13 of the Trendiest Houseplants of 2021
Along with gathering information from our own internal resources, I also scoured the Internet for the latest trends in indoor plants and consulted with experts and some of the most underappreciated groups of houseplant enthusiasts in my favorite subreddits for indoor plants.
The following species are not your ordinary houseplant, but then again, we all went into the year with our eyes wide open, so they fit. Without further ado, let’s dive deep into our list of the most interesting plants of 2021.
Monkey Tail Cactus
Monkey tail cactus, widely considered as the best plant to own if you want to make a statement, is the first of the surprising number of cactus species that are forecast to trend in 2021.
The monkey tail cactus differs from tubular cacti in that instead of spines throughout its arms, it has long, dangling spines covered with hair-like spikes from top to bottom. Every arm looks like the fuzzy tail of a monkey!
The monkey tail cactus can bloom with stunning red flowers if it is well cared for. As with any cactus, you should water your monkey tail when the soil is dry.
African Milk Tree
The African milk tree, or Euphorbia trigona, is the second indoor plant making a splash this year. This exotic plant from Central Africa certainly fits the bill as one of this year’s top indoor plants.
More than that, indoor gardeners of all levels are smitten with the African milk tree because it grows quickly and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance.
In bloom from April to August, the African milk tree grows to a maximum of six to eight feet, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for one.
As with all succulents, you can put it in front of a southern-facing window and water it regularly. Keep temperature between 65°F and 70°F and the African milk tree will be perfectly happy.
Alocasia Polly
Are you considering your house, apartment or office an urban jungle in 2021? If so, you should make sure you have at least one alocasia Polly plant in your indoor garden.
Located in Eastern Australia and subtropical Asia, Alocasia has nearly 80 species. Its large leaves make it one of the most impressive plants, and the Polly cultivar is especially noteworthy.
This cultivar features distinctive arrow-like leaves. The lush dark green foliage is also Instagram-worthy, with a glossy texture and a smooth, glossy appearance.
Silver streaks on the leaves of some alocasias capture attention, which makes it a popular houseplant. If you can find a healthy, young silver streaked alocasia, you will have an increasingly popular houseplant.
Alocasia Pollys should be kept out of direct sunlight to keep them healthy, as well as planted in a pot with large drainage holes. Use well-draining soil with alocasia Pollys to prevent them from wilting. Alocasia Polly require moist soil at all times, so you’ll need to water it either every other day or every few days depending on the season.
Snake Plant
There is only one plant on list of 2020’s trendy houseplants that made it on the list of 2021’s: the snake plant. The snake plant is known as viper’s bowstring hemp, mother-in-law’s tongue, and Saint George’s sword.
Snake plants are also recommended by various magazines, including Real Simple, House Beautiful, and House Beautiful. Therefore, if you have hesitated to add one to your indoor garden collection, don’t hesitate any longer.
Snake plants remain popular for a number of reasons, starting with their distinct look that is hard to find in many houseplant species, such as their tall, erect, blade-like leaves. The patterns across the leaves can vary in a lot of lovely ways depending on the cultivar.
In spite of their beauty, snake plants require very little care, and they tolerate low light conditions. 2021 has already brought over a lot of baggage from the previous year—if you are looking for a stunning indoor plant that’s not very demanding, the snake plant might be it.
Ficus Altissima
In spite of being recognized as one of the top indoor tree species of 2021, the Ficus altissima should definitely be on your list. A Moraceae family member with a simple, cheerful look, this tree is sure to bring a smile to your face.
It’s best to keep your Ficus altissima healthy and strong at a temperature of 70 degrees, which is about room temperature anyway. Make sure that the tree is away from drafts, whether they come from your air conditioner, heater, or an open window.
It requires medium to bright light if the Ficus altissima is variegated, but direct sunlight may burn its leaves. Unvariegated plants will tolerate bright indirect light, but never direct sun. That will burn its flowers!
Chinese Money Plant
On my top trending plants list last year you’d find the Stephania Erecta Potato Caudex, which was similar to the Chinese money plant but not quite. The Chinese money plant is highly ranked in 2021 and rightly so, as it should be.
There are several reasons to love this plant. The Chinese money plant is lucky, said to increase prosperity and wealth, two things we could use as 2021 gets underway. If you get one as a gift or gift yourself one, you are making a thoughtful gesture.
The leaves of the Chinese money plant — also known as pancake plants for their circular shape — are quite attractive, and the stems can be braided delicately to add more beauty and elegance to this lovely houseplant.
Furthermore, Chinese money plants are difficult to kill, despite appearing so dainty. If you are new to houseplants, you should be able to manage this one without much difficulty.
Red Prayer Maranta Plant
Is your goal this year to feel more calm and relaxed? That’s almost a rhetorical question. Of course you do. If so, you might feel more peaceful in 2021 with the red prayer maranta plant in the home or office.
Typical prayer plants in the Marantaceae family are usually green, however their red cultivar, the red prayer maranta plant, is not. Some red red prayer maranta plant leaves are fully red or maroon with red veins, whereas others are green.
This plant was named in honor of 16th-century physician and botanist Bartolomeo Maranta. Preferring well-draining soil, indirect but bright sun, and temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees, the red prayer maranta does not require too much maintenance.
During the springtime, give this prayer plant cultivar more water than usual. Underwatering your red prayer maranta can result in premature death, as the plant can reach drought conditions very quickly.
Happy Bean Plant
It’s only logical to imagine that we could all use a little more happiness in 2021, don’t you think? The happy bean plant is a tiny plant that nevertheless produces wide, blade-like leaves, not beans.
It may not be a full succulent, but the happy bean plant contains a bit of succulent, enough for its watering routine to be more hands-off. With its ability to retain fluid, you will rely less frequently on your watering can for that little spot in your indoor garden.
In fact, you don’t have to raise the humidity level as much as you would for other succulents. If you keep your home or office at room temperature, then the happy bean plant does not require increasing humidity levels.
String of Hearts
The string of pearls is one of the easiest vines to grow, but how about the string of hearts? It’s a different indoor plant called the Ceropegia. It has been around since the mid-1700s. Now it’s time for the string of hearts to shine.
Its long heart-shaped leaves are adorable, completely natural, and produced in a variety of colors. Some cultivars produce darker green leaves, while others produce lighter ones. Some still have red or pink markings across their leaves.
The string of hearts vine looks amazing trailing up a wall in a hanging basket, which is why you should buy one now to be an early trendsetter! It is projected to appear in everyone’s indoor gardens in 2021, so get your hands on one now!
Velvet Calathea
The velvet calathea is one of the best indoor plants for purifying the air and it deserves a place on this trends list. Regular readers may be familiar with the calathea, which is one of the best indoor plants for purifying the air.
Its super-dark colors, often a combination of deep green and blackish maroon, make velvet calathea’s leaves look like they are made of velvet. You’ll be tempted to reach out and touch it.
This cultivar prefers temperatures within 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit where there is ample humidity. You should water your velvet aloe rarely, maybe every week at most. If the soil is starting to dry down to just a few inches deep, that’s when more water is necessary.
Calatheas aren’t very particular when it comes to lighting conditions. In addition to low indirect light, they can tolerate bright indirect light as well. However, you should avoid bright sunlight with darker cultivars like velvet calatheas, as it can burn the leaves.
Mistletoe Cactus
After Christmas, one might not think much of mistletoe, but the Rhipsalis baccifera or mistletoe cactus keeps it name by hanging almost like mistletoe does. Warn me, a plant that hangs. Yes, that’s right.
If you are wondering why the mistletoe cactus is so popular in 2021, you will be relieved to know that despite having thin arms and no spines, it counts as a cactus. As such, you can water it infrequently.
Mistletoes have small, white blossoms throughout their lives, which make this houseplant extremely attractive to the eye. If grown in a hanging basket, the blooms really elevate the appearance of this plant!
Bunny Ears Cactus
The bunny ears cactus is getting plenty of attention since cute plants are in for 2021. This houseplant looks like your typical cactus, but it has thinner, branched arms that make it look like bunny ears.
It grows to only a height of two feet, so it’s perfect for home or office. Instead of spikes, this Mexican houseplant, known as the bunny ears cactus, has glochids, which are prickles that you should not touch!
Every time I accidentally touch a bunny ear cactus with my bare hands, I immediately regret it. Having my hand up against the Opuntia microdasys reminds me of how your hand feels after accidentally touching old insulation filled with fiberglass.
Because bunny ears don’t have the similar spikes or thorns to other varieties, they can be somewhat misleading when it comes to touching them without gloves. It may appear alright to touch them without gloves, but it is not alright. The clipping from your cactus can provide you with a new cactus if anything happens to it.
Fishbone Cactus
Several cacti have been predicted to be hot in 2021, but one that’s definitely going to stand out is the fishbone cactus. House Beautiful named it its top houseplant of the year, so that says something.
Fishbone cactus looks like anything but a cactus, up there with mistletoe cactus. The Disocactus anguliger is larger, with long, wavy, wavy fronds that resemble seaweed.
The fishbone cactus loves the plenty of space in a hanging basket, which provides the fronds with a lot of room to stretch and grow without needing to fight gravity.
Even though it looks like a “fishbone cactus,” this succulent is very easy to care for. Having a display-worthy houseplant that won’t die on you in two weeks is one of the reasons this plant is so big this year.