And no, they're not all herbs.
Adding plants to your kitchen is an easy way to infuse some personality into your space. And besides, a lively, colorful kitchen only makes cooking dinner feel more fun and less of a chore. But if you're wondering what kinds of plants can actually thrive in your kitchen, it really depends on what your home is like—everyone has a different set-up with windows and natural light, counter space, size, how often you cook, temperature, and more that can affect how your plants do.
These plants take that into consideration, with options that can handle multiple light levels, humidity, temperatures fluctuations, and more. Plus, there are several trailing and hanging options that you can place on top of your cabinets, as well as plants like herbs that can go in your window or on the counter. Not to mention, there are a few plants that can help you mitigate any pest problems that might occur (bye, bye, flies!). If you're shopping for kitchen plants, these houseplants are a great place to start. And if you're wondering how to keep them alive, you can find more in-depth care tips for them at The Sill, Bloomscape, and Costa Farms.
1
Peace Lilies
BUY NOW Peace Lily, $26, amazon.com
Not only would peace lilies make a gorgeous addition to any kitchen, but they're great at cleaning the air around them. They enjoy high humidity and can tolerate short periods of underwatering. It's best to keep them in an east-facing window, so they're in a bright, well-lit area but can avoid direct afternoon sunlight.
2
Polka Dot Plant
BUY NOWPolka Dot Plant, $15, etsy.com
With colorful, spotted leaves, this plant (the Hypoestes phyllostachya) makes for a dreamy kitchen accent. It does best in partial shade with bright, indirect sunlight. Avoid letting the soil dry out as these plants prefer a bit of moisture at all times. They also like humid conditions, which you can achieve by misting them.
3
Herbs
BUY NOW Assorted Herb Seeds, $14, amazon.com
Herbs like basil, rosemary, and oregano are an obvious choice for kitchen plants, since you can also use them while you cook. They're easy to grow indoors, and tasty, too.
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4
Chinese Evergreen
BUY NOW Chinese Evergreen Plant, $25, etsy.com
Looking for a plant that can tolerate almost any indoor condition? Chinese evergreen is a good pick. It has long, green leaves with a silvery sheen. The low maintenance plant can thrive in a range of light settings and watering frequencies—you can hardly go wrong!
5
Spider Plant
BUY NOW Reverse Variegated Spider Plant, $14, amazon.com
Spider plants thrive in bright light, but they also do just fine in low light—so no matter what your kitchen is like (even with different humidity and temperature levels!), these guys will prosper. Hang them or place them on top of the cabinets to save your precious counter space.
6
Aloe Vera
BUY NOW Aloe Vera Plant, $21, amazon.com
Not only does aloe look cute on your counter (and take up minimal space!) but the plant's healing properties are great for when you accidentally burn yourself while cooking dinner. Just break off a stem and use the gel to fix it right up.
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7
Pothos
BUY NOW Golden Pothos, $29, amazon.com
If you want a virtually unkillable trailing plant to add some drama to your kitchen, the always-reliable pothos is your best bet. It can handle varying levels of light and humidity, and it'll show you when it's being neglected or overwatered and bounce right back once you take care of it.
8
Venus Fly Trap
BUY NOW Venus Fly Trap Plant, $20, amazon.com
Venus fly traps are a carnivorous plant, and as the name suggests, they actually lure flies (and other bugs) in and eat them. A venus fly trap plant won't totally rid your kitchen of pests, but it can certainly help.
9
ZZ Plant
BUY NOW ZZ Plant, $24, amazon.com
ZZ Plants can tolerate low or brighter light (just not direct sunlight), as well as any humidity level. Plus, it's a plant that prefers less water, staying on the drier side. Meaning, no matter what your kitchen environment is like—and no matter how often you forget to water your plants—you'll be okay with one of these.
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10
English Ivy
BUY NOW English Ivy, $14, amazon.com
Ivy is another great trailing option if you're going for a bold look or a plant that can live on top of your cabinets, and it's easy to care for, too. They thrive in humidity, but they're better for a bright kitchen with a good amount of natural light—bright or medium light is fine, but low light? Not so much.
11
Snake Plant
BUY NOW Snake Plant, $34, amazon.com
Always a classic, snake plants are another great decorative plant for the kitchen—whether you have counter space to spare or want a taller floor plant to liven things up. These plants like brighter light but can tolerate low light, and since they don't require frequent watering, they're easy to care for, too.
12
Lavender
BUY NOW Lavender Plant, $24, amazon.com
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, lavender actually repels bugs like flies, mosquitos, moths, and more. And that means that growing fresh lavender won't just look pretty and smell great—it'll help you keep bugs at bay, too.
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13
Air Plant
BUY NOW Assorted Air Plants, $14, amazon.com
And of course, there are always air plants. Hang these little plants in terrariums or other holders wherever you want to add a little flair to your kitchen, and you can rest easy knowing they're super simple to care for. You can even put them in magnets on your fridge!
