What is the easiest plant for a bedroom?

A snake plant or ZZ plant. Both tolerate a wide range of light conditions, can go two to four weeks between waterings, and are unlikely to attract pests. Either one suits almost any bedroom window regardless of direction.

Best Plants for the Bedroom: Picks for Every Window Direction

Q: Do plants actually improve air quality in a bedroom?

The popular claim comes from a 1989 NASA study conducted in sealed chambers with much higher plant densities than any home. In a real bedroom with normal ventilation, the air quality effect of a few houseplants is too small to measure. Plants are still excellent for a bedroom, just not primarily for air quality reasons.

Q: What if my bedroom has no window?

Without any natural light, no plant survives long on its own. A grow light running 10 to 14 hours a day is the solution. A ZZ plant or snake plant will last a few months in a windowless room before declining, but they will eventually need more light than a standard lamp gives.

Most bedroom plant lists give you the same 10 plants regardless of your window situation. The truth is simpler and more useful: figure out which direction your bedroom window faces, and pick from the plants that match that light. The bedroom part barely matters. The window does.

Find your bedroom window direction first

Open your phone's compass, stand at the window, and point the phone toward the glass. The compass shows which direction the window faces. If you are unsure, the window direction guide has three ways to check. Once you know, pick from the section below.

For a south or west bedroom window (bright)

A south-facing bedroom window is the best light in the house. A west window gets strong afternoon sun. Both open up the full range of houseplants, including ones that need direct sun to look their best.

Aloe VeraAloe barbadensis
Needs a sunny window and almost no water. The ideal low-maintenance sunny sill plant.
LavenderLavandula angustifolia
Needs direct sun to survive indoors. A south window is one of the only spots it works year-round.
SucculentsVarious
Only possible long-term on a direct-sun window. They dry out fast and need little attention.
Fiddle Leaf FigFicus lyrata
Finally viable in a south bedroom. Needs several hours of bright light or it sulks and drops leaves.
Bird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae
A dramatic statement plant that rewards the most light you can give it.
Rubber PlantFicus elastica
Develops deep, glossy foliage in bright light and grows steadily without being fast.

For an east bedroom window (medium)

An east window is one of the most pleasant light levels for a bedroom: bright and cheerful in the morning, soft by afternoon. It is forgiving for a wide range of popular houseplants.

MonsteraMonstera deliciosa
Grows steadily in morning sun. Does not get scorched and produces good leaf splits.
PothosEpipremnum aureum
One of the easiest plants in any home. Trails from a shelf or climbs a small trellis.
Peace LilySpathiphyllum wallisii
One of few plants that blooms reliably in medium indirect light.
Heartleaf PhilodendronPhilodendron hederaceum
A trailing vine that is almost impossible to kill and looks great on a bedside shelf.
Spider PlantChlorophytum comosum
Produces babies freely in morning sun. Good in a hanging pot near the window.
TradescantiaTradescantia zebrina
Fast-growing trailer with vivid purple foliage. Thrives in the morning sun an east window gives.

For a north bedroom window (low light)

A north-facing bedroom is the most common challenging scenario. The soft, indirect light limits your options to plants that evolved in deep shade, but those plants also tend to be the most forgiving and easiest to care for.

Snake PlantDracaena trifasciata
Survives very low light and needs water only every two to three weeks. Practically indestructible.
ZZ PlantZamioculcas zamiifolia
Slow and steady. Rarely needs water, tolerates neglect, and stays tidy for years.
Chinese EvergreenAglaonema commutatum
Patterned leaves that hold up well in low light. Darker cultivars handle the least light.
Cast Iron PlantAspidistra elatior
The most shade-tolerant large plant available. Named for surviving the dimmest conditions.
CalatheaGoeppertia makoyana
Striking patterns, no direct sun needed. Folds leaves up at night, which is satisfying in a bedroom.
PothosEpipremnum aureum
Copes in a north window. Growth slows, but it does not decline the way sun-lovers do.

Not sure which window you have?

Plant Compass Lite reads your bedroom window direction and tells you exactly which plants will thrive, cope, or should go somewhere else. Point, check, place.

Get Plant Compass Lite

Frequently asked

Is it safe to have plants in the bedroom?

Yes. The idea that plants consume harmful amounts of oxygen at night is not supported by evidence. Plants do respire (release CO2) in the dark, but the amount is negligible compared to a sleeping person. Bedrooms are fine for plants.

Do plants actually improve bedroom air quality?

The popular claim comes from a 1989 NASA study in sealed chambers with very high plant densities. In a real bedroom with normal ventilation, the air quality effect of a few houseplants is too small to measure reliably. They are still worth having, just not primarily for air quality.

What if my bedroom has no window?

No plant survives long without any natural light. A dedicated grow light running 10 to 14 hours a day is the solution. A ZZ plant or snake plant will last longer than most in a windowless room before needing supplemental light.

What is the easiest plant for any bedroom?

A snake plant or ZZ plant. Both tolerate a wide range of light, can go weeks between waterings, and are unlikely to attract pests or cause problems.

More detail by window: north, east, south, west. Or see the bathroom plant guide for another room-specific list.