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10 smallest house plants for tiny spaces
- Tamsin Hope Thomson
Published: Tuesday, 7 May 2024 at 1:55 pm
We list our pick of the best small house plants to grow, for the tiniest of spaces.
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If you have limited space indoors, there is still a range of house plants you can buy to add greenery to your home. Succulents and cacti offer the biggest choice of small house plants, but there's a wealth of other varieties to enjoy, from air plants that grow without compost to the carnivorous Venus flytrap. As well as small plants, look for slow-growing house plants that take time to reach their mature height, such as the nerve plant. Windowsills, desks, hanging planters and shelves can all be enhanced by space-saving house plants.
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10 small house plants
Haworthia cymbiformis (Cathedral window haworthia)
Haworthia cymbiformis (Cathedral window haworthia). Getty Images
Haworthia are not only slow-growing, but when they reach maturity, they're not likely to be more than 25cm tall. There are many small varieties to choose from – Haworthia cymbiformis grows to 8cm tall. This tiny succulent has striped, pale green leaves that curve up, often described as boat-shaped. It thrives in bright, indirect light on an east- or west-facing windowsill.
Height x Spread: 8cm x 10cm
Pachyphytum overiferum (moonstones)
Pachyphytum oviferum, Moonstones. Torie Chugg
This succulent is known as moonstones, perhaps because its leaves resemble pebbles with their silver colouring and round shape. It's a low-maintenance plant, as it needs minimal watering, and is ideal for adding interest to a sunny windowsill.
H x S: 10cm x 20cm
Tillandsia ionantha (air plant)
Tillandsia ionantha, air plant. Getty Images
Air plants don't need compost and are often displayed in terrariums or hanging glass balls, growing on bark or rocks. Tillandsia ionantha is a small species that grows on trees in South American rainforests. It has a compact nature and its leaves turn red for around six weeks when in flower, making a striking plant for a bathroom or kitchen.
H x S: 20cm x 20cm
Fittonia albivensis (nerve plant)
Close up of leaves of nerve plant. Getty Images
Fittonia albivensis is commonly known as mosaic or nerve plant, due to its patterned leaves, which can be green, orange or lime with white or pink veins. Its slow-growing, compact nature makes it ideal for small spaces, and it thrives in the humid conditions of a closed terrarium.
H x S: 30cm x 30cm
Opuntia cactus (prickly pear)
Opuntia cactus (prickly pear). Sarah Cuttle
The most common opuntia cactus is named bunny ears, after its large flat stems, which often grow in pairs. Although it can grow to 50cm, it's slow-growing and can be kept compact by removing stems and using them to create new plants. Place in a warm, bright spot and water only when the compost is dry.
H x S: 50cm x 50cm
Venus flytrap
Venus fly trap. Getty images
This carnivorous plant doesn't take up much room on a sunny windowsill and is an interesting addition to a house plant collection. Its spiky traps are held open until an insect triggers them, when they will snap shut.
H x S: 30cm x 20cm
Echeveria
Echeveria 'Blue Frills'. Torie Chugg
Many echeveria are ideal for small spaces such as sunny windowsills, making an attractive feature with their fleshy leaves. For tiny pots, choose compact varieties such as Echeveria minima, which forms rosettes that are only 4cm in diameter, 'Purple Pearl', with pink-edged grey leaves, or 'Blue Frills', which has frilly blue-green leaves.
H x S: 10cm x 20cm
African violet
Pink African violet. Jason Ingram
African violets are compact house plants that flower intermittently throughout the year and come in a range of colours, including purple, red, pink and yellow. Coming from East Africa, they need a warm, bright spot with humidity – a bright kitchen windowsill would be perfect, as long as it's not in direct sun.
H x S: 15cm x 20cm
Crassula 'Buddha's Temple'
Crassula 'Buddha's Temple'. Torie Chugg
For something different, try this unusual succulent that grows into a square column, with its curled leaves growing stacked on top of each other. Place Crassula 'Buddha's Temple' in a bright spot, out of direct sun.
H x S: 15cm x 15cm
Pilea peperomioides (Chinese money plant)
Pilea peperomioides, Chinese money plant. Getty Images.
Chinese money plant is not the tiniest of plants, but still compact at 30cm tall, with a neat dome-like shape. It will fit easily onto a windowsill or small table and is a good choice for beginners, being able to cope with some neglect on the watering and feeding front. Keep it in a bright, warm spot (above 12ºC in winter) and it will thrive.
H x S: 30cm x 30cm
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Advice on buying small house plants
- Check the mature height and spread of the plant, to make sure it won't grow too big for your space
- Choose slow-growing plants, or plants that can be kept compact with pruning
- Make sure you have the right conditions for the plant you buy – such as a steamy kitchen or bathroom for a plant that requires humidity
- Always check plants for signs of damage or disease before buying or on your plant's arrival
Where to buy small house plants
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