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Best plants

33 best houseplants for a cool room

Most houseplants are tropical and sulk below 15°C, but some genuinely tolerate the cool. These species are documented to cope down to about 10°C or lower, making them the right choice for an unheated spare room, a draughty hallway, an enclosed porch, or a home simply kept cool in winter.

How this list is built: houseplants whose documented temperature range extends down to 10°C or below — they cope with a cool, unheated room— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
Alice's SundewDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Keep soil constantly damp; tray topped up year-round, easing off slightly in winterMildly toxic to pets
ArborvitaeDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deeply once or twice a week for the first 1-2 growing seasons, then mainly in droughtsToxic to pets
Boat OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Spring-summer: keep evenly moist, roughly weekly; autumn-winter: reduce to weekly or fortnightly when barely dampMildly toxic to pets
CalendulaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Moderate — roughly weekly once establishedPet-safe
Candle plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is fully dry; roughly every 2-3 weeks in growth, far less in summer dormancyMildly toxic to pets
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
Cast iron plantLow light (north window or shaded room)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Chocolate orchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the mix is nearly dry, roughly every 5-9 daysPet-safe
ClematisDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Keep evenly moist; water newly planted and container clematis frequentlyToxic to pets
CrocusDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Natural rainfallMildly toxic to pets
DaffodilDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Rely on rainfall in autumn-spring; keep dry in summerToxic 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
Forget-me-notMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
FreesiaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Keep evenly moist while in growth; reduce to nothing once foliage yellows after floweringPet-safe
Gasteria (Ox Tongue)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-3 weeks in spring/summer; roughly monthly or less in autumn/winterMildly toxic to pets
Graptosedum 'California Sunset'Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-2 weeks in active growth; far less in winterPet-safe
HelleboreMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly watering until establishedToxic to pets
HostaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep evenly moist; roughly weekly in the ground, more often in pots or heatMildly toxic to pets
Hoya polyneura (Fishtail Hoya)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly weekly in spring and summer; every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
HyacinthBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Weekly watering during growthToxic to pets
Lady Slipper OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 5-10 days; keep the medium evenly moistMildly toxic to pets
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
Lily of the valleyLow light (north window or shaded room)Weekly wateringToxic to pets
LupineDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringToxic to pets
PansyDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
PrimroseMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Resurrection fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Mist or moisten every 2-4 days; let it dry betweenMildly toxic to pets
SnapdragonDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
String Bean HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is almost fully dry, roughly every 10-14 daysPet-safe
String of needlesBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
Sweet peaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly deep wateringToxic to pets
Tree HouseleekDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-2 weeks in active growth (autumn-spring); roughly every 3 weeks or less during summer dormancyMildly toxic to pets
TulipDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Water at planting; rely on rainfall afterToxic to pets

Best houseplants for a cool room — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best houseplants for a cool room?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is houseplants whose documented temperature range extends down to 10°C or below — they cope with a cool, unheated room, drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 33 plants qualify today.

How many houseplants for a cool room are there?

Growli currently lists 33 plants that meet the criterion (houseplants whose documented temperature range extends down to 10°C or below — they cope with a cool, unheated room). 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 whose documented temperature range extends down to 10°C or below — they cope with a cool, unheated room, 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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