To celebrate the end of a great year, I chose my Top 10 favorite houseplants. It was tough and I’m not sure if I would pick the same 10 next week, but I feel good about it today.
Stay tuned in the next few days for a couple more Top 10 posts to keep on celebrating!
What are your top 10 houseplants of 2019? Let us know below!
Table of Contents
- Scindapsus pictus (Satin pothos, etc.)
- Hoya carnosa ‘Rubra’ (Hoya Krimson Princess)
- Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)
- Alocasia ‘Frydek’
- Hoya cv. Mathilde
- Scindapsus treubii ‘Moonlight’
- Hoya sigilattis
- Hoya australis ‘Lisa’
- Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese plant)
- Honorable mentions:
- Syngonium podophylum ‘Pink splash’ and ‘Albo Variegatum’
- Philodendron hederaceum (Philodendron Micans)
- Related Posts
Scindapsus pictus (Satin pothos, etc.)
If you saw my post completely dedicated to Scindapsus, this will come as no surprise to you, but I LOVE these plants! The color, variegation, and shape of their leaves is absolutely gorgeous. They sparkle in sun, trail wildly, and add a tropical, luxurious feel to any space. I was supposed to pick just one specific cultivar of Scindapsus pictus, but I couldn’t do it… I need all of them.
If you give this trailing plant an opportunity to attach itself to something to climb (like a moss pole) you may also get to see its unique shingling habit. This is where it lays its leaves against the place it attaches on alternating sides of its vine. As it climbs, its leaves will become larger and more mature.
Hoya carnosa ‘Rubra’ (Hoya Krimson Princess)
This plant was always destined to be on this list because it was THE plant that changed everything. It moved the needle for me from being a person who didn’t care much about Hoyas to becoming the Hoya-lover I am today.
I fell completely in love with the creamy, inner-variegation on its leaves and its very unique pink stems. As if that wasn’t enough, the new foliage (if given enough light) comes out light to dark pink and then fades to the normal creamy white as it matures.
AND – unlike most highly-variegated plants, this one grows pretty quickly too. It’s a keeper!
Ceropegia woodii (String of Hearts)
Ceropegia woodii was a plant that I slowly went from not wanting to being very curious about. I bought a 5-inch pot of this plant, with its vines scrambling all over one another on top of the pot. It was in dense soil and fairly root bound, so I repotted it into an 8-inch hanging pot and took some serious time to untangle the vines.
It has repaid me for the love ever since, growing around 8 feet and now touching the ground. The heart leaves on this plant are really something special and quite romantic!!
In lower lighting conditions, the backs of the leaves stay a lighter green. Provided with higher light, however, the backs turn a beautiful pinkish-purple.
As a bonus, this plant also produces flowers and has been flowering for the last several months. What a rewarding, easy-care plant!
Alocasia ‘Frydek’
Alocasia ‘Fryek’ is known for its luscious, velvety leaves with contrasting veins. In the right conditions, this plant is a ferocious grower. I purchased my own A. ‘Frydek’ in March or April of this year in a tiny 2-inch pot and have already had to repot it twice. It is now in a 6-inch pot with leaves that are larger than my head.
The larger it becomes, the more gorgeous it gets. It is certainly a statement plant and one that many people have commented on when they come over.
Alocasias are not as easy to care for as some of the other plants on the list because they need to be watered pretty quickly when they become dry or they begin to drop leaves.
However, this is one species that is fairly tolerant of a newcomer to the genus and is certainly well worth the effort.
Hoya cv. Mathilde
Hoya cv. Mathilde is an adorable, small-leafed plant with dark green foliage and some speckling. It is a cross between Hoya carnosa and Hoya serpens, taking on some of the best characteristics of each. This wonderful Hoya was named by Emilio Begine, its creator, after a princess.
I find the small, succulent leaves irresistible. So far it has been a wonderful grower in my home and one of my absolute must-have hoyas!
Scindapsus treubii ‘Moonlight’
Scindapsus treubii ‘Moonlight’ is one of the hardest to find plants on this list, which is a shame. Its care is pretty much identical to Scindapsus pictus, making it a fantastic houseplant. The leaves are a gorgeous green with a milky, sparkling splash down the middle.
It seems like this particular houseplant might be more available in some countries, but isn’t super available in the United States. I found the care for this one difficult at first because the instructions that came with my first plant said to keep it moist, so I treated it a lot like I do like Alocasia ‘Frydek.’
After nearly losing that plant and purchasing a second one, I found a Scindapsus lovers forum and asked in there for any tips to try not to suffer the same fate the second time around. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that S. treubii curls its leaves when it is ready to be watered just like S. pictus does!
Since having found this out, my worry about keeping it moist has completely disappeared. I just wait for the plant to tell me when it is time.
Hoya sigilattis
Hoya sigillatis has long, skinny leaves that are thick and highly flecked in gray. When exposed to high light, the leaves can range from green to a red color. This Hoya is visually breathtaking and one that I never thought I would find before I lucked into the online groups of collectors that sell and trade their plants.
This plant does give me probably the most anxiety of any of the plants on this list, but that isn’t because of anything it is doing. I just really want this one to survive and thrive for me. I water this Hoya much differently than I do 99% of my others. As soon as it seems to be on the drier side, I water it.
I’m by no means an expert on this one (or any of these really), but it is still alive and for that I am happy. We will really see how it is doing at the end of Winter, heading into the growing season.
Hoya australis ‘Lisa’
You’ve probably noticed by now there are a lot of Hoyas on this list. I have 4 main loves at the moment, with Hoyas being the top of the list all year. This Hoya is possibly the one in my collection that gets the most attention and I can see why.
It has gorgeous variegation ranging from yellows to deep greens, the leaves are naturally very glossy, and the new growth emerges a deep crimson red. It is as easy to care for as Hoya carnosa ‘Rubra,’ but possibly a slower grower. I would never complain about that, though! It can take all the time it needs!
Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese plant)
Part of me is still surprised that Monstera adansonii made it on my top 10 list with so many other plants to choose from, but then I just keep thinking about this plant and the jungle vibe it brings to my bathroom and… it’s staying!!
I have M. adansonii in a hanging pot in my bathroom where it can soak in the humidity all day and it seems to be loving it because as of December 23 (officially Winter where I live) it is still growing!
The fenestrations (natural holes) in the leaves and the thick, fast-growing, wild vines really bring that tropical jungle vibe. There is no other plant in my home like it that transports you in the same way. It is also a very easy-care plant, making it not only amazing to look at, but also in your home for the longterm.
It now seems to be pretty attainable everywhere I live too, which means that there is no hunting required to have one.
Honorable mentions:
Syngonium podophylum ‘Pink splash’ and ‘Albo Variegatum’
This plant was not one that I wanted or one that I even had a remote interest in, truthfully. However, it came to me as a free extra in an order I placed and I fell in love with it. The pink splashes on the leaves are really quite striking and unique against the majority of green around it.
Additionally, I like the bouncy little leaves on the Syngonium and how easy going it is. I am smitten with this little plant and happy that it found its way into my home!
While often sold as an upright plant, it is actually a vine capable of climbing a moss pole or trailing down from a hanging basket. I’m not sure what I’ll keep mine as in the future!
I decided at the last minute to add my S. podophylum Albo Variegatum too because it’s also gorgeous and deserves a little of the spotlight!
Philodendron hederaceum (Philodendron Micans)
Philodendron hederaceum has become increasingly popular recently, which has made it slightly less available. I adore this plant because it has the same easy care as the other trailing, heartleaf Philodendrons, but it also has the luxurious, velvety texture of some of the larger, more pricey, and exotic Philos.
The new growth, when given plenty of light, also has a lovely yellow to brown/red hue that slowly transitions to deep green and the backs of the leaves maintain a reddish hue. Such a beautiful plant!
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