Top Choices for Indoor Trees In 2023

Our quest for the best indoor trees was no shady endeavor. Indoor trees are basically defined as types of houseplants that are similar to traditional outdoor trees but much smaller.Simple.

That makes them perfect to nurture and care for in small spaces and, in return, they give you cleaner and fresher air to breathe. For the science on this check out Time’s article entitled Can Indoor Plants Really Purify the Air?

One famous NASA experiment, published in 1989, found that indoor plants can scrub the air of cancer-causing volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and benzene.

Time

Our guide to the best indoor trees includes 8 trees that can really brighten up your home or small living space and they won’t cost a fortune.

They also won’t require a huge amount of effort to ensure they grow big and healthy. After all, you want to enjoy your plants not take on a second job, right?

If you’ve been thinking about creating a city garden then this might be a good place to start honing your skills and certainly we’d recommend that you do this before you create your first vertical indoor garden.

What you learn from growing trees will make other types of indoor gardening much easier.

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The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus Lyrata)

If there’s one indoor tree that tops every list then it’s the Fiddle Leaf Fig.

As long as you let it get some indirect sunlight and water it regularly – you really can’t go wrong.

The broad, shiny leaves which are, indeed, shaped like a fiddle look great in every room with all types of furniture.

It is important to dust this plant once a month or so, though, or it may lose its shine.

You can find the Fiddle Leaf Fig online.

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Yucca Plant (Yucca Elphantipes)

The Yucca lives in the middle of a desert in its natural habitat and that means, rather like cactuses, it’s not a plant that needs much attention at all – you just need to make sure you leave it somewhere that it can soak up a lot of sunlight.

Water it every now and again (ideally before it starts to wilt) and you wont’ need to do much else.

You can find the Yucca Plant online.

Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)

We love the elegance of rubber plants and there are many different varieties which offer whatever shade of leaf you want from a bright three colored greens to an almost ebony shade.

They’re really good to keep too – you need to allow them some access to bright but indirect sun and then just water them once a week (though don’t over water them).

You can find the Rubber Plant online.

Calamondin Orange Tree (Citrus Mitis)

Yes, this tree does grow oranges indoors!

But, we warn you that they are super sour and they’re a bit of an acquired taste if you want to eat them.

However, that shouldn’t put you off because this tree smells fantastic all year round and it’s very easy to look after.

We think that every home should have one and when the fruit are growing, they look amazing.

You can find the Calamondin Orange Tree online.

Jade Plant (Crassula Argentea)

The Jade Plant is part succulent (that’s like a cactus) and part tree and that means it’s a truly hardy beast and that means you don’t need to care for them very hard. Just keep the soil in their pot moist (but don’t make it wet) and they’ll always be happy.

They are said to keep the air clean too which is really nice.

You can find the Jade Plant online.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)

If you want a guaranteed pet-friendly indoor tree then look no farther!

The ASPCA recommends Parlor Palms and again, as they’re designed for desert life – you can get away with fairly irregular watering of these indoor trees.

They don’t even need much light, so you can put them almost anywhere in your home!

You can find the Parlor Palm online.

Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia)

You will need to trim this one back every now and again because the plant can reach up to 5-feet tall which can be a bit much in a small space but that’s OK.

Whenever you chop off a stem – you can put it in water, wait for the roots to arrive and then plant it in a pot and give it to someone as a present. Nice, right?

You can find the Dumb Cane online.

Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)

The elegance of the arched branches means that the Weeping Fig brings a touch of class to wherever it is placed and it’s super popular with interior designers for that very reason.

However, we’ve got to warn you – it can lose up to 20% of its leaves come fall and that can be a little messy.

You can find the Weeping Fig online.

PRO-TIP: Want more vegetation in your small or urban home? Why not create an indoor vertical garden? And for more inspiration for your urban decor check out Apartment Therapy.