Best Houseplants to Buy in 2026, According to Our Editors and Plant Experts
Our team of plant experts reveal the best houseplants to buy in 2026 for an indoor garden that will shine the whole year – and beyond.
A new year means a fresh chance to revamp your indoor plant collection. But with so many houseplants available these days and so many gardening trends to follow, it can be intimidating knowing which plants to pick.
That’s why I asked our team of gardening experts which houseplants are the best ones to buy this year. With decades of combined gardening experience, our editors and writers know which houseplants are easy to grow and which ones aren’t worth the effort. They’re also keenly aware of the latest houseplant trends for 2026.
Whether you’re looking to be right on trend, want a plant that’s easy to grow and looks great all year, or interested in trying out a new species, there’s something for every plant parent on this list. Let’s dig into the best houseplants to buy in 2026, according to our team of experts.
1. Burro's Tail
The first plant on our list comes from Senior Editor Liz Baessler. She recommends one of her favorite succulents. “I'm a big fan of burro's tail. I have one hanging next to my kitchen window and it's just getting longer and longer in zero direct light.”
A lack of sunlight is one of the most common problems when growing succulents and cacti indoors. So the fact that burro's tail can take a little less light than many of its succulent cousins makes it a great option for indoor growers with dark and moody rooms.
Baessler grows her burro's tail in a hanging glass orb next to a window in her kitchen to provide it with more light and to add a unique vertical element to her indoor decor. Shop burro's tail plants from Amazon to add a some succulent splendor to your indoor plant collection this year.
2. English Ivy
This plant is invasive in many parts of the United States, but it's perfectly safe to grow indoors. In fact, it's hard-to-kill nature, which makes it so invasive, makes English ivy a very low-maintenance houseplant.
Content Editor Kayleigh Dray loves that about it. She says, “All of my houseplants are basically unkillables, as my tame gardener refuses to tend to the indoor plants. One of my favorites, though, is English ivy."
The other feature she loves is that this plant can rid your bathroom of humidity and condensation that causes mold. Get moisture in your bathroom under control with an English ivy plant from the Home Depot.
3. Golden Pothos
Dray also revealed that she thinks pothos is set for a comeback in 2026. This common houseplant was the "it" plant in 2020 when everyone and their brother started gardening during the pandemic.
But the easy-going nature and beautiful vining foliage of the pothos plant have enduring appeal. That's why Dray adores the massive golden pothos that hangs from the curtain rail in her bedroom.
"It looks beautiful, has become a real feature point, and yet is so undemanding I would genuinely forget it's there. Ideal, when I have two small children and a dog clamoring for their needs to be met.”
Get a golden pothos from Lively Root and choose the perfect pot to match your indoor decor.
4. Philodendron 'Birkin'
When I asked Digital Community Manager and former garden center manager Amy Draiss about the best houseplants to buy in 2026 she said, “I’ve been really happy with my philodendron ‘Birkin.’
"I purchased it growing in a small glass jar of water and kept it that way for about a year, until the roots outgrew the space. I’ve since repotted it into a 4-inch (10 cm) pot with soil, and it’s thriving and putting on new growth. It sits in a north-facing window year-round and doesn’t seem fussy about light or water.”
Get a mature Birkin philodendron in a self-watering pot from Costa Farms at the Home Depot to make caring for your indoor plant collection even easier.
5. Dendrobium Orchid
Looking to add some color and blooms to your indoor garden this year? Editor in Chief Melanie Griffiths recommends the uncommonly lovely dendrobium orchid.
When I asked her what the best houseplant to buy in 2026 is, she responded, “I'm going to say dendrobium orchid – mine is flowering right now. It's a good one if you're stuck in a phalenopsis orchid rut and want to try something different this year.
"Considering it gets very little love, my Dendrobium nobile performs better than most of my phals. It's on my east-facing kitchen window and didn't balk at a series of heat waves this summer, and seems to thrive despite the lack of support and only occasional watering and fertilizing.”
Shop a wide array of exotic dendrobium orchids on Etsy.
6. Schefflera
Master Gardener Susan Albert picked an old standby as the best plant to purchase this year. “I always recommend a schefflera, solid green or variegated."
She says, "Its common name is the umbrella plant for its umbrella-like clusters of leaves on an attractive plant that looks like it might be fussy, but is not. It never needs fertilizer, just low water, medium light, and it can be cut back if it gets too tall. What more could you ask of a houseplant?”
With over 25 years of gardening experience, I trust Albert's judgment in all things plants. I'm definitely adding this one to my collection. If you want to grow this stunning houseplant as well, you can find schefflera for sale at Walmart.
7. Abutilon
When I asked Content Editor Janey Goulding about her favorite houseplant for the new year, she gave a glowing review of a houseplant not many people know about – but definitely should!
“Abutilons are an unexpected success story for me as houseplants. The flowering maple (as this plant is also known) has sub-tropical origins and one might think they are fussy. But in the process of rooting some abutilon cuttings indoors over winter last year, I discovered that they are surprisingly adaptable and very happy as year-round houseplants.
"And in the manner of several 'old-timey' indoor Victorian classics, they are definitely due a renaissance in 2026. If the striking foliage (with many forms variegated) doesn't charm you, the gorgeous bell-shaped flowers certainly will.
“Mine have started flowering year round, complementing my living room color scheme with their dancing orange cups. All they really need to thrive as houseplants year round is regulated, bright, indirect light (at least 6 hours, preferably 8), moderate humidity, and temperatures around 65-80°F (18-27°C).
"Keep these pretty plants away from drafts and feed a couple of times during active growth, and they will reward you with years of pleasure. Don't forget to keep pinching for the bushiest displays.”
You can find abutilons for sale on Amazon to add some blooming beauty to your indoor collection.
8. Ginseng Ficus
This one is my top choice for 2026 because it's so tolerant of neglect and is incredibly long-lasting (which is uncommon for my houseplants...).
People always say ficuses are finicky, but I was gifted a ginseng ficus almost a decade ago and it's still going strong. I totally ignore it most of the time, and sure sometimes it loses a few leaves, but it just keeps growing. It’s almost 5 feet (1.5 m) tall now and I’ve never fertilized it.
Plus, the gardening trends for 2026 that I keep seeing are all about taking it easy and having fun in your garden with no expectation of success. I think an easy-going ginseng ficus fits right into that theme.
Get your ginseng ficus from Walmart and get ready for this baby bonsai to turn into a full-blown tree.
