Best kitchen plants – 10 to brighten up the room and add color and life
There is a wide range of benefits to having plants in the kitchen, which is often the hub of the house. The best kitchen plants serve multiple purposes, from producing ingredients for cooking to eliminating aromas and keeping the area clear of insects to simply adding a dash of colour.
The most excellent indoor plants may help bring the kitchen to life and soften its look in many different ways. Among the many kitchens, the feng shui suggestion includes some greenery as a visual break from the counters and cabinets.
BEST KITCHEN PLANTS
Morag Hill, a co-founder of The Little Botanical, believes that the kitchen is a popular spot for houseplants because of the dramatic effect they can have on the room. That “greenery against tiles or plain cupboards can completely boost a room” is so true.
It’s essential to keep in mind that not all of the plants on this list will thrive in your kitchen because the temperature, humidity, and light intensity are unique to each cooking environment. Plants suited for a north-facing kitchen windowsill will not do well in a south-facing one, and vice versa.
If you want to spruce up your kitchen with a few potted plants, these are the top picks from a team of plant experts.
1. CHINESE EVERGREEN – AGLAONEMA ‘PINK STAR’
The uncommon Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’ can be successfully grown indoors. Emily Lawlor of Happy Houseplants states, “Aglaonemas grow wild in the subtropical rainforests of Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where the plant is happy beneath the forest canopy.”
Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’ is an exotic selection prized for its vibrantly coloured leaves and variegation. It is a beautiful addition to any kitchen that could use a splash of colour. ‘An incredible conversation piece suitable for the kitchen table, and a superb plant choice for kitchen plants if you seek the jungle vibe or want magnificent foliage in your house,’ says Emily.
Even though Aglaonema ‘Pink Star’ is a hardy plant that can tolerate some neglect, you should water it anytime the top two inches of soil have dried out. Emily says, “It’s tolerant of low light circumstances and easy to care for, thus excellent for novices, but also an appealing collector plant for more experienced gardeners.”
2. PINEAPPLE – ANANAS COMOSUS
According to Lindsay Pangborn, horticulture expert at Bloomscape, “if you want to liven up your kitchen space, I recommend the pineapple plant because it can grow in the strong light and increased humidity of most kitchens.”
The pineapple plant is eye-catching and exciting, and its miniature pineapple sitting atop its green leaves makes it a great talking point. Despite its diminutive size, it may be eaten once ripe and makes a lovely addition to cocktails.
The pineapple plant is a bromeliad, meaning its long, glossy, strap-like leaves direct water to the plant’s stem and roots. Its unusual design will immediately infuse your cooking space with a touch of exoticism. You can either find resources on how to cultivate your pineapples, or you can purchase one already established.
This is an excellent, low-maintenance houseplant that thrives in bright light. Lindsay states, “Pineapple bromeliads do not need a lot of water; only water them when the soil is 75% dry.”
3. STRING OF HEARTS – CEROPEGIA WOODII
The string of hearts, with its long, trailing stems of cute heart-shaped leaves that all have pretty silver variegation and a purple underside, makes charming kitchen plants perfect for small ideas. If you’re looking for a feng shui plant to bring good vibes into your kitchen, look no further than this low-maintenance option that’s also safe for pets.
Morag from The Little Botanical explains that a string of hearts is excellent for a kitchen shelf since it will eventually trickle down and look lovely. To ensure the health and happiness of your “trailing beauty,” locate him in an area that receives bright, early-morning sunlight. The string of hearts thrives in hanging pots, which is great if you’re low on shelf space.
A string of hearts needs water about once every ten days, but only when the compost is completely dry. During the summer, it’s a good idea to prune back any overly long stems to promote new growth. They are a beautiful addition to kitchen shelves when combined with other plant arrangements.
4. SPIDER PLANT – CHLOROPHYTUM COMOSUM
Plants like spider plants and excellent air cleaners are welcome additions to any kitchen since they neutralize cooking aromas. Famous for use in interior design, this plant will help mask any lingering odours from the night before, like onions, so you can enjoy your breakfast without being reminded of them. They’re a popular choice because they’re so simple to care for.
Growing best in indirect light, this striped beauty is a sight to behold in a pot on a windowsill, kitchen counter, or even a hanging pot where its long, narrow leaves can cascade lavishly over the sides.
Spider plants are very tolerant of neglect, although they do best when watered anytime the top half of the compost has dried out. Learn how to take cuttings to propagate them and enjoy them in other parts of the house; they are among the most excellent bathroom plants. They’re an alternate option for pet owners.
5. PEACE LILY – SPATHIPHYLLUM WALLISII
The air-purifying peace lily is a beautiful addition to any kitchen, with its pristine white flowers and glossy green foliage exuding a sense of calm and sophistication. According to Morag of the Little Botanical, “Peace lilies perform nicely in a bright kitchen; a kitchen windowsill or workstation is the perfect setting for them.” The proverb goes, “The more light it gets, the more flowers appear.”
“A low-maintenance peace lily is an excellent first plant because it displays its requirements. The drooping of the plant’s stems indicates that the soil is dry; in this case, a good soaking will bring the plants back to life.
Keep the compost damp but not soggy, and shower the leaves regularly to mimic the plant’s natural rainforest habitat to ensure the healthiest possible environment for these houseplants.
6. CORN PLANT – DRACAENA FRAGRANS ‘BURLEY’
There is no better statement plant than the Dracaena fragrans ‘Burley’ for the heart of the home. “This striped Dracaena is the best choice of easy-care plants for the kitchen,” adds Morag. Thanks to its brilliant yellow and green striped leaves, this plant will be the centre of attention in any kitchen.
Find a low-light plant that thrives in a north-facing kitchen, and you won’t have to look any farther. Morag notes, “Dracaena copes quite well in a little shade, too,” making it an ideal houseplant for dark kitchens.
These houseplants are perfect for people who are always on the go because all you have to do to keep them alive and looking good is water them every two to three weeks and dust their leaves occasionally.
7. KALANCHOE HUMILIS ‘DESERT SURPRISE’
The odd Kalanchoe is a rare find because it looks nothing like the other plant varieties that are bred for their clusters of tiny, rose-like blossoms.
The foliage of Kalanchoe humilis ‘Desert Surprise’ makes this plant so suitable for a year-round indoor location, even in the dead of winter. Fleshy and softly scalloped, the leaves are a gorgeous greyish green and are adorned with mottled maroon stripes that make a stunning contrast. In the fall, you should be on the lookout for a flowering stalk that branches out and bears hundreds of tiny blossoms. If you have a south or west-facing kitchen windowsill, ‘Desert Surprise’ will flourish there.
Kalanchoe ‘Desert Surprise,’ though native to the arid regions of central and southwest Africa, requires the same care as any other succulent. About once a month, or once every two months in the winter, water the soil thoroughly, but never let it sit in water. Succulents are low-maintenance if you learn how often to water them and when to give them as gifts; this is an excellent option for people just starting or those who want to surprise someone with something unique.
8. HERBS
Herbs are great to have around the house and make excellent houseplants. What could be better than grabbing a handful of flavorful, fresh leaves and tossing them right into your go-to recipe?
Growing herbs indoors is easy if you know what you’re doing, and the light your plants get will determine which ones will be the most useful in the kitchen. Basil, rosemary, thyme, and sage are all sun-loving herbs that do well in warm, sunny kitchens, while mint, parsley, cilantro (or coriander), and chives prefer colder, less bright conditions.
Water the compost anytime the top feels dry; cilantro and basil will wilt rapidly if the compost is allowed to dry out completely.
9. CHILLIES – CAPSICUM
Chillies, which thrive in warm conditions, can be grown successfully even in a south-facing window, provided that a dwarf variety such as ‘Apache’ is selected. Like herbs, chillies thrive in the kitchen and may travel from plant to pan in seconds, imparting that irresistible, just-picked flavour.
In addition to their culinary uses, chilli plants can be grown for their aesthetic value; the ‘Masquerade’ variety is one such example; it is a petite, delicate plant with clusters of small, pointed fruits that range in colour from bright red to orange to violet.
Grow chillies on a south-facing windowsill to maximize their exposure to sunshine in your indoor vegetable garden container crop. To promote heavy fruiting, water whenever the compost’s surface dries out and fed every two weeks with a high-potassium liquid feed, such as a tomato feed.
10. PRINCESS ALICE’S SUNDEW – DROSERA ALICIAE
Princess Alice’s sundew, also known as Drosera aliciae, is one of the easiest carnivorous plants to cultivate. It’s also one of the showiest, with a rosette of tiny spoon-shaped leaves tipped with sticky droplets that give the plant a glistening appearance and a halo of red hairs. It’s such an odd plant that it’ll get people talking, and youngsters will find it fascinating.
If you’re seeking a solution to the problem of fruit flies in your kitchen during the warm summer months, a Princess Alice’s sundew is an excellent choice. It can help minimize the number of gnats, whiteflies, and other flying pests that are bothering your houseplants when placed near them.
In the summer, Drosera aliciae can be kept continuously upright in a shallow tray of water to guarantee the compost is reliably moist throughout the growing season. Waterless throughout the winter. Drosera aliciae, like most carnivorous plants, prefers rainwater or distilled water over tap water because of the presence of lime.
CAN YOU HAVE PLANTS IN A KITCHEN?
Plants are welcome in the kitchen; it’s one of the most incredible spots for them in the house. According to Morag, “plants tend to thrive in the kitchen since it is usually bright and airy, recreating the optimal growing circumstances.”
Planting some greenery in the kitchen will benefit not just the plants but also you since studies have shown that having houseplants around may enhance your mood, lower your stress levels, and make for cleaner air.
These advantages are maximized when houseplants are placed in the kitchen, where many of us spend the most time.
