Best plants

1144 best fragrant houseplants

A plant you can smell earns its place twice over. These species are documented for fragrance — scented blooms or aromatic foliage — from sweetly perfumed flowers to herbs that release scent at a brush of the hand, bringing the garden’s best trick indoors.

How this list is built: plants documented as fragrant or scented — scented flowers or aromatic foliage — in our care notes— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

Plant	Light	Water	Pets
Abelia chinensis temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Weekly through the first season, then mainly during dry spells	Mildly toxic to pets
Abelia x grandiflora temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Weekly deep soak in the first season, then only during prolonged dry spells once established	Mildly toxic to pets
Acorus gramineus temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Keep soil constantly moist to wet; never allow to dry out	Mildly toxic to pets
Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Keep soil constantly moist to wet at all times	Mildly toxic to pets
Actinidia kolomikta temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Keep soil evenly moist, watering deeply about weekly in dry summer spells	Mildly toxic to pets
Aerangis biloba temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Every 1-3 days when mounted; every 3-5 days in a small basket, kept lightly moist	Pet-safe
Aerangis fastuosa temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Water every 1-3 days, keeping the roots consistently moist	Pet-safe
Aesculifolia Rodgersia temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Keep soil consistently moist; water deeply 1-2 times weekly, more in heat	Mildly toxic to pets
African Marigold 'Crackerjack' temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When top 3-4 cm of soil is dry, about every 4-7 days	Mildly toxic to pets
African Wormwood temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Every 2–3 weeks once established; weekly for container specimens	Mildly toxic to pets
Agastache 'Blue Fortune' temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 3-5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 days	Pet-safe
Agave Cactus temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	When the top 3-5 cm of soil is completely dry, roughly every 10-14 days in summer; very sparingly in winter	Pet-safe
Agnes Rose temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Deep watering once a week, more in drought or first season	Pet-safe
Agrimony temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Water to establish, then only in prolonged drought, roughly every 10-14 days	Mildly toxic to pets
Alcantarea odorata temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Keep the central tank filled; water the mix when its top 4-5 cm is dry	Pet-safe
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Keep evenly moist; water 2-3 times a week in warm weather	Pet-safe
All Gold Lemon Balm temp & humidity · pet safety	Medium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)	Every 3–5 days; when top inch of soil feels dry	Pet-safe
Allegheny serviceberry temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	Weekly during establishment; moderate once established	Pet-safe
Allegheny Spurge temp & humidity · pet safety	Low light (north window or shaded room)	Weekly during the first 1–2 growing seasons; every 2–3 weeks once established	Mildly toxic to pets
Allium 'Gladiator' temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Water during spring growth; keep dry in summer dormancy, every 2-3 weeks at most if drought-stressed	Toxic to pets
Alocasia Odora temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	When the top 2-3 cm of mix is dry, about every 4-7 days in growth	Toxic to pets
Alpine Rock Cress temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Weekly during establishment; every 2–3 weeks once established	Pet-safe
Amanus Oregano temp & humidity · pet safety	Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)	Every 10–14 days in summer; monthly in winter	Pet-safe
Amazon Moonflower Cactus temp & humidity · pet safety	Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)	When the top 2-3 cm of substrate is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in the growing season; every 2-3 weeks in a cooler rest period	Pet-safe

Best fragrant houseplants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best fragrant houseplants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is plants documented as fragrant or scented — scented flowers or aromatic foliage — in our care notes, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 1144 plants qualify today.

How many fragrant houseplants are there?

Growli currently lists 1144 plants that meet the criterion (plants documented as fragrant or scented — scented flowers or aromatic foliage — 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 plants documented as fragrant or scented — scented flowers or aromatic foliage — 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.

More plant shortlists

Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
Best pet-safe low-light plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs AND happy with no direct sun — the two hardest constraints to satisfy at once.
Best plants for cold, dark rooms — Houseplants that cope with BOTH low light and a cool, unheated room — the hardest indoor spot to fill. Every pick tolerates a low of about 10°C and shade.
Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
Best houseplants for beginners — Forgiving of irregular light and watering — the houseplants least likely to die in a new plant parent’s first season.
Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
Best bathroom plants — Humidity-loving houseplants that also cope with lower light — suited to the steamy, often-dim conditions of a typical bathroom.
Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
Best pet-safe trailing & hanging plants — Trailing and climbing plants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe for shelves and hanging pots in a pet home.
Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
Best pet-safe bathroom plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in the humid, lower-light conditions of a bathroom — safe greenery for the smallest room.
Best succulents for beginners — The easiest succulents and cacti to keep alive — selected by documented growth habit, each with the light and watering it actually wants.
Best pet-safe succulents — Succulents the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — low-water greenery that is also safe around a curious pet.
Best small & tabletop houseplants — Compact houseplants that stay under about 40 cm — desk, shelf and windowsill plants that never outgrow a small space.
Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
Best houseplants to propagate in water — Houseplants that root from a cutting in a glass of water — the easiest, cheapest way to turn one plant into many.
Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
Best pet-safe bedroom plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in lower light — calming greenery for a bedroom where a pet often sleeps too.
Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
Best small pet-safe plants — Compact, tabletop houseplants that are also ASPCA non-toxic to cats and dogs — safe greenery for a desk or shelf.
Full pet-safe plant library — every plant, ASPCA toxicity status

Care deep-dives gardeners ask for most

Once you have shortlisted a plant, the next questions are watering and soil. These are the guides searched most this season:

Best soil for a peace lily and best soil for a spider plant
Best soil for dracaena (it is fluoride-sensitive) and best soil for hibiscus
How often to water broccoli, how often to water beans, and how often to water okra
Browse every watering guide and soil & potting-mix guide