agriculture

26 Plants for the Windowsill to Create a Charming Display

26 Plants for the Windowsill to Create a Charming Display

Windowsills are usually bright but small spaces, so tiny indoor plants work great, especially if they prefer direct sunlight. However, there are certain types of plants that do better on the windowsill than others.

“Opt for plants that have thicker a leaf or a waxy cuticle as they will be better adapted to tolerate higher temperatures and stronger light conditions,” Lisa Price, founder of Root Houseplants, says.

To help you identify the plants perfect for your windowsill, we rounded up several different species and varieties with help from an expert.

Meet the Expert

  • Lisa Price is the founder of Root Houseplants, a plant shop in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

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  • 01of 26

    Burro’s Tail

    Closeup photogrpah of a Sedum morganianum (donkey or burro's tail) plant in bloom.
    Deb Perry / Getty Images

    Covered in pale green leaves, this plant is a perennial succulent worth growing that flowers pinkish blooms. It’s native to Mexico and Honduras, making it happy to sit in a sunny windowsill where its trailing leaves won’t be disturbed.

    It loves a bright spot where it won’t be bumped into, Price says.

  • 02of 26

    Geranium

    Geranium Pelargonium in bloom
    Elizabeth Fernandez / Getty Images

    These plants work well in window boxes, but if you have a large window space, they can bloom there too. This is because most geraniums grow as annuals in many temperate zones.

  • 03of 26

    Snake Plant

    Cozy home interior decor, Sansevieria (snake plant) in ceramic pots on a white table on the background of a bed with decorative pillows, modern design on a sunny day
    Inna Luzan / Getty Images

    This is a classic and beloved houseplant because it is so easy to care for. Since it can handle darker spots, the snake plant can do well on windowsills that don’t always get much sunlight.

  • 04of 26

    Aloe Vera

    Aloe vera plant in a blue planter
    bymuratdeniz / Getty Images

    This plant thrives in containers inside. But it likes full to partial sun, so you can easily care for this succulent placed on a windowsill. Just be sure to water it sparingly.

    Continue to 5 of 26 below
  • 05of 26

    Hoya ‘Tricolor’

    Hoya carnosa compacta,Hoya Compacta or hoya tricolor plant
    Jobrestful / Getty Images

    Commonly called wax plants, hoyas are vining plants from Asia. Price says this specific variety is gorgeous due to its sun-flushed red growth when it’s exposed to more light, which makes it a great pick for the windowsill. Hoyas are also generally easy to care for and can handle a range of light.

  • 06of 26

    Spider Plant

    Spider plant on a wooden table at home balcony.
    Veena Nair / Getty Images

    The spider plant is a warm-weather perennial. When grown indoors, it will survive less-than-ideal conditions, like a lack of sunlight. Put this plant in a window that is exposed to plenty of shade.

  • 07of 26

    Rubber Plant

    Woman holding a Rubber plant to offer to customers
    Rapeepong Puttakumwong / Getty Images

    Although this plant needs to be consistently moist, Price explains it can afford to dry out a bit between waterings. Hence, the rubber plant can handle a bit of sun, which makes it a somewhat easy tropical houseplant for the home.

    “It’s another houseplant staple, with glossy leaves, and it loves bright light,” Price says.

  • 08of 26

    African Milk Tree

    Euphorbia trigona (also known as African milk tree, cathedral cactus, Abyssinian euphorbia and high chaparall) Closeup image of euphorbia ingens cactus trees
    ninitta / Getty Images

    A succulent with an interesting shape, the African milk tree prefers bright, indirect sunlight. Thus, a southern-facing window works great for this reason. While the plant can tolerate full sun, it does not want very hot temperatures.

    Continue to 9 of 26 below
  • 09of 26

    String of Pearls

    Closeup of string of pearls plant
    carlofranco / Getty Images

    This plant looks great sitting on a windowsill and can do well in dry, warm spots.

    “A succulent creeping plant, the string of pearls has leaves perfectly engineered to store water,” Price says. Water a string of pearls less often for the best results.

  • 10of 26

    Chinese Money Plant

    Closeup of a large Chinese money plant
    xu wu / Getty Images

    This flowering perennial is native to China and grows naturally in high places like the region’s Himalayan mountains. The Chinese money plant can handle cooler, nighttime temperatures, so placing them on an east-facing windowsill is ideal, Price says.

  • 11of 26

    Echeveria

    Closeup of the succulent's rose-like structure
    Simon McGill / Getty Images

    As a succulent, the plant likes sun. The plant will remain on the smaller size, making it great for a small windowsill ledge.

  • 12of 26

    Moth Orchid

    Beautiful pink orchid flowers close up. Selection of plants for decorating rooms. exotic flowers
    Elena Medoks / Getty Images

    There are many different types of orchids, but some orchid houseplants like the sun more than others. The moth orchid likes a nice sunny spot and can happily sit in a north-facing window.

    Continue to 13 of 26 below
  • 13of 26

    Polka Dot Begonia

    Closeup on the polka-dot patterned leaves of the plant.
    Marina Demidiuk / Getty Images

    With striking polka dot leaves, this plant tolerates full and partial sun, making it a great windowsill plant, whatever the sun exposure. Just be sure to water this tropical plant twice a week for windowsills that tend to get more sunlight.

  • 14of 26

    Peace Lily

    White Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) flowers with long pistils
    OsakaWayne Studios / Getty Images

    This flowering tropical plant blooms twice a year and likes low light. Price recommends placing it on an east-facing or north-facing windowsill for good growth. She explains how the direct light of a south-facing windowsill could scorch the leaves.

  • 15of 26

    Venus Flytrap

    venus fly trap
    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    As a bug-eating plant, the Venus flytrap prefers to be where its prey is. Which is why being perched on a windowsill makes the most sense for it.

    “Plus, this bog-dwelling carnivorous plant loves bright, direct light,” Price says. “Just make sure they’re always standing in a little dish of water.”

  • 16of 26

    Spiney Pincushion Cactus

    cactus with small flowers
    Laura_Calabrese / Getty Images

    The spiney pincushion cactus is from Mexico and likes low humidity. It does great as an indoor cactus under or behind glass, so a windowsill is a great spot to put this plant. Expect to see a crown of pink flowers around the growing tip.

    Continue to 17 of 26 below
  • 17of 26

    Maidenhair Fern

    Macro of adiantum philippense or maidenhair fern growing in a pot on the windowsill
    Carol Yepes / Getty Images

    Known for its small size, the maidenhair fern can last up to 15 years. They favor indirect or dappled light but prefer warm, humid conditions, which is why the plant does well on a windowsill during summers wherever the climate turns humid.

  • 18of 26

    Flamingo Lily

    Flamingo Flower, Red Anthurium tropical plant, of arum Araceae group of plants with water droplets. Also known as Boy Flower
    Tim Graham / Getty Images

    A stunning tropical plant that flowers indoors, the flamingo lily likes indirect sun because it grows naturally in forest undergrowth. Place it in a window without a lot of sunlight, so its leaves don’t get sunburned.

  • 19of 26

    Christmas Cactus

    Schlumbergera Christmas Thanksgiving Crab Holiday Easter or Whitsun cactus flowering purple flowers home plant succulent on windowsll.
    Евгения Матвеец / Getty Images

    A bright spot in the middle of winter, this plant blooms around the holidays, hence the name. This plant does well in shady spots or in bright windows and is quite versatile in its sun exposure needs.

  • 20of 26

    Nerve Plant

    Fittonia with bright green leaves and pink or white veins close-up. Houseplants on a windowsill.
    Anastasia Babkina / Getty Images

    With delicate veining leaves, the nerve plant is stunning and unique. It prefers partial sun, so keep it in a window that happens to have low light conditions.

    Continue to 21 of 26 below
  • 21of 26

    Cyclamen

    A cyclamen flowering pink blooms on a windowsill
    Margarita Zhilova / Getty Images

    A compact, flowering plant, the cyclamen works great on a windowsill. It flowers pink, purple, red, or white blooms. But be aware that it appreciates partial light.

  • 22of 26

    Philodendron Birkin

    Front profile of a philodendron birkin plant
    The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong

    This plant likes northern light exposure. But it will grow large once it’s full size, so while a small, north-facing window will work in its early years, transfer the plant to a sunny space once it’s fully grown.

  • 23of 26

    Rosemary

    closeup of rosemary
    The Spruce / Randi Rhoades

    With flowers ranging in color from blue to white, rosemary needs sunlight to bloom. In fact, when grown indoors, this plant requires tons of bright light. Place it in a bright, south-facing window for the best results.

  • 24of 26

    African Violet

    Close up of the purple blooms of an African violet plant
    The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

    These plants can tolerate a lower light situation. But to make sure they flower, put the African violets in a window with plenty of indirect to bright, indirect sunlight.

    Continue to 25 of 26 below
  • 25of 26

    Aeonium

    closeup of aeonium rosettes
    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    Aeoniums want bright, direct light. Therefore, a bright, sunny window will do nicely for an aeonium. A desert variety, these plants prefer harsher conditions. So, water only when the dirt dries out.

  • 26of 26

    Jade

    A jade plant (Crassula ovata) in a white pot sitting on a white side table with decorative accessories.
    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Jade plants grow best in full sunlight. Place these in a south-facing window with lots of light if you want to foster the growth of the plant’s celebrated red tips on their leaves.

FAQ
  • What are the best plants for the windowsill?

    This all depends on the positioning of the window.

    “If the windowsill is south-facing and unobstructed by buildings or trees, a cactus or succulent would thrive there,” Price says.

    Otherwise, a good rule is to opt for plant species that have thicker leaves or a waxy cuticle since they will better adapt to tolerate stronger light conditions and higher temperatures, Price says.

  • Can you put plants on a windowsill?

    This depends on which direction the window faces since different plants have their own ideal conditions. Be sure to determine what kinds of sunlight your plant needs before placing them in a bright window.

  • What houseplants are ideal for a sunny windowsill?

    Cacti and succulents are the best options for a very sunny windowsill. Price recommends a Cattleya if you like a different type of foliage and flower.

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