Written By Mo Bhula
Aesthetic Plants or (aesthetically pleasing indoor plants) are the perfect way to bring life and beauty into your home. With so much of our lives highlighted on social media, having aesthetically pleasing plants in your home has become a must. Nobody wants to see a dead, dried out houseplant in their Instagram feed!
But which ones should you choose? Well, we’ve got you covered. Many indoor plant owners know the struggle when it comes to the sheer variety of indoor plants available. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose the best ones for your home, office or workspace.
An indoor plant specialist will often be your best option for styling your home with plants that fit your interior design, whilst also working with your space, budget and home or office.
Fear not! We’ve rounded up our top picks for aesthetically pleasing indoor plants. We have included rare and popular plants that have a unique look, making sure that you can find something in our selection that is ideal for your home.
Where possible we have included links to a variety of nurseries and florists to find these wonderful plants.
So without further ado lets get into the list of our captivating aesthetic indoor plants to grow this year!
Our Top Picks of Aesthetic Indoor Plants
1. Philodendron joepii
This rare philodendron is still relatively difficult to source but if you can it can be an incredibly attractive addition to an indoor space. Its almost waxy leaves are deep green in colour with a shape that is difficult to miss. When first discovered it was thought that this Philodendron was another plant that had parts of its leaves eaten away by leaf cutter ants, on closer inspection it turned out that this is just how it grows! It is now widely believed to be a hybrid of Philodendron pedatum.
Surprisingly this Philodendron is easy to care for and grows best in bright indirect light and prefers its soil moist but not wet. It can grow quite large leaves so its best to keep this one somewhere it can be admired.
For sale at growtropicals
2. Anthurium crystallinum
A real statement plant. This uncommon Anthurium species is another great pick for an indoor plant. It is related to the Anthurium's you can often buy in supermarkets with their bright coloured spathes. The Anthurium crystallinum is renown for its velvet foliage with strong crystal veins running through. It makes a great houseplant and is sure to bring a pop of colour into any room.
Too much light will result in leaf burn so this Anthurium thrives in bright indirect light conditions and prefers to have it's soil dry between regular watering. Use a well draining potting mix for this one!
For sale at Growtropicals
3. Ficus lyrata (aka the fiddle leaf fig tree)
Most indoor plant owners will recognise this beautiful plant. It’s easily one of the most popular indoor plants out there, and for good reason. The fiddle leaf fig is a species related to the Ficus elastica (aka the rubber plant). The fiddle leaf fig is known for its unique shaped leaves, easy maintenance and its ability to thrive in low light conditions, making it a perfect houseplant.
The fiddle leaf fig tree is extremely easy to care for, it likes its soil moist but not wet so watering when the top few cm's of soil is dry is the right way to go.
It is important to remember that the fiddle leaf fig is a tree, so as house plants grow quite large if given enough space, just be sure to keep it away from any draughts or direct sunlight.
For sale at Marks & Spencers
4. Monstera deliciosa (aka the swiss cheese plant) and its variegated varieties!
If you search of aesthetic plants, the monstera deliciosa is likely to appear somewhere! It is a fan favourite for indoor spaces. It’s easily recognisable from its large, heart-shaped leaves and distinctive holes (fenestrations) or “swiss cheese” pattern.
This plant can grow to be quite large so make sure you have enough space for it. If you’re looking for something more interesting, why not try one of the variegated varieties? They are even more stunning than the original! These incredible plants will help to create a beautiful indoor space in your home or office while also being easy to take care of.
Bored of the regular swiss-cheese plant? Why not try out one of the variegated varieties? These are true aesthetic plants and have unique white or yellow sections in their foliage that bring an unusual and interesting pop of colour to any home.
The specifics around plant naming could be a whole new blog post but a simple guide to these varieties are below:
Variegated Monstera varieties
Monstera deliciosa "alba" (white variegation)
Monstera deliciosa marmorata "aurea" (yellow variegation)
Monstera deliciosa "thai constellation" (cream stable variegated)
The Monstera deliciosa species itself has a number of forms (large, small, smaller) which again, could be the subject of a blog post of its own. But the ones listed above, as well as the tried and true Monstera deliciosa is always a winner when it comes to aesthetic plants.
These beautiful plants love bright indirect light and warm temperatures and they will reward you with new growth when given enough care!
5. Jewel Orchids
A number of plant genus/species fall under the umbrella term of the jewel orchid but all are aesthetic plants in their own right. These orchids are grown for their unusual foliage rather than their flowers, with many boasting incredible lightning strike patterns. These orchids are terrestrial plants rather than epiphytic like their flowery cousins but they require similar levels of humidity.
The best way to display a jewel orchid plant for maximum visual interest is in a terrarium, or in a pot covered by a glass cloche. This way you can keep the humidity to a level they will thrive in. They prefer moist soil with good drainage and bright indirect sunlight. However you choose to display them, a jewel orchid is sure to be noticed by guests!
6. Monstera obliqua "peruvian form"
The Monstera obliqua was once considered the rarest of all monstera species! It's still a rather exotic and unusual houseplant, but due to its popularity it is now much easier to find. It made this list of aesthetic plants due to its highly fenestrated leaves and its stunning growth.
This form is found in the rainforests of Peru, so if you’re willing to pay a bit more for the real deal then it’s definitely worth tracking one down!
Obliqua is actually a complex of plants that include a number of Monstera species that haven't yet been described. There are a lot of myths surrounding the Peruvian form, given its rarity and the price it commanded at one point (almost $3000 usd for a cutting) its not hard to see why.
Many collectors will tell you that this plant needs extremely high humidity to thrive however I have found they work well as a houseplant in slightly above average humidity (around 60%+), it is preferable to give this Monstera a pole to climb as they have a habit of pushing out runners instead of leaves when they are looking for space.
If you’re looking for a unique and stunning houseplant the Monstera obliqua is definitely worth considering, just make sure you give it the right environment. These plants require bright indirect light but must not be exposed to direct sunshine; keep them away from any draughts as well. They like their soil slightly moist but never soggy so watering is best when the top few cm's of soil is dry.
For sale at Growtropicals
7. Maranta aka prayer plant (All varieties)
Back to a more common, but no less impressive houseplant. Maranta are aesthetic plants because of their unique leaf patterns. from their incredible veins running through their dark green leaves to their attractive growth habit its hard not to like these plants!
This plant got its name from the way its leaves fold at night and open in the morning; it’s said to be praying before bed!
This plant prefers bright indirect light but will tolerate a little bit of direct sunlight if necessary; keep them away from extreme cold or heat, and mist them frequently. These plants like their soil to stay slightly damp so it needs watering when just the top layer of soil feels dry. This plant comes in several varieties with different colour patterns, each equally interesting as the last!
For sale at Crocus
8. Philodendron Florida Beauty
As far as aesthetic plants go it is difficult to top the Philodendron Florida Beauty, this is a relatively new introduction to the houseplant scene, but it’s already making an impact.
The leaf shape is difficult to describe but almost resemble small birds with their wings spread out, its definitely not like other plants. In addition to this we have incredible green and yellow variegation which presents differently from on each of its beautiful leaves. The variegation itself is somewhat stable but chop back if it is producing too much green.
This Philodendron can grow quite large leaves if allowed to climb but can be pruned and propagated very easily.
This plant prefers partial shade or bright indirect light and try not to let the soil dry fully between watering.
9. Philodendron Pink Princess
You can have a list of aesthetic plants and not include the Philodendron pink princess. This plant is a bit like marmite, some people love it while others hate them! I am on the side of loving this plant and I think it makes an eye catching addition to any home environment. We have a whole plant profile on the Pink Princess Philodendron here.
For sale at Plants4allseasons
10. Graptoveria Milkyway
Finally a succulent to add to the list! The Graptoveria Milkyway was created by Surreal Succulents a UK based a succulent and cacti specialist nursery. Graptoveria is a cross genus hybrid of Graptopetalum and Echeveria. Its leaves can turn an impressive dark shade of purple when placed in a bright spot with direct light and allowed to stress. All succulents require a sunny spot so a south facing window is ideal. Succulents and cacti can make beautiful houseplantsbut have a tendency to stretch without enough light, so if i haven't stressed enough, a sunny spot or ideally in full sun!
Succulents require a well draining potting mix that is allowed to dry between watering. Given the right conditions the Graptoveria Milky Way can produce offsets that form a clump around the main plant. You can cut these off and root them up separately to create a new plant or keep them in the same pot for a fuller effect. All cacti and succulent work well in a terracotta container to allow the moisture to wick out from the soil and they benefit from a trip outdoors over summer, then brought back indoors to their south facing position over winter.
For sale at Surreal Succulents
We hope you like our list of the best aesthetic plants to grow this year! Get creative with these in your home. Who knows; you may even find a new favourite! Have fun and let us know what you think! Happy gardening!
The Botanical Archive is here to help if you need any more advice or assistance. We are an RHS award winning Interior Plant Styling/Landscaping service dedicated to helping everyone get the most out of their indoor space so don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! We provide plant consultations, interior plant styling, sourcing and installation for homes and offices!
Mo Bhula
