Do you have an indoor green thumb? It is full of lush green leaves and stunning variegations in unusual shapes. The sight is gorgeous and you have welcomed nature indoors!
Sometimes, it’s really nice to have a splash of colors amidst those leafy friends and flowering houseplants are here to add some cheer to your green thumb. They have so many inexpensive, easy to grow options and with a long bloom time, you won’t be missing spring for too long.
From window sills to hanging baskets, we have rounded up some fantastic flowering species that could grace your interiors with their beauty, any day! These blooming houseplants can thrive with minimal care and even if the flowers fade, you can coddle some of them to rebloom. Expand your gardening skills with them and inject some vibrancy, color, and fragrance to your living adobe.
21 Best Flowering Houseplants That Are Easy To Grow
1. Phalaenopsis Orchid
One of the most elegant orchids, Phalaenopsis is easy to grow flowering houseplant with very pretty white blooms. Also known as moth orchids, they bear a simpler set of care instructions in comparison to other orchids and they even support reblooming.
Phalaenopsis orchids bloom in late winter and last through spring. They can produce numerous blooms in one stem and the green flower spikes support reblooming. Phalaenopsis blooms have white petals with a pink center providing a long-lasting beauty to your interiors.
Caring for Phalaenopsis Orchid:
While taking care of orchids is very easy, you have to keep them healthy to see those blooms. They require certain conditions to bear the blooms like a temperature of 13 to 15 degrees Celcius and make sure it receives bright, indirect sunlight. Watering once and twice a week and feeding the young flowering spikes with fertilizers will ensure a longer blooming season.
2. Calathea crocata
An exotic addition to your home, Calathea crocata is a low-maintenance plant that grows very well in temperate gardens. Due to its stunning yellow flowers, it has been named eternal flame and it is an amazing ornamental houseplant. Unlike most exotic species, Calathea crocata is not very demanding and the blooms can even last for 3 months!
The spectacular foliage has metallic green outside with purple hues amidst a wrinkled texture. The eternal flame blooms are yellow or orange and they resemble a flame. They have yellow-orange bracts and rose-red sepals that form an amazing display as centerpieces.
Caring for Calathea crocata:
Use compost-based soil which is well-draining and keep it in bright, indirect sunlight. This flowering species loves humidity and warmth and you must be very careful in winters. The eternal flame needs an even amount of water and fertilizing during the blooming period.
3. Kaffir Lily
Kaffir lily, also known as clivia lily is a South African species that could be an amazing flowering plant. You can grow it indoors with no fuss and in return, you will have beautiful clumps of orange flowers with a bright yellow center.
Kaffir lily has evergreen leaves that are long and broad, but they are toxic and you must be careful if you have pets around. The blooms are lily-like, trumpet-shaped that cluster together, and grace your interiors with its beauty. Orange is the most common color and some new cross-breeds have different color options.
Caring for Kaffir Lily:
Growing clivia lilies as a houseplant are super easy. You have to water it regularly and keep it in a sunny window to get those mesmerizing blooms. Warm, coastal climates are ideal for it and keep it away from cold and frost, always.
4. Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Thunbergia or black-eyed Susan vine is a happy annual that enjoys cooler climates. They aren’t related to Rudbeckia or black-eyed Susan, but the flowers are quite identical. This fast-growing vine works very well as a houseplant as it develops a hefty rooting system very easily.
Black-eyed Susan vines have vibrant orange or bright yellow blooms with black dots as the center. They are also available in white, apricot, red, and bicolor. This plant isn’t cold tolerant and you must maintain an optimum temperature indoors.
Caring for Black-Eyed Susan Vine:
This pretty vine needs a good quality potting mix, full sun, and a little afternoon shade in hot climates. Black-eyed Susan vine needs a sturdy container as the root system is quite deep and don’t overwater it. Feed the vine once or twice a week during the blooming season and you will get the prettiest flowers!
5. African Violet
Annual verbenas are well-known for adding glam to summer gardens and people also call it African violet. They are versatile and vigorous with vibrant blooms that last for seasons. Verbena looks good weaving through garden beds and they also slay in window boxes, hanging baskets, and spilling pots.
Verbena has tiny, saucer-shaped blooms in a clustered form and they are fragrant. The blooms are in shades of pink, purple, coral, red, and other bi-colored varieties. These colorful and scented flowers are rich sources of nectar that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Caring for African Violet:
Verbena plant requires full sun and average, well-drained soil. Though mature verbena plants are drought-tolerant you must keep them moist during longer drought periods, especially in container plants.
Enrich the soil with slow-release fertilizers during the blooming season which starts in May and ends in October. Verbenas do not require pruning, but you can trim the trailing shoots if they crowd the container.
6. Rieger Begonia
Rieger begonia belongs to the Begoniaceae genus which is the sixth-largest flowering plant family, is a hybrid that was created in the late 1880s. They grow bright, small rosettes and they are an easy to grow flowering houseplant.
The blooms of Reiger are bright, large, and round-shaped with no scent. The best part is the flowers keep on blooming throughout the year and beautify your interiors. They bring a bright splash of vibrant colors like warm red, yellow, and rose.
Rieger begonia is a bushy little variety that grows a compact set of stems. They are frost-sensitive and mostly grown as houseplants in southern parts of the US.
Caring for Rieger Begonia:
Rieger begonias need lots of sunlight and placing it in a sunny window would be the best. They enjoy fresh air which also prevents mildew from gathering on the foliage. Feed it with liquid fertilizers and water regularly since the soil, for container plants, shouldn’t be allowed to dry out completely.
7. Hibiscus
Chinese hibiscus is a flowering shrub with big, showy blooms that works well on containers and garden beds. Hibiscus is very easy if you follow certain tips like they perform best when roots are crowded. Belonging to the mallow family, it is a tropical native and enjoys a warm climate.
The blooms of this plant are large, trumpet-like with pistils emerging gracefully from the horn of the flower. These extremely showy blooms are also known for their culinary and medicinal properties and some of them are edible. Tropical hibiscus blossoms are found in shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, and multicolor.
Caring for Hibiscus:
Hibiscus enjoys full sun for at least six hours every day and you must protect it during chilly winters if you live in temperate climates. Use well-drained potting mix and water it consistently since tropical hibiscus would drop flowers without enough water. Feed the plant with fertilizers from spring through autumn which is the blooming time. Chinese hibiscus is an adorable flowering species and an easy to grow houseplant!
8. Gloxinia
A beautiful purple flower with layered petals and white edges, gloxinia is mainly a flowering houseplant that produces a large number of blossoms. Sinningia speciosa or gloxinia is a perennial that would go through a period of dormancy and later, gift its owner with a fresh flush of velvety flowers.
These big, velvety blooms put out an amazing display for about two months before going back to dormancy. Gloxinia invests all its energy in bearing those blooms and you won’t find lush foliage for this one.
Caring for Gloxinia:
Caring for gloxinia is easy and it mainly focuses on ways to keep the plant healthy during the blooming season. Place gloxinia near a sunny window, out of reach of the sun’s direct rays. Keep the soil moist and check for signs of overwatering.
Mist the leaves from time to time to keep the foliage well-hydrated. Use a high-phosphorus plant food every two weeks for this flowering houseplant and you are good to go!
9. Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum or Peace lilies have always been a top choice when it comes to indoor plants, thanks to the good looks and compromising nature. These lovely plants can brighten up your green thumb and they look amazing in offices as well. With dark green leaves, peace lilies have air-purifying properties which makes it a show winner in terms of houseplants.
Peace lilies have white blooms that come with a single petal. They feature a white, hoodlike sheath that signifies a white flag of surrender. They have golden, weed-like, tube centers with silvery-green foliage.
Caring for Peace Lily:
Peace lilies are tolerant of low light, and it can also thrive in fluorescent light. They are more tolerant to underwatering than overwatering and you should maintain a watering schedule.
You can fertilize it once or twice a year to keep and happy. Also, the quality of flowers depends on the amount of light, more the light, the lovelier, and whiter would be the blooms!
10. Amaryllis
With more than 90 sister varieties, amaryllis produces large, vibrant blooms indoors and it is one of the popular holiday flowers. They produce plenty of blooms in winter and often rebloom year after year. You can group three to four plants together and create a colorful splash with those blooms.
Amaryllis has stunning trumpet-shaped blooms that could brighten your day with one glance. They flower through early spring mainly, enhancing your home with its floral beauty. The blooms come in shades of red, pink, white, apricot, salmon, and deep burgundy colors.
Caring for Amaryllis:
Since amaryllis is a tropical native, they would love warmth and sunlight in a bright room. Once the plant is established, keep the soil moist and feed it regularly with soluble fertilizers to keep your plant reblooming. The blooming period is about 10 weeks and you must remove the dry stalks after the flowers have faded.
11. Cape Primrose
Streptocarpus or cape primrose is the hardier cousin of African violet and both of them have almost similar care requirements. Cape primrose has thick leaves with wrinkled foliage and it makes an attractive houseplant, gracing your interiors with its beauty. It is not as delicate as African violets and you will have a good time growing it indoors.
The blooms of this one have pink, white, or purple hues, and also some stunning varieties come in different shades of red. The flowers are five-petalled, have salverform tubes and they resemble orchids. Cape primrose blooms in early spring in different sizes and colors.
Caring for cape Primrose:
Much like humans, this species expects its home to be around room temperature and a relatively cooler surrounding air. Cape primrose loves bright, indirect light and you must allow it to dry between watering. They produce dozens of baby plants and propagating Streptocarpus could be an enjoyable hobby.
12. Brazilian Fireworks
Brazilian fireworks or Maracas is a tropical flowering plant that keeps growing all year round if they get enough heat. It puts an amazing floral display with its vibrant blooms and it has leaves with attractive silver veins.
Brazilian fireworks maintain a bushy structure and the leaves and those blooms are clustered. It contains spikes of tubular flower clusters that are mainly pink or purple and they have a velvety texture.
Caring for Brazilian Fireworks:
You would need well-drained soil for this one and you have to maintain the soil moisture. Place your plant in a shady location and water it when the topsoil dries out. Fertilize Maracas once a month and keep it in a warm environment and it will give you some amazing blossoms!
13. Ixora
A semi-tropical evergreen shrub, Ixora is a household name when it comes to flowering plants. They are very easy to grow, bear vibrant blooms, and behave well as a houseplant. Ixora is also known as jungle flame or flame of woods due to its large corymbs of bright florets.
Each bloom is tiny individually, but they grow in large clusters and they are nothing less than a splash of colors! These four-petaled florets can last up to six weeks and you can find them in red, pink, yellow, and orange colors.
Caring for Ixora:
Ixora bush requires minimal care to survive. Full sun, well-drained and evenly moist soil, and routine pruning, that’s it. Though the flowers are prolific during warmer months, they will also bear some blooms at other times of the year.
14. Impatiens
Impatiens is well-known as a bright and happy annual that can light up any dark part of your interior with color and grace. It is easy to grow flowering species that can thrive well in containers. Impatiens plants are mainly purchased as well-rooted plants and rarely propagated from seeds and cutting.
The blooms of impatiens are five-petaled and they come in colors like orange, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. Also known as Busy Lizzie, impatiens is a Latin word that describes the way its seeds shoot out of its pods with the slightest touch.
Caring for Impatiens:
Impatiens enjoy moist and well-draining soil and partial to deep shade as they do not perform well in the sun. If you are rooting for prolific blooms, fertilize it once every two weeks through spring and summer.
15. Oxalis
Commonly known as the love plant, oxalis is the one with deep purple, triangular leaves, and white flowers. It is a shamrock-like plant that is pretty easy to grow and for this one, not only the blooms but those pretty foliage would also contribute and beautify your house.
Oxalis is also called purple shamrock due to its leaves and this popular perennial mainly shows up near St. Patrick’s Day. They bear tiny white flowers with five petals and a greenish center. The contrast of white amidst the purple leaves is sure to catch every eye!
Caring for Oxalis:
Plant it in well-drained, acidic soil and a sunny window would be the perfect spot as they need a few hours of sunlight every day. Keep the soil moist and never overwater it. Fertilizing is a must during the blooming season if you want your oxalis to flourish and produce blossoms in abundance!
16. Poinsettia
A commercially important plant species, the poinsettia is native to Central America and it was introduced in the US in the early 1800s. Poinsettia bears bright red blooms that are very appealing and they also undergo photoperiodism. Those attractive red wonders aren’t flowers but the leaves that turned red in response to light.
These colored, specialized leaves are mistaken for blooms while the actual blooms are yellow in color. You can trigger this coloration by eliminating the light from the poinsettia plant. Since it is triggered by darkness, keep it in complete darkness for 12 hours like in a closet or cardboard box to get the results.
Caring for Poinsettia:
Keep poinsettia at room temperature, give it indirect sunlight throughout the day, and avoid moving it. The soil must be moist all the time and you can fertilize it during the growing season which is mostly spring.
17. Cyclamen
Another one with beautiful pink flowers, cyclamen is a popular houseplant which is hardy and won’t create a fuss for you. Cyclamen have interesting leaves, and they are very similar to lotus leaves. It is also very quick to show signs of distress.
Amidst the heart-shaped leaves, cyclamen bears flowers in shades of pink, red, purple, and white. The petals of these blooms are oriented to the sky and make it look like tubes.
Caring for Cyclamen:
Cyclamen plants love cool and humid climates, but most of the house plant species are tropical and they cannot tolerate temperatures below 4C. Provide excellent drainage for this one and you must be very careful with watering since they are sensitive to both over and under-watering.
18. Silver Vase Plant
If you are looking for a striking houseplant with low demands, a silver vase or the urn plant would be a perfect choice. It is an exotic rainforest plant that could be the focal point of any room due to its beauty.
Aechmea fasciata or silver vase plant bears showy pink flower bract and these bracts are capable of producing inflorescence. They are large and bold flowers amidst bushy foliage that has a striking resemblance with pineapple due to its thick silver and green leaves.
Caring for Silver Vase Plant:
Urn plants aren’t too picky about their needs and if anything is lacking, there are plenty of telltale signs. They prefer bright, indirect light, and moist, well-drained soil to thrive and produce blooms. This low-maintenance plant is non-toxic and you might get some minor pest problems like mealybugs and scale attacks.
19. Clivia
A South African native, clivia is an unusual plant with vibrant blooms. Clivia can be a good species as a houseplant if they are grown in optimum climates. It is one of those plants that would bloom better when slightly potbound.
The main attraction of clivia plants would be their stunning flowers, mostly pale orange or red. They are trumpet-like flowers, very similar to amaryllis, but smaller in size. Unlike most winter bloomers, this plant doesn’t drop its foliage in fall.
Caring for Clivia:
Indoor clivias prefer bright light and a well-draining potting mix to thrive and smile. Keep it away from direct sun rays and allow the soil to dry out between deep waterings. They have an overwintering rest period and during this time, withhold water and fertilizers.
20. Gardenia
A very common outdoor plant grown for its fragrant and showy flowers, gardenia is also decked with handsome foliage. Gardenia augusta and Gardenia jasminoides are two popular varieties and both of them are ornamental shrubs. Except for severe winters, gardenias can survive other harsh conditions and not create a big deal about it.
Gardenias mainly produce creamy-white flowers with glossy dark green leaves. They are mostly found in clusters and the color ranges from white, pale yellow, and ivory. These blossoms have a layered petals structure and they are very showy.
Caring for Gardenia:
Gardenia can be treated like houseplants and with average care, they do very well. They would need bright light, high humidity, and loose, organic soil. Dry air causes would cause the flowers to drop instantly from the plant and humidity has to be maintained always.
Monitor the soil frequently to check the moisture and don’t overwater it. Gardenias require frequent fertilizing to encourage healthy growth and promote blooms.
21. Violas
Violas are cheery and vibrant perennials that are among the first few to welcome the advent of the growing season. It blooms together with daffodils, and tulips and announce the arrival of spring. Collectively known as violas, there are individual distinctive garden types like pansies, violets, and so on.
This genus generally bears small flowers that come in shades of light to deep violet, yellow, cream, white, blue, pink, and multi-colors. Violets, for example, has purple and yellow, bicolored blooms that would take your breath away!
Caring for Violas:
Violas do well when kept in a bright window, away from direct sunlight. Most of the varieties prefer a cool climate and moist soil. However, when established, most of these varieties need very little care and they would gift you colorful blooms for years to come!
Everybody loves the sight of colorful flowers amidst abundant greenery and having such a landscape at home is pure joy. These flowering houseplants won’t be a problem for you and you would be super happy to see them blush. Choose your favorite from the lot and get to work. Happy planting!
