An Overview of Plants Perfect for the Office
Plants for your office are a way to create connection with nature and add beauty and calm to an otherwise sterile environment. Whether used in a home office or commercial office, living plants add dimension, texture and color as well as provide natural air cleaning. Depending on the light exposure of your office, plants that thrive under low light conditions work well. Easy care is another characteristic that makes an office plant desirable. Most of these plants only require watering once or twice a week and will fill your office space with greenery for you to enjoy. Here are twelve amazing plants that are perfect for almost any office.
Popular Low-Light or Shade Plants
Silver Monstera (Monstera siltepecana)
The Silver Monstera is admired for its silvery-green foliage patterned with deep green veins that give each leaf a striking, textured look. This vining species grows quickly in pots or hanging baskets, but it really shines when trained up a moss pole or trellis, where the leaves enlarge and sometimes develop fenestrations. Provide bright, indirect light and a well-draining soil mix to keep it thriving.
Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’
Alocasia ‘Black Velvet’ stands out for its dramatic, dark leaves that almost appear black, contrasted by pale, velvety veins. Compact in size, it’s one of the jewel alocasias prized for indoor collections. It prefers bright, filtered light and steady, even moisture—never soggy soil. Its bold foliage adds a touch of luxury to windowsills, plant shelves, or terrariums.
Creeping Peperomia (String of Turtles)
Creeping Peperomia, often called String of Turtles, produces small round leaves patterned with intricate veining that shifts in color from purple in youth to silvery white as the plant matures. This trailing variety is easy to grow in a hanging basket or cascading down shelves, and its succulent-like leaves help it handle light watering schedules. Its small scale and love of humidity also make it an excellent choice for terrariums or vivariums.
Life Saver Plant (Huernia zebrina)
The Life Saver Plant earns its name from its unforgettable flowers—yellow stars banded in copper with a dark red, doughnut-like center. This succulent has chunky, four-angled stems and blooms sporadically throughout the season, especially when grown in bright sun. It thrives with minimal watering and makes a fascinating conversation piece on a sunny windowsill.
Hoya ‘Royal Hawaiian Purple’ (Hoya pubicalyx hybrid)
Hoya ‘Royal Hawaiian Purple’ is a beloved variety that blooms with clusters of star-shaped flowers in rich shades of purple, nearly black, accented with pink tones. Its new leaves emerge with bronze hues before maturing to green and silver-flecked foliage. Known for being hardy and forgiving, this hybrid tolerates lower light and rewards patient growers with abundant umbels of fragrant blooms.
Monstera adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera adansonii, nicknamed the Swiss Cheese Plant, is cherished for its leaves dotted with natural holes or fenestrations. Given a pole or trellis, the plant climbs and produces increasingly larger foliage, while in hanging baskets it drapes elegantly with vine-like stems. With bright, indirect light, airy soil, and steady humidity, it’s an adaptable plant that adds tropical flair to any space.
Rosary Vine (String of Hearts)
Rosary Vine, more commonly called String of Hearts, produces trailing chains of heart-shaped leaves with delicate white veining. Over time, the vines can grow several feet long, spilling gracefully from hanging baskets or shelves. Small purple-gray flowers appear intermittently, adding extra charm. This succulent-like species does best with partial sunlight and drying out between waterings.
Camellia sinensis (Tea Plant)
Camellia sinensis is the plant behind the world’s most popular beverage—tea. Young leaves can be harvested and processed into green, black, or white tea, depending on how they’re dried and cured. Outdoors, it grows well in warmer climates, but it can also be kept in containers and overwintered indoors in a bright, cool location. Remember that tea plants need good light exposure and won’t thrive in dark corners.
Tillandsia Cluster (Air Plant Cluster)
The Tillandsia Cluster is a living ornament made of grouped Tillandsia ionantha that change color with the seasons. Leaves shift from silvery green to red as they prepare to flower, then return to green after the purple blooms fade. Over time, each cluster produces offsets or “pups,” forming a larger display. With bright, filtered light and regular soaking, this air plant cluster makes an easy-care hanging feature.
Thai Giant Euphorbia ‘7 Diamonds’
Thai Giant Euphorbia ‘7 Diamonds’ displays clusters of striking flowers, each edged in deep pink with green flares against white petals. Blooming in spring and summer, the blossoms can measure up to two inches across, creating a dazzling display. Like many euphorbias, this variety thrives with minimal care—just place it in bright sun and allow the soil to dry between waterings.
Sansevieria ‘Boncel’
Sansevieria ‘Boncel’ is a compact, fan-shaped form of Sansevieria cylindrica that shows off thick, rounded leaves marked with concentric green patterns. Hardy and tolerant of neglect, it requires little water and grows best in bright light. Over time, pups will emerge at the base and can be separated into new plants. Its unique architecture makes it a standout among snake plants.
Calathea ‘White Star’
Calathea ‘White Star’ is prized for its large, painterly leaves patterned with fine white pinstripes, rich green edges, and occasional pink blush. Native to tropical rainforest conditions, this cultivar thrives in warmth, humidity, and soft, indirect light. It’s a selection of Calathea ornata and is especially valued by collectors for its striking foliage and dramatic presence indoors.
Final Thoughts
Going to work in an environment that is peaceful, engaging, dynamic and alive sparks creativity and we hope these plants will do just that or at the very least bring a perspective of nature to life. Whether it's your home office or corporate headquarters, with very little effort, you can enliven your office space with these beautiful plants for years to come!