmetrical shape. They prefer warm, wet, climates similar to their home in the south Pacific and should not be exposed to freezing temperatures.

Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)

Native to the Mediterranean, most cooks are familiar with bay laurel trees because of their fragrant leaves commonly used for seasoning in recipes. This evergreen shrub does well in containers and tolerates the full range of indoor temperatures.