20 Best Kitchen Plants That Will Brighten Your Space in an Instant
Aloe vera, chives and parsley are just a few of the houseplants that will thrive in your kitchen.
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It's no secret that greenery helps to brighten your mood and elevate a space. Houseplants are a great way to add a pop of color to your home, especially if you opt for a stylish pot or planter — and even if you're no gardening expert, there are so many great indoor plants that are almost impossible to kill. Plants can add a relaxing element to your bedroom, energize your office space or even enhance your kitchen with the calming power of nature.
Kitchen plants in particular are a great addition to your home, since research has shown that plants have a variety of health benefits. They can reduce stress, sharpen your focus and increase productivity — all aspects that are important when it comes to making food on hectic, busy days. What's more, kitchens offer a number of great places to display plants. If your kitchen has sunny windows, you can rest them on the windowsill. Or you can line up small herbs on your kitchen countertops. Read on for more ways to bring the great outdoors into your kitchen via low-maintenance houseplants.
Peperomia Plant
Beginners will find growing and caring for this plant to be incredibly easier than others. Plus, the leaves make beautiful foliage. Keep them in bright, yet indirect sunlight and repot infrequently.
Ponytail Palm Plant
This succulent thrives in semi-dry conditions, so place it on the floor near your kitchen's entrance. If you forget to water it, no worries, as it can survive long periods without it.
Money Plant
This plant is famous for bringing luck and positivity. According to Vastu experts, it can help with balancing out the negative energies that come with incorrectly placing the gas burner or stove.
Asparagus Fern Plant
With its feathery-foliage, asparagus ferns grow well indoors under indirect light and slight humidity.
Heartleaf Plant
Low-maintenance and beautifully adorned with heart-shaped leaves, this greenery grows well in pots and hanging baskets.
Begonia Plant
Known for their elegant blooms and colorful leaves, begonias come in a range of colors, including salmon, white, yellow, apricot and red. Because they grow well in humidity, the kitchen is the best part of the house to place them.
Swedish Ivy Plant
Due to its thick stems that cascade downward, Swedish Ivy is another ideal plant for hanging baskets. Make sure to keep the soil moist and the light moderate.
Spider Plant
This almost impossible to kill plant requires minimal attention other than watering. Keep it in a pot with proper drainage and mist the leaves if you feel your kitchen isn't producing enough humidity.
RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Caring for a Spider Plant
ZZ Plant
ZZ is short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia. The waxy leaves can survive in dark corners of the room. If the top of the soil is dry, that's a sign to add water.
Arrowhead Plant
These greens are unique for their arrowhead-shaped leaves, making them eye-catching additions to your kitchen counter or island.
Parsley Plant
With a light scent and fresh taste, parsley can be used for your soups, vegetable and sauces. Keeping the plant in your kitchen gives you easy access to the herb.
Mint Plant
Because mint grows in bright locations, a kitchen with windows is the ideal fit. Use it to add flavor to your food and drinks, or allow its fragrance to refresh the room.
Chinese Evergreen Plant
Also known as aglaonema, Chinese evergreens are beautiful kitchen plants for their long leaves and silvery tinge. If you're unable to place it by the window, keep it in another part of the kitchen, as it can tolerate low light.
Pothos Plant
This plant is a climber and can filter gaseous toxins from the air. It can trail up to 10 feet long, with leaves expanding as far as four to eight inches.
Air Plant
If you're new to plant care, air plants are a great first pick due to their ability to grow without soil. Get rid of any excess water at the base, as it can lead to rot, and remove it from your terrarium or globe for proper watering.
Chives Plant
Keep your chives alive by placing them in a spot in your kitchen that gets at least six hours of light. Water frequently and use it as seasoning.
Cast Iron Plant
The long leaves of the cast iron plant (also named aspidistra), grow upright. Direct sunlight can bleach or burn the leaves so always be wary of where you place it.
Aloe Vera Plant
Aloe thrives in bright light, so they grow best in kitchens with windows. If you burn yourself while cooking, take a piece of the leaf and squeeze the gel-like substance on the wound for healing.
Peace Lily Plant
Featuring glossy green leaves, these tropical evergreens can live in low light, yet you might find them growing more in brighter conditions. The leaves collect dust, so wipe them down if seen.
English Ivy Plant
Train these hardy plants to grow as a topiary or place them in hanging baskets or pots. The vines may grow at a slow pace in the beginning, but they eventually can extend up to 50 feet.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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