Indoor Plants Miami
Miami, Florida is known for its tropical climate, capable of supporting all manner of plants from the emblematic palm to the finicky orchid. But which plants make for the best indoor selection?
Matching Indoor Plants to Your Living Spaces
Indoor plants require varying environments and levels of care. Here at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, we have spent more than 82 years cultivating rare and unique tropical plants in the heart of Miami. All plants in our nurseries are grown by trained botanists and horticulturists, and we are eager to our expertise on indoor plants with you!
Below, we will describe some common circumstances plant parents might have in an indoor space, and will recommend a suitable plant selection or two (or more!) for each.
Very Little Natural Light
A house or office space with abundant natural light is an uncommon occurrence, even in sunny Miami. We have found a handful of indoor plants that are uniquely adapted to low-light environments, perfect for brightening up your home and workspace.
Haworthia fasciata
Often called ‘zebra haworthia,’ this small succulent is a great option for an indoor plant novice. Its dark green fronds are striated with distinctive white horizontal ridges on the undersides. These plants can do well in medium- and low-light conditions; a rare quality among succulents. This species does well (and looks quite sharp!) in fun, unique planters.
Stromanthe thalia
Often called ‘zebra haworthia,’ this small succulent is a great option for an indoor plant novice. Its dark green fronds are striated with distinctive white horizontal ridges on the undersides. These plants can do well in medium- and low-light conditions; a rare quality among succulents. This species does well (and looks quite sharp!) in fun, unique planters.
Its fondness for more humid environments means these plants are right at home in Miami. For home gardeners in a drier climate, however, placing stromanthe thalia in a bathroom window works just as well!
Euphorbia leuconeura
The ‘Madagascar Jewel’ succulent is the sort of plant that looks just as at home in a living room as it does in our tropical gardens. This succulent, with its orchid-like blooms, can reach up to six feet tall. A close look at the stem reveals something quite unusual: it’s square!
Note that these plants are poisonous, and so are not recommended for homes with children or pets.
Short on Time
Got big indoor plant ambitions but life gets in the way? You’re in luck! A wide variety of low-maintenance plants exist, so you can enjoy the best indoor greenery with the least amount of effort.
Aspidistra elatior ‘Variegata’
This ‘cast iron plant’ is a perfect fit for those worried about fussy indoor plants. Aspidistra require very little light and can tolerate lengthy dry periods (hello, vacation!). They grow more slowly than most indoor plants, so there’s little danger of them outgrowing their space before you have time to go shopping for larger planters.
Hoya kerrii
The ‘Sweetheart Hoya’ is quite trendy on social media platforms such as Instagram these days, and it’s no wonder why: its bright green leaves are perfectly heart-shaped!
This indoor plant isn’t just sweet to look at – it’s a sweetheart to care for, too. ‘Occasional attention’ best describes this plant’s ideal living situation. These kinds of plants are happy almost anywhere in your home or office, but full shade or very dark spaces should be avoided.
Edible Plants
There are many pleasures to be gained from gardening, but perhaps the greatest of all is the satisfaction of eating something you grew yourself. Edible plants are ubiquitous in the Miami landscape, but all the plants below can be grown in the comfort of your own home. No landscapers required!
Extra Dwarf Pak Choi
Smaller than baby pak choi, but no less flavorful! This fast-growing variety is picked when it is only two inches tall, making it a great choice for the home gardener that is short on space but wants to grow an edible garden.
This delicious baby vegetable is a tasty addition to salads, stir-fry, and Asian dishes of all kinds!
Passiflora maliformis
Sweet calabash, or wild purple passionfruit, is an attractive, fast-growing vine. Though it does grow in Miami, it actually prefers a slightly cooler climate, making it an ideal candidate for indoor cultivation.
The flowers are stunning, and the flesh inside the yellowish fruits is similar in flavor to a table grape. They can be eaten fresh or mixed into cold beverages for a refreshing treat.
A worthwhile weekend project: build a small trellis for a mid-sized pot, place it in full- or part-sun, and watch your passionfruit come to life!
Versatile Plants
If you’re working toward an outdoor garden, but find yourself stymied by questions about landscape design, having versatile plants is key.
Indecisiveness will no longer keep you from the garden of your dreams! All the plants below can thrive happily in your garden or your home office.
Sansevieria cylindrica ‘Boncel’
The ‘Starfish Sansevieria’ species is a rare compact hybrid counterpart to the more commonly found garden darling, snake plants. This spectacular succulent is hardy and drought-tolerant, and will do well in full- or part-sun.
This ability to thrive in most circumstances means that once your garden is ready, so is your plant!
Pachira aquatica
The Guiana Chestnut, or ‘money tree,’ is a great example of a species that makes an excellent houseplant, but can transition to an outdoor garden plant with ease, particularly in South Florida.
As a houseplant, its shiny foliage and swollen stem give this species the appearance of a miniature tree. It is also notoriously hard to kill, as it is uniquely able to stand up to over-watering.
When grown outdoors, however, this house plant achieves massive size. Landscapers tend to favor this tree for its curb appeal: its buttressed trunk and fruits that look like footballs make for quite a show as part of a home garden.