We know that there are many benefits to having a houseplant (or two) in any room, but aside from growing herbs on your windowsill, the kitchen is one of the most neglected rooms in the home when it comes to adding some greenery.
Studies have shown that indoor plants can help purify the air, increase oxygen levels and remove toxins, and they're perfect for creating a calming kitchen canopy, especially if you often spend hours prepping and cooking meals.
Kitchen space is often limited, but even the tiniest houseplants are perfect for a worktop, shelf, or corner. You can also put plants in hanging pots to take advantage of vertical space. And even if you're not a high-maintenance person, having a kitchen sink nearby means there's no excuse not to water your plants.
But what plants are suited to our humid climate and thrive in our kitchen? Here are 10 of the best plants. Here are 10 of the best plants.
1. Peace Lily
With their glossy green leaves and white flowers, the Peace Lily is both beautiful to look at and easy to care for. They're definitely an attention-grabber and prefer a sunny location, making them ideal for a windowsill. Peace Lilies also help purify the air, removing any residual pollutants.
Peace Lily credit: Bloom & Wild
Spathiphyllum wallisii 'Bellini' Credit: Crocus
Large Peace Lily Plant Photo Credit: Moonpig.com
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera, with its thick, spiky stem, has been around for over 5,000 years and has great healing properties that make it used to treat burns: “Just pluck a leaf and squeeze the gel-like substance onto minor burns,” say the experts at flower delivery company Bloom & Wild.
aloe
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Credit: Crocus
Aloe Vera Barbados Aloe Credit: Thompson & Morgan
3. Spider Web Plant
The popular spider web plant has spreading green leaves and looks great in a hanging pot. It has excellent air purifying properties (helps remove odors, smoke, and pollutants from the air), thrives in a variety of environments, from shade to sun, and only requires occasional watering and pruning to thrive. It's also very easy to propagate, making it well worth buying.
Chlorophytum comosum 'Variegatum'
4. Golden Pothos
Pothos, also known as devil's ivy, is perfect for forgetful people. It can survive with little to no water, low light and varying humidity levels. The Bloom & Wild team explains, “With its sturdy, drooping leaves, pothos makes a statement and adds drama to any space. Place your pothos on top of a cabinet or on a shelf and watch it grow.”
“Golden Pothos”
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Credit: Crocus
Golden Pothos Photo Credit: Bunches
Marble Queen Pothos
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Credit: Bloom & Wild
5. Chili pepper plant
Do you like spicy food? Growing chili peppers at home is much easier than you think. Chili pepper seedlings look great on a shelf or windowsill. Just water them once or twice a week and after a few months you'll have cute little peppers.
Chile Prairie Fire 1 litre pot
Credit: Notonthehighstreet.com
6. ZZ Plant
A beautiful, air-purifying plant with glossy, waxy leaves, the ZZ plant is a hardy, dramatic plant that actually belongs to the same Araceae family as the Peace Lily. The ZZ plant is an easy-to-care-for, fuss-free houseplant that doesn't need frequent watering (once every two weeks is sufficient) and prefers a shady location.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
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Credit: Waitrose Gardens
ZZ Plant Credit: Bloombox Club
Zamioculcas zamiifolia Credit: Bloom & Wild
7. Lavender
Lavender plants are a great addition to any kitchen, especially if you're trying to create a rustic, country, cottage feel. Lavender is usually grown outdoors, but it can also grow indoors. And it's actually a very useful plant, as it repels flies, moths, and other insects.
Lavender “Sensational”
8. Sansevieria
Tall and slender, sansevierias have dark green, light green or yellow leaves and can be planted almost anywhere. Perfect for beginners or low-maintenance plants to grow, sansevierias require very little care; watering once every few weeks is all that's needed.
Cylindrical Sansevieria Photo courtesy of Bloombox Club
Medium-sized ceramic Sansevieria. Photo courtesy of Marks & Spencer.
Sansevieria photo credit: Prickle
9. English Ivy
This is a fast-growing, air-purifying plant that thrives in bright, humid conditions and looks great grown in a hanging pot, but keep it out of reach of pets as it can be toxic if they chew on it. Hang it over a sink or by a window.
Hedera helix, English ivy
10. Venus flytrap
Is your kitchen plagued by flies and other pests? If so, then the Venus Flytrap is the ideal plant for you. The experts at Bloom & Wild explain: “As the name suggests, this plant attracts flies and other insects, trapping them in its spiny mouth and eating them. While it won't completely rid your kitchen of flies, it will definitely help and look good at the same time.”
Dionaea muscipula, Venus flytrap
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Olivia Heath is the Daily Editor at House Beautiful. Overseeing all things digital, Olivia is most passionate about uncovering tomorrow's biggest design trends and sharing the best interiors tips, solutions for living in small spaces, and houseplant care and gardening advice.
Every week Olivia rounds up the most stylish high street homewares to help you look stylish for less, as well as highlighting the best makeovers and the hottest unique properties on the market. She also loves covering some of the biggest events on the calendar, including every event from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this year's colour forecasts from Pantone to Dulux, and exclusive sneak peeks at all the new Christmas collections before they hit the stores.
Olivia has been writing about homes and interiors for the past seven years and her work has appeared in House Beautiful US, Elle Decor US, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Red, Prima, Town & Country, Elle Japan, Modern Living and Micasa Revista.
Prior to joining House Beautiful, Olivia worked at Reveal magazine, covering celebrity and entertainment news by day and attending celebrity parties and red carpet events by night.
Olivia holds an NCTJ qualified Masters in Journalism and a BA in Journalism and Media and Cultural Studies.