Growli

Best plants

67 best small & tabletop houseplants

Not every home has floor space for a statement plant. These species stay genuinely small — about 40 cm or under at maturity — so they suit a desk, a shelf, a bedside table or a narrow windowsill without ever taking over.

How this list is built: houseplants documented to mature at roughly 40 cm tall or less, excluding trailers (whose reach understates their footprint)— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked, so it stays consistent and checkable.

PlantLightWaterPets
African violetMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top of the soil feels just dry, every 5-7 daysPet-safe
Air plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Soak weekly for 20-30 minutesPet-safe
Albany Pitcher PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep the mix consistently moist year-round; never let it dry outMildly toxic to pets
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
Alocasia BambinoBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 5-10 days in the growing season; less in winterToxic to pets
Alocasia Maharani (Grey Dragon)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Roughly every 5-7 days in spring and summer; about every 1-2 weeks in winterToxic to pets
Baseball PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 3-4 weeks in spring/summer; roughly every 6-8 weeks (or less) in winterToxic to pets
BegoniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Weekly wateringMildly toxic to pets
Begonia AmphioxusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep lightly and evenly moist; water when the top of the substrate begins to dryToxic to pets
BladderwortBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep constantly wet — never let it dry outMildly toxic to pets
Button fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Cape SundewBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep constantly moist; never let it dry outMildly toxic to pets
Carla Black's AnthuriumBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm (about 1 inch) of substrate dries outToxic to pets
Chinese money plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2 cm of soil is dry, every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Concrete LeafDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Sparingly; every 1-2 weeks in active growth (autumn/spring), nearly dry in summer and winterMildly toxic to pets
Conophytum (Living Pebbles)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Only when soil is bone-dry during the autumn-to-spring growth season; keep nearly dry in summer dormancyMildly toxic to pets
Cooper's HaworthiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-3 weeks in spring/summer; about once a month in winterPet-safe
CrocusDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Natural rainfallMildly toxic to pets
CyclamenBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil surface feels dry, roughly every 5-10 days in bloomToxic to pets
EcheveriaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 10-14 days in summerPet-safe
Echeveria 'Lola'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-3 weeks in the growing season; much less in winterPet-safe
Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg'Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 2-3 weeks in growth; less in winterPet-safe
Emerald Spike MossMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep the soil consistently, evenly moist — never let it dry outPet-safe
Eyelash BegoniaBright 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
False shamrockBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysMildly toxic to pets
Feather CactusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-3 weeks in spring/summer; keep nearly dry in winterPet-safe
FittoniaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is dry, every 3-5 daysPet-safe
Florist's GloxiniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep evenly moist during active growth; typically water once the top of the mix begins to dry, then taper off completely heading into dormancy.Pet-safe
Forget-me-notMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Happy Bean PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
HaworthiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
Heart FernBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep evenly moist; water when the top of the soil starts to dryMildly toxic to pets
HyacinthBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Weekly watering during growthToxic to pets
ImpatiensMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
Jewel OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 7-10 days; keep the mix evenly moist, never bone dryPet-safe
KalanchoeDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysToxic 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
Lance-leaved SundewBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep permanently wet via the tray method (1-2 inches of standing water); never let the media dry outMildly toxic to pets
Lightning jewel orchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep lightly and evenly moist — never bone dry, never soggyMildly toxic to pets
Lily of the valleyLow light (north window or shaded room)Weekly wateringToxic to pets
Lipstick EcheveriaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 1-2 weeks in spring/summer; sparingly in winterPet-safe
LithopsDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Follow the seasonal cycle, not a schedulePet-safe
Mexican ButterwortBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep moist spring-summer; ease off in winterMildly toxic to pets
Mexican ButterwortBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Tray-water during growth; keep barely damp in winterMildly toxic to pets
Mexican SnowballBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-3 weeks in spring/summer; roughly monthly in winterPet-safe
Miltonia OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-5 days in active growth; let medium approach dryness, never bone-dryPet-safe
Moon CactusBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Only when the mix is fully dry, roughly every 10-14 days in summer and far less in winterPet-safe
PansyDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
Pansy OrchidBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 3-5 days; up to 2-3 times weekly in warm, dry spellsPet-safe
Peperomia FrostBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysPet-safe
Peperomia GinnyBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeksPet-safe
Peperomia RossoBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is 50-75% dry, roughly every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Pilea 'Dark Mystery'Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top inch of soil is dry, often 1-2 times per weekPet-safe
Pixie Lime PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2.5-4 cm (1-1.5 in) of mix is dry, often every 7-12 daysPet-safe
Prayer plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 1 cm of soil is just dry, every 4-6 daysPet-safe
PrimroseMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Primulina (Chirita)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top of the soil feels dryMildly toxic to pets
Raindrop PeperomiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top half of the soil is dry, often roughly weekly in the growing seasonPet-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
Rex begoniaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 1-2 cm of soil is dry, every 5-7 daysToxic to pets
Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep moist; refresh water frequentlyPet-safe
Split RockDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Soak-and-dry, only when fully dry — roughly every 2-3 weeks in active growth; little to none in summer and winterPet-safe
Star CactusDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Every 2-4 weeks in spring/summer; roughly monthly or less in winterMildly toxic to pets
Sun Pitcher (Heliamphora)Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Keep moist year-round; tray method with no more than ~6 mm (1/4 in) standing waterMildly toxic to pets
Tiger JawsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 2-3 weeks in spring-autumn; roughly monthly or less in winterMildly toxic to pets
Venus FlytrapDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Keep the medium permanently wet — stand the pot in 1-2 cm of rain or distilled water and top up so it never driesPet-safe
Watch Chain PlantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Every 1-2 weeks in spring/summer; roughly monthly or less in winterMildly toxic to pets

Best small & tabletop houseplants — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant one of the best small & tabletop houseplants?

This list is not hand-picked for looks. It is houseplants documented to mature at roughly 40 cm tall or less, excluding trailers (whose reach understates their footprint), drawn from Growli's structured plant-care library so the selection is consistent and checkable. 67 plants qualify today.

How many small & tabletop houseplants are there?

Growli currently lists 67 plants that meet the criterion (houseplants documented to mature at roughly 40 cm tall or less, excluding trailers (whose reach understates their footprint)). 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 documented to mature at roughly 40 cm tall or less, excluding trailers (whose reach understates their footprint), 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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