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Best plants

80 best fast-growing houseplants

When you want a room to feel green now, growth rate matters more than anything. These species are documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, climb a moss pole or spill over a shelf edge — so the payoff comes in a season, not a decade.

How this list is built: houseplants explicitly documented as fast-growing or vigorous in our care notes— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
African Milk TreeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks in spring/summer; roughly every 3-4 weeks in winterToxic to pets
Alocasia Regal ShieldBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil feel dry, roughly weekly in summer and less in winterToxic to pets
Alocasia SarianBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in spring/summer; water when the top 25-50% of the soil has driedToxic to pets
Amydrium Medium SilverBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks; water when the top ~25% of the mix is dryToxic to pets
Angel Wing Begonia 'Lucerna'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 5-7 days in summerToxic to pets
Angel's TrumpetDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-3 days in peak summer growth; far less when dormant or overwinteringToxic to pets
Arrowhead plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Artillery PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm (about half an inch) of soil is dryPet-safe
Baby's TearsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-4 days; keep soil consistently moistPet-safe
Baltic Blue PothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days; let the top 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of soil dry out firstToxic to pets
Bleeding heart vineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 in) of soil driesMildly toxic to pets
Blood BananaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Roughly weekly in active growth; every 10-14 days in winterPet-safe
BougainvilleaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top few centimetres of soil dry outMildly toxic to pets
Calathea 'Flamestar'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly; water when the top 2-3 cm (about 1 inch) of soil feels dryPet-safe
Calathea FasciataBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 5-7 days, when the top inch of soil is just dryPet-safe
CalendulaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Moderate — roughly weekly once establishedPet-safe
Cape Leadwort (Blue Plumbago)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly in active growth; let the top of the soil dry between wateringsMildly toxic to pets
Catasetum OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Heavy in summer growth; none during winter dormancyMildly toxic to pets
Cebu Blue PothosBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When top 2-3cm of soil is dry; roughly every 7-14 days indoorsToxic to pets
Colocasia 'Black Magic'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep soil constantly moist to wet; never let it dry outToxic to pets
Colocasia 'Mojito'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep soil consistently moist; often 2-3+ times per week in active growthToxic to pets
Colocasia 'Pink China'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep soil consistently moist to wet; water whenever the top inch starts to dryToxic to pets
Creeping figBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1cm (half-inch) of compost driesToxic to pets
Cuban Cigar CalatheaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep soil consistently moist; typically water when the top 2-3 cm feels dryPet-safe
Cupid PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in spring and summer, less in winter — always led by the soil, not the calendar.Pet-safe
Dipladenia (Mandevilla)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 3-5 days in summer growth; sparingly in winterMildly toxic to pets
Egyptian Star FlowerDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dryMildly toxic to pets
English ivyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Epipremnum Pinnatum AlboBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in growth; let the top 3-5 cm (1-2 in) dry firstToxic to pets
Flowering mapleDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 1 cm (½ inch) of mix is dry, often every few days in summerMildly toxic to pets
Frosty FernBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep evenly moist; water when the surface just begins to dry, often 2-3 times per weekPet-safe
Golden Mosaic CtenantheBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (about an inch) of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in summer and less in winterMildly toxic to pets
Golden pothosMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Golden TrumpetDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 2-5 cm of soil is dry (roughly weekly in summer)Mildly toxic to pets
Grape IvyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dryPet-safe
Gryphon BegoniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2–3 cm (about 1 inch) of soil dries outToxic to pets
Hoya callistophyllaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-14 days in spring/summer, less in winterPet-safe
Hoya fungiiBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches of mix are dry, roughly every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
Hoya heuschkelianaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in summer; every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
Hoya lacunosaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days in spring/summer; much less in autumn/winterPet-safe
Hoya LinearisBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in spring/summer; every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
Hoya pubicalyxBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in summerPet-safe
Inch PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in summer; every 10-14 days in winterToxic to pets
Jasmine (Pink Jasmine)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3cm of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in growthPet-safe
LantanaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry; roughly weekly in summer, less in cooler weatherToxic to pets
Madagascar JasmineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3cm of soil starts to dry (spring-summer); sparingly in winterPet-safe
Madagascar Periwinkle (Vinca)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top 2-3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry, roughly weeklyToxic to pets
Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in growthToxic to pets
Monstera SiltepecanaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 5-7 days in summer; less in winterToxic to pets
Moonlight CactusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top few centimetres are dry, roughly weekly in summer and around monthly in winterPet-safe
NasturtiumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Palm Leaf BegoniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in growing season; let the top 2-3 cm dry firstToxic to pets
Peperomia HopeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
Persian ShieldBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of soil driesMildly toxic to pets
Peruvian Apple CactusDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 2-3 weeks in spring/summer; roughly monthly or less in winterMildly toxic to pets
Philodendron 'Florida Green'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in spring/summer, every 10-14 days in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron 'Moonlight'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (1 inch) of soil is dry, roughly weekly in summerToxic to pets
Philodendron BrasilMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
Philodendron GigasBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches of mix are dry, roughly weekly in summer and less in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron Lemon LimeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in growing season; less in winterToxic to pets
Philodendron Silver SwordBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in spring and summer; less in autumn and winterToxic to pets
Purple HeartBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top inch of soil dries out, roughly weekly in summer and every 2 weeks in winterMildly toxic to pets
Rat Tail CactusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks in spring/summer; sparingly in winterMildly toxic to pets
Reed-stem orchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 4-5 days in warm growth; about weekly when coolPet-safe
Rhaphidophora DecursivaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly to fortnightly, when top 2-3 inches of soil are dryToxic to pets
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma (Mini Monstera)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, roughly weekly in summerToxic to pets
Ruby NecklaceBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 1-3 weeks; let the soil dry out completely between wateringsMildly toxic to pets
ScheffleraBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysToxic to pets
Spike MossMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep evenly moist at all times; typically water every 2-4 days so the soil never dries outPet-safe
String of ButtonsDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-2 weeks in growing season; roughly monthly in winterMildly toxic to pets
String of RaindropsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the compost is dry right through, roughly every 10-14 days in summer and every 3-4 weeks in winterToxic to pets
String of TearsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-14 days in spring and summer; about once a month in winter.Mildly toxic to pets
SunflowerDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a weekPet-safe
Swedish IvyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of compost feels dry, roughly weekly in summerPet-safe
Syngonium 'Three Kings'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry, roughly weekly in summerToxic to pets
Syngonium Neon Robusta (Pink Arrowhead)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days in growth; less in winterToxic to pets
Tradescantia 'Nanouk'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in summer and less in winterMildly toxic to pets
Turtle VineBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (about 1 inch) of soil feels dry, roughly weekly in summerMildly toxic to pets
Umbrella TreeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 7-10 days; let the top 2-3 cm of soil dry between wateringsToxic to pets
Wandering dudeBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysMildly toxic to pets

Best fast-growing houseplants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best fast-growing houseplants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is houseplants explicitly documented as fast-growing or vigorous in our care notes, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 80 plants qualify today.

How many fast-growing houseplants are there?

Growli currently lists 80 plants that meet the criterion (houseplants explicitly documented as fast-growing or vigorous in our care notes). The list updates as the plant-care library grows; each entry links to a full care guide.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Not necessarily — this list is selected by houseplants explicitly documented as fast-growing or vigorous in our care notes, not by pet safety. Each plant is tagged with its pet-safety status below, and links to a full ASPCA-sourced pet-safety guide. If you have pets, see the dedicated best pet-safe houseplants list.

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