Houseplantdex

Drought-tolerant houseplants

Tolerate (and often prefer) being forgotten between waterings.

36 plants in this cluster

If you've killed houseplants by forgetting them, the problem was probably the plant. Some species evolved in habitats with long dry periods and store water in their leaves, stems, or rhizomes. They handle a missed watering schedule far better than they handle attentive overwatering.

These plants want the soil to dry out properly between drinks. Don't water on a calendar — check the soil. Wet soil for these species is more often the killer than dry soil.

Pair well with low-light rooms; many drought-tolerant species also tolerate dim conditions.

Plants

Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum) Toxic
Chinese evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Aloe vera (Aloe vera) Toxic
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Velvet cardboard anthurium (Anthurium clarinervium) Toxic
Velvet cardboard anthurium
Anthurium clarinervium
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Difficult
Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) Pet-safe
Norfolk Island pine
Araucaria heterophylla
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) Pet-safe
Cast iron plant
Aspidistra elatior
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Polka dot begonia (Begonia maculata) Toxic
Polka dot begonia
Begonia maculata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) Pet-safe
Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Pet-safe
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Jade plant (Crassula ovata) Toxic
Jade plant
Crassula ovata
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) Toxic
String of pearls
Curio rowleyanus
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Moderate
Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine) Toxic
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) Toxic
Corn plant
Dracaena fragrans
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata) Toxic
Madagascar dragon tree
Dracaena marginata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Snake Plant (Dracaena trifasciata) Toxic
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) Pet-safe
Areca palm
Dypsis lutescens
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Mexican snowball (Echeveria elegans) Pet-safe
Mexican snowball
Echeveria elegans
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) Toxic
Golden Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
India Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) Toxic
India Rubber Tree
Ficus elastica
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Fiddle-leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) Toxic
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Difficult
Creeping fig (Ficus pumila) Toxic
Creeping fig
Ficus pumila
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Zebra haworthia (Haworthiopsis fasciata) Pet-safe
Zebra haworthia
Haworthiopsis fasciata
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) Toxic
English Ivy
Hedera helix
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Wax plant (Hoya carnosa) Pet-safe
Wax plant
Hoya carnosa
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) Toxic
Swiss cheese vine
Monstera adansonii
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa) Toxic
Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera deliciosa
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Money tree (Pachira aquatica) Pet-safe
Money tree
Pachira aquatica
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) Toxic
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) Pet-safe
Chinese money plant
Pilea peperomioides
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Umbrella plant (Schefflera arboricola) Toxic
Umbrella plant
Schefflera arboricola
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera russeliana) Pet-safe
Christmas cactus
Schlumbergera russeliana
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Burro's tail (Sedum morganianum) Pet-safe
Burro's tail
Sedum morganianum
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Moderate
Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) Toxic
Bird of paradise
Strelitzia reginae
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Moderate
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) Toxic
Arrowhead vine
Syngonium podophyllum
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Silver inch plant (Tradescantia zebrina) Toxic
Silver inch plant
Tradescantia zebrina
  • ☀ Medium
  • 💧 Mod
  • ★ Easy
Spineless yucca (Yucca gigantea) Toxic
Spineless yucca
Yucca gigantea
  • ☀ Bright
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) Toxic
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
  • ☀ Low
  • 💧 Low
  • ★ Easy