What is the best flowering plant to grow indoors

Every product is independently reviewed and selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

Choosing the right one can turn your home into a space filled with color and life. Some plants adapt beautifully to indoor conditions, blooming reliably with minimal care. Understanding light, space, and maintenance needs helps you select an indoor flowering plant that truly thrives.

1. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii) Best All‑Around Choice

Why it’s great:

  • Tolerates lower light than most bloomers.
  • Evergreen foliage + graceful white flowers several times a year.
  • Excellent natural air purifier. Light: Medium indirect; thrives 3–6 ft from a window. Water: Keep soil slightly moist, never soggy. Bloom tip: Feed monthly with diluted organic fertilizer and maintain humidity around 50%.

Ideal for: Apartments, offices, shaded living rooms.

2. African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) Best for Consistent Indoor Blooms

Why it’s great:

  • Compact, long‑blooming, and available in many colors.
  • Blooms year‑round with steady light and moderate humidity. Light: Bright, indirect (east or north window) or LED grow light. Water: Bottom‑water with room‑temperature water; avoid splashing leaves. Bloom tip: Use African violet soil mix (light and airy) and gentle, balanced feed every 2–3 weeks.

Ideal for: Bright kitchen windowsills or sunrooms.

3. Orchid (Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid) Best for Elegance and Longevity

Why it’s great:

  • Exotic, long‑lasting flowers (up to 3 months).
  • Low daily maintenance once you learn its rhythm. Light: Bright, filtered (no direct mid‑day sun). Water: Every 7–10 days; let roots dry slightly between. Bloom tip: After flowering, trim stem above a node; new spikes often emerge.

Ideal for: Bright bathrooms or east‑facing windows.

4. Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum) Best for Bold Color Year‑Round

Why it’s great:

  • Glossy leaves and long‑lasting red, pink, or white blooms.
  • Flowers (technically spathes) can last 2–3 months indoors. Light: Bright indirect. Water: Weekly, keeping soil lightly moist. Bloom tip: Warmth (above 65 °F) and consistent feeding every month sustain continuous color.

Ideal for: Warm, bright living rooms or entryways.

5. Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana) Best Low‑Water Bloomer

Why it’s great:

  • Succulent leaves + clusters of colorful flowers.
  • Needs very little water; thrives on bright windowsills. Light: Full sun (south or west window). Water: Every 10–14 days; avoid soggy soil. Bloom tip: After flowers fade, pinch spent blooms and give 6 weeks of shorter days (~10 h light, 14 h dark) to trigger reblooming.

Ideal for: Busy households or bright, dry rooms.

6. Begonia (Rex or Tuberous Hybrids) Best for Color and Texture

Why it’s great:

  • Incredible range of leaf patterns and flowers.
  • Compact enough for shelves and tabletops. Light: Bright, indirect. Water: Keep evenly moist but not wet. Bloom tip: Maintain humidity around 50% and feed lightly every 2 weeks in spring/summer.

Ideal for: Indoor accent tables or well‑lit bathrooms.

7. Hibiscus  Best Tropical Showstopper (with Grow Light)

Why it’s great:

  • Large, vivid blooms that brighten any space.
  • Rewarding if you have strong light or supplemental LED. Light: 6+ hours of direct or grow‑light exposure. Water: Thoroughly when top inch of soil dries. Bloom tip: Keep warm (70–80 °F) and feed every 2 weeks with organic bloom fertilizer.

Ideal for: Sunrooms or bright rooms with grow lights.

Quick Comparison

PlantLightWaterBloom FrequencyMaintenance
Peace LilyLow–mediumModerateEvery few monthsVery easy
African VioletBright indirectModerateYear‑roundModerate
Phalaenopsis OrchidBright, filteredLow–moderate1–2× per year, long-lastingLow
AnthuriumBright indirectModerateContinuousEasy
KalanchoeBright/directLowSeasonalVery easy
BegoniaBright indirectModerateSpring–summerModerate
HibiscusBright/direct or LEDModerateContinuous in summerHigher care

My Professional Recommendation

If you want a reliable, low‑stress starter, go with a peace lily or African violet. If you’re comfortable providing bright light and regular feeding, Anthurium gives the best long‑term payoff tropical color, minimal mess, and easy reblooming.

For naturally lit homes or those with grow lights, hibiscus or orchids will reward your extra effort with dramatic, long‑lasting flowers.

Pro Tips for Any Indoor Bloomer

  • Light = blooms. If flowers never appear, increase brightness before changing fertilizer.
  • Trim faded blooms to encourage new buds.
  • Feed lightly and regularly rather than rarely with heavy doses.
  • Maintain humidity between 45–60%; dry air is the enemy of buds.
  • Repot every 1–2 years in fresh, well‑draining organic mix.