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Whether you have a flair for the dramatic or you've graduated beyond the humble house plant, indoor trees will fit right in with your interiors. Climbing high up to the ceiling with vibrant leaves, they make a gorgeous statement while also providing functional qualities like promoting a positive mood, purifying the air, and making you feel more connected to nature.
Scroll on to learn about the best indoor trees below, and then order your favorite(s) that fit your lifestyle needs. We've also included easy stats on how to care for each tree—gathered from plant pros like those at The Sill, Bloomscape, and Costas Farms—so you can quickly determine the right match for you and your home.
The bonsai-like form along with the feathery texture of the Ming Aralia makes it a welcoming addition to any home. For it to thrive, just ensure that the soil is moist, but be cautious of overwatering. Well-draining soil is also crucial to prevent the plant's delicate roots from rotting.
American Plant Exchange Dwarf Ming Aralia Tree ($28)
Known for its tree-like appearance and spoon-shaped leaves, the Jade plant is part of the succulent family—meaning it should be fairly easy to maintain for pros and beginners. It's also one of the smaller plants you can keep in your home if you're not looking for anything too big.
Bloomscape Jade Plant ($39) BUY NOW
The Bird of Paradise's large, lush leaves bring a touch of the tropics and make a statement anywhere they go. We love the symmetry they create in this Leanne Ford-designed living room...but that's not to say you can take them anywhere. Indeed, Bird of Paradise trees need bright sunlight and lots of humidity, so make sure to accommodate them accordingly.
Chelsea Garden Center Bird of Paradise Large ($275) BUY NOW
The Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree definitely wins the popularity contest as far as design favorites. And it's easy to see why: The trees look great with any aesthetic, from bohemian to modern spaces like this one designed by Hecker Guthrie.
Note: Fig trees don't like over moist soil or over dry (though airing on the moister side is better), so you could call them the Goldilocks of indoor trees. They do like filtered sun, and in an ideal situation, they can live from 25 to 50 years. If your tree looks a little sickly, revive it by chopping off the top of its trunk and it will start sprouting anew.
Chelsea Garden Center Ficus Lyrata Large ($290) BUY NOW
Madagascar Dragon Trees are some of the best indoor trees due to their low maintenance needs and charming good looks, as proven in this living room by Regan Baker Design. They can grow up to 8 feet tall in 10 years if you take good care of them. That's easy to do considering they thrive in room temperature environments and don't need a lot of direct sunlight (in fact, direct sunlight can burn the leaves).
Large Madagascar Dragon Tree ($174) BUY NOW
Say hello to the Fiddle Leaf Fig's far less fussy cousin, the Weeping Fig. This type of ficus likes bright, indirect sunlight (although a touch of direct light shouldn't hurt them), rich and fast-draining soil, and a healthy dose of humidity. If you love to decorate with neutrals take note. Designer Leanne Ford introduces color with a large indoor tree as you can see here.
Hirt's Garden Weeping Fig Tree ($100) BUY NOW
These Victorian favorites are here to stay. Parlor palms are the perfect accent in bathroom corners like how the 2LG Studio set it up. It makes sense because they do well in high-moisture, medium-light areas. They also help clean the air—another reason why they're good candidates for the room you clean up in. But make sure you regularly check the health of their soil and water them weekly, as they can get root-rot when there's not a good drainage system in place.
The Sill Parlor Palm ($46) BUY NOW
If you worry you might be a neglectful plant parent, the rubber tree is your match. In fact, they like to keep to themselves. Rubber trees simply need to be watered each week and have access to medium or bright light to be happy. You won't have to worry about how humid it is or isn't it in your home, either. These indoor trees are laidback and up for whatever, humidity-wise.
The Sill Burgundy Rubber Tree ($88) BUY NOW
European Olive Trees need a lot of sunlight, so you may need to move them outside during warmer months in order for them to survive inside. (They can be great indoors for short periods of time if intermittently brought outside.) Perched in a sunny corner like this loft designed by Alexander DB, they really liven up a space. Keep in mind that they need good drainage.
Arbequina Olive Tree ($100) BUY NOW
Sharp, interesting, and unique, the Yukka tree is also wonderfully easy to care for. Their stems are thick, woody, and beautiful making them a stunning addition to any room. Take cues from the Space Exploration designed Williamsburg loft. Yukkas also don't need as much water as most indoor plants.
Costa Farms Yucca Cane ($34) BUY NOW
Here's the thing: Citrus trees are arguably the prettiest and most functional house plants, but they're also so, pretty high-maintenance. A lemon tree needs humidity to survive, which can make them finicky.
Pro tip: You could use a humidifier to make it a more opportune climate, but that brings in a whole host of other issues that come with humidity. For instance, the plant needs a ton of water...tons, and tons, and tons. And then, tons, and tons, and tons of sunlights. There's no denying how beautiful one is though so why not give it a go?
Williams-Sonoma Lemon Citrus Tree ($130) BUY NOW
Even though this succulent isn't technically a tree, it may as well be given its capacity to reach great heights—as shown in the sunroom by GRT Architects. These plants are originally from Southern Africa and thrive in dry environments, so it's likely not suited for kitchens and bathrooms or other rooms with high moisture.
African Golden Candelabra Euphorbia ($36) BUY NOW
Ficus trees come in all shapes and sizes. Some resemble fiddle leaf figs and others look more gentle and billowy. The tree needs medium to bright light. Oh and don't worry, it can shed a few leaves when you first bring it home, but that's normal. It can look great in a variety of rooms, but we're digging the corner placement in the Alexander DB-designed bathroom.
Height: Up to 10 feet
Sunlight: Medium to bright light
Water: Each time the top of the soil starts to get dry
Temperature: Between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit
Large Ficus Alii Tree ($108) BUY NOW
Another great indoor tree for low-light environments is the money tree. It has a unique umbrella-like shape and can grow up to 6 feet tall (in the wild, they climb all the way up to 60 feet). You water it about every 1 to 2 weeks and keep it in a normal to humid environment. We love how it brings more dimension to this dining room put together by Studio Ashby.
Bloomscape Money Tree ($169) BUY NOW
The Lady Palm requires the least light of almost all palms. This plant has multiple stems with thick branches, so it injects a lot of depth into spaces. It's super easy-going and works well in a variety of spaces. You can keep it in pretty much any room of the house, but indirect light and north-facing are best.
Lady Palm ($136) BUY NOW
Indoor bamboo trees need a few hours of direct sunlight a day, making them pretty tricky to maintain indoors. But with the right environment, they can grow to be truly stunning. For a modern edge, opt for concrete or rough ceramic planters like the way Hucker Guthrie placed the trees in the living room you see here.
Bamboo Palm ($199) BUY NOW
The Dumb Cane plant features two-toned, speckled green leaves. It thrives best in bright, indirect light and should be watered once a week as the topsoil dries. It's perfect to place at the entrance of your home.
Dieffenbachia Floor Plant ($138) BUY NOW
With vibrant green leaves, the umbrella tree is one of the best options for low-light homes. Know that it grows quickly, so be sure to prune it regularly and fertilize it monthly. The tree can even grow up to 50 feet high when planted outside, but in a pot, it'll be much more manageable. We love the idea of putting a large indoor tree by the front door for a grand entrance, as done in this space by Alexander DB.
Schefflera Arboricola ($249) BUY NOW
Have we mentioned that palms are some of the best indoor trees around? Low light makes majesty palms grow a bit slower if you notice yours getting too tall. On the other hand, if you want one to grow quickly, put it somewhere with more access to sunlight. Match your planter to the walls for a cohesive look, an inspired combo courtesy of 2LG Studio.
Costa Farms Majesty Palm ($40) BUY NOW
The Calamondin Orange Tree is one of the easiest indoor fruit trees to grow and by far one of the cutest. The mini oranges will bring a fresh scent to any room, too, and the fruits make a great snack.
Calamondin Orange Tree ($120) BUY NOW
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