Adding plants to your home is a surefire way to brighten up your decor and inject life into your rooms. When space is at a premium, try adding one of these verdant varieties into the mix—they’re small in stature, yet huge in impact.

1. AGLAONEMA ‘RED VEIN’

Prized for its vivid leaves and distinct red veins, this plant brings a welcome pop of colour. ‘Red vein’ is relatively hardy, easy to maintain and may help remove toxins from the air.

GROWTH Moderate; it can reach a height of 30 to 60 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Bright indirect light, although it can adapt to low light conditions.
WATERING Water reg­ularly; allow a few centimetres of soil on the surface to dry out between waterings.
TOXICITY Toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

2. BISHOP’S CAP CACTUS

This small cactus native to Texas and Mexico will take its time to grow, but will embellish your space with its green, yellow, orange and red marbling. Tip: The secret to help cacti flower is fluctuating temperatures, so don’t hesitate to place your specimen near a window so that it can enjoy cool nights and warmer days.

GROWTH Slow; it can reach a height of 30 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Full sun.
WATERING Moderate water­ ing; allow the soil to dry out com­pletely between waterings.
TOXICITY Non­toxic.

3. GREEN VELVET ELEPHANT’S EAR

You can easily spot this plant thanks to its large, velvety heart-shaped leaves with their contrasting white veins. This tropical rainforest plant thrives in warmth and high humidity.

GROWTH Moderate; it can reach a height of 60 to 90 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Bright indirect light.
WATERING Water regularly; allow a few centimetres of soil on the surface to dry out between waterings. Reduce frequency during fall and winter.
TOXICITY Toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

4. MOTTLED SPURGE

This plant is a stunning succulent with an upright stem and strong branches, but no leaves. Its unique ghostly white colouring is due to a lack of chlorophyll-bearing tissues.

GROWTH Slow; it can reach a height of 30 to 90 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Full sun.
WATERING Water sparingly; allow well­-drained soil to dry out completely between waterings.
TOXICITY All parts of this plant are toxic, including the sap, which is irritating to skin and eyes.

5. WAX PLANT

This climbing vine features slender leaves that are often dotted with silver, but it’s the sweetly scented star-shaped flowers that set it apart. The plants rarely flower before
they’re two years old, so be patient!

GROWTH Moderate; trails or climbs up to 1 metre.
EXPOSURE Bright, indirect light.
WATERING Water sparingly; allow the first third of the soil to dry out between waterings in the spring, summer and fall, and allow soil to dry completely in the winter.
TOXICITY Non-toxic, but they contain latex, which may be irritating.

6. Mosaic Plant

Native to South America, this com- pact plant boasts deep green leaves decorated with contrasting veins, often in white or pink. It can tolerate a range of light habitats but thrives in humidity and warmth. Tip: Pinch the ends of the stems to help maintain a full, chubby appearance.

GROWTH Slow; it can reach a height of 15 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Bright indirect light.
WATERING Keep soil moist but not soggy.
TOXICITY Non-toxic.

7. PEPEROMIA HOPE

With clusters of glossy leaves that gather along trailing stems, this succulent is beautiful in a hanging basket or on a high shelf. It’s easy to care for and thrives in consistent moderate temperatures—ideal for a houseplant.

GROWTH Moderate; it can reach 30 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Bright, indirect light.
WATERING Water regularly; allow a few centimetres of soil on the surface to dry out between waterings.
TOXICITY Non-toxic.

8. UMBRELLA TREE

Native to China and Taiwan, this houseplant thrives in humidity and warmth, display- ing oval leaves that fan out from the stalk to resemble an umbrella. Placed on a table or by a window, this plant brings the tropics home.

GROWTH Fast; it can reach a height of 2 metres. Prune to keep the plant at your desired size and encourage dense growth.
EXPOSURE Bright, indirect light.
WATERING Water regularly; allow a few centimetres of soil on the surface to dry out between waterings.
TOXICITY Toxic to pets and humans if ingested.

9. CYLINDRICAL SNAKE PLANT

This succulent with thick, pointed, fan-shaped leaves is resilient and perfect for beginner plant parents. Snake plants clean the air and even release oxygen. They’re easy to care for, and you can place a snake plant in nearly any area of your home and it will thrive.

GROWTH Slow; it can reach a height of 90 centimetres.
EXPOSURE Bright, indirect light is ideal, but it can adapt to lower light.
WATERING Water sparingly— overwatering is the most common issue for this plant. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering it again (about every two to four weeks).
TOXICITY Mildly toxic to pets and humans.

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