Fast-growing houseplants — 12 that fill a room

Fast growing houseplants: 12 picks that fill a room in a year

Some houseplants take five years to look "full." Others fill a corner in a single growing season. If you want a room to feel green now — not after years of patient waiting — pick from the species that evolved as vigorous trailers, climbers, or rhizomatous spreaders in tropical forests. These 12 plants are the ones that genuinely move fast indoors: each puts on at least 30 cm of new growth per year in bright indirect light, and most can be propagated freely so one plant becomes a dozen in 18 months. This guide ranks them by speed, flags pet-safety status from the ASPCA, and explains how to push each one to its maximum growth rate.

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What counts as "fast-growing" indoors?

Outdoors a houseplant might grow 1-2 metres per year in tropical conditions. Indoors, light is the bottleneck — most homes deliver only 5-15% of outdoor light at the brightest window. A "fast-growing" houseplant indoors typically pushes:

• 30-50 cm of vine per year for trailing species (pothos, philodendron, ivy)
• One new leaf every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer
• Visible filling-out of the pot within 6-12 months
• Ready to propagate within 12 months of acquisition

Anything growing slower than that — fiddle leaf fig, ZZ plant, snake plant, cast iron plant — is in the "slow-growing" category. Those are wonderful plants, just not the right pick when you want quick room-filling impact.

The 12 picks, ranked by speed

For pet-friendly homes, the five non-toxic picks (rows 3, 8, 9, 10, 11) all grow vigorously without the calcium oxalate risk of pothos, philodendron, and Syngonium.

#1 — Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Pothos is the speed champion of common houseplants. A healthy vine pushes 30-50 cm of new growth per year, with a new leaf every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer. Variegated cultivars (golden pothos, marble queen, neon, snow queen) keep their colour patterns under medium light and accelerate further in bright indirect light. Cuttings root in water within 10-14 days, so one plant becomes propagation material within a single growing season.

Care signal: Water when top 2-3 cm of soil is dry (usually weekly). Low to bright indirect light. Feed monthly during spring and summer with balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength.

Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — insoluble calcium oxalates cause severe oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting if chewed.

See pothos care and how to propagate pothos.

#2 — Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)

Almost identical growth rate to pothos — 30-50 cm of vine per year, slightly larger heart-shaped leaves, and the same easy propagation in water. Heartleaf philodendron actually outperforms pothos in lower-light conditions, so if your room is dim, this is the faster pick. The Brasil cultivar adds lime-green variegation and grows at the same speed as the species.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Low to bright indirect light. Pinch growing tips monthly to encourage bushier vines rather than long lanky ones.

Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — same calcium oxalates as pothos.

See types of philodendron.

#3 — Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) — pet-safe top pick

Spider plant is the fastest-growing pet-safe option on this list. A healthy mother plant produces 30-40 cm of new leaves per year and — uniquely among common houseplants — also sends out long stems with miniature "spider" pups that can be rooted in water or soil. A single spider plant easily becomes 6-10 plants within a year, populating an entire room from one nursery starter pot.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Medium to bright indirect light. Brown tips usually mean fluoride or chlorine in tap water — switch to filtered water or rainwater.

Pet safety: NON-TOXIC to cats and dogs per ASPCA — one of the few plants explicitly listed as safe for nibbling pets.

See spider plant care.

#4 — Tradescantia zebrina (inch plant)

Tradescantia zebrina earned the common name "inch plant" because it grows roughly an inch (2.5 cm) per week in good light — easily 30-60 cm of vine per year. The purple-and-silver striped leaves trail dramatically over shelves and hanging baskets. Cuttings root in water within a week, sometimes faster than pothos. The trade-off is that Tradescantia gets leggy and bare-stemmed if light drops too low.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Bright indirect light is essential for compact growth; lower light produces leggy vines. Pinch tips fortnightly to keep the plant bushy.

Pet safety: Mildly TOXIC per ASPCA — Tradescantia sap can cause contact dermatitis and mild GI upset in cats and dogs. Less severe than calcium oxalate plants but worth keeping out of nibbling reach.

See wandering jew vs inch plant for the cultivar differences.

#5 — English ivy (Hedera helix)

The vigorous European import. English ivy is so fast outdoors it's invasive in parts of the US Pacific Northwest. Indoors, contained in a pot, that vigour translates to 30-50 cm of new vine per year, with multiple branching points so the plant becomes bushy quickly. The trailing habit makes it ideal for hanging baskets, bookcases, and shelves above eye level.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Bright indirect light. Cool nights (15-18°C) extend the growing season. Susceptible to spider mites in dry indoor air — mist or use a humidifier.

Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — triterpenoid saponins cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.

See types of ivy.

#6 — Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum)

Syngonium starts as a compact rosette and transitions to a climbing vine as it matures — both phases are fast. Expect 30-40 cm of growth per year, with new leaves every 3-4 weeks in spring and summer. The arrow-shaped leaves come in green, pink, white, and burgundy cultivars (Pink Allusion, White Butterfly, Maria) that hold their colour in medium to bright light.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Medium to bright indirect light. Add a moss pole when the plant transitions to climbing phase (usually month 12+).

Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — insoluble calcium oxalates cause oral irritation and drooling.

#7 — Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine)

Smaller-leaved cousin of monstera deliciosa, monstera adansonii grows faster as a houseplant because its smaller leaves cost less energy per leaf. Expect 30-50 cm of vine per year with multiple new perforated leaves each growing season. Trains beautifully up a moss pole or trails attractively in a hanging basket.

Care signal: Water when top 2-3 cm dries. Bright indirect light essential for fenestrations (the leaf holes). Humidity above 50% accelerates growth.

Pet safety: TOXIC to dogs and cats per ASPCA — calcium oxalates, similar to monstera deliciosa.

See monstera care and types of monstera.

#8 — Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) — pet-safe

Boston ferns produce dramatic arching fronds and can add 20-40 cm of new fronds per year in good conditions. They're the only fast-growing fern on this list that's reliably non-toxic. The main barrier to keeping Boston ferns happy indoors is humidity — they prefer 60%+ relative humidity, which most homes don't have without supplementation.

Care signal: Keep soil consistently moist (never soggy). Bright indirect light. Humidity 60%+ ideal — use a humidifier or place on a pebble tray. Mist daily in winter heating season.

Pet safety: NON-TOXIC to cats and dogs per ASPCA — among the few fast-growing options that are pet-safe.

See types of ferns and humidity for houseplants.

#9 — Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) — pet-safe

Pilea peperomioides grows fast in two ways: vertical stem extension (20-30 cm per year) and horizontal pup production. A healthy mother plant produces 4-8 baby plants per growing season, each of which can be separated and potted up. Within 18 months one starter Pilea becomes a small "family" of plants — the original common name "friendship plant" earned because growers traditionally shared pups with friends.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Medium to bright indirect light. Rotate the pot quarterly to keep the round leaves facing all directions evenly.

Pet safety: NON-TOXIC to cats and dogs per ASPCA.

#10 — Prayer plant (Maranta leuconeura) — pet-safe

Prayer plants grow 20-30 cm of new foliage per year and spread laterally as they mature. The signature feature is the nightly leaf movement — the leaves fold upward at dusk (the "prayer" position) and unfold at dawn. Variegated cultivars (red-vein, lemon-lime, fascinator) all grow at similar rates. The trade-off: prayer plants are humidity-sensitive and drop leaves in dry winter air.

Care signal: Keep soil consistently moist. Medium indirect light (direct sun burns the leaves). Humidity 50%+ ideal.

Pet safety: NON-TOXIC to cats and dogs per ASPCA.

See prayer plant care and calathea care for the related "prayer plant" group.

#11 — Kangaroo paw fern (Microsorum diversifolium) — pet-safe

A vigorous Australian fern with leathery, lobed fronds that look like a kangaroo's paw. Adds 20-30 cm of new fronds per year and tolerates lower humidity than Boston fern — making it a more forgiving fast-grower for typical indoor homes. The creeping rhizome will also send up new fronds in unexpected places around the pot, filling out faster than the visible leaf count suggests.

Care signal: Water when top 2-3 cm dries. Medium indirect light. Tolerates 40-50% humidity (lower than most ferns).

Pet safety: NON-TOXIC to cats and dogs per ASPCA — ferns in the Polypodiaceae family are generally non-toxic.

#12 — Wandering jew (Tradescantia fluminensis)

The other "wandering" Tradescantia, with smooth green or variegated leaves rather than the striped purple of T. zebrina. Same blistering 30-60 cm-per-year growth rate, same easy water propagation, same pet-toxicity caveats. The variegated cultivars (Quicksilver, Tricolor) need brighter light than the green species to keep their stripes.

Care signal: Water weekly when top 2-3 cm dries. Bright indirect light. Pinch tips fortnightly to prevent legginess.

Pet safety: Mildly TOXIC per ASPCA — Tradescantia sap causes mild GI upset and contact dermatitis. Keep out of nibbling reach.

How to push a fast-grower even faster

Five accelerators that make a difference in the same calendar year:

1. Increase the light. This is the single biggest lever. Moving any plant from low light (300 lux) to bright indirect (2,000+ lux) typically doubles its growth rate. If your room is dim, supplement with a full-spectrum LED grow bulb on a 12-14 hour timer.

2. Feed during the growing season. Most houseplants need monthly feeding from March through September with a balanced liquid fertiliser (NPK around 10-10-10 or 20-20-20) at half strength. Stop feeding in October and don't restart until March — winter feeding causes salt build-up.

3. Repot when root-bound. A pot-bound plant slows down because its roots have no room to expand. Check annually in spring — if roots are circling the pot or popping out the drainage holes, upsize by one pot diameter (2-3 cm wider).

4. Maintain humidity above 50%. Tropical fast-growers slow dramatically in dry winter air. A small humidifier near the plants (or a pebble tray with water) lifts local humidity 10-15% and keeps growth steady.

5. Pinch growing tips. Most trailers and climbers push longer and longer single vines unless you pinch. Pinching the growing tip every 4-6 weeks signals the plant to branch — one vine becomes two, two become four, and the plant fills out instead of getting leggy.

See houseplant fertilizer schedule, how to repot a plant, and humidity for houseplants for the full method on each lever.

Common fast-grower mistakes

1. Overwatering during a growth spurt. Faster growth uses more water, but the soil still needs to dry slightly between waterings. Always finger-test before watering.

2. Feeding in winter. Fast-growers slow down in winter even with grow lights. Continuing to feed at full strength causes salt build-up and brown leaf tips. Cut feeding by 75% from October to February.

3. Letting trailers get leggy. Without regular pinching, fast-trailers produce one long bare-stemmed vine. Pinch every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.

4. Keeping a fast-grower pot-bound. A pot-bound plant slows down dramatically. Repot annually in spring to keep growth pushing.

5. Choosing the wrong location for variegation. Variegated cultivars (marble queen pothos, Pink Allusion Syngonium, variegated wandering jew) need brighter light than their solid-green counterparts to maintain their patterns. In low light, they revert to green.

Related

• Indoor plants for beginners — beginner-friendly fast-growers
• Low maintenance houseplants — slower but more forgiving picks
• Pet-safe houseplants — full pet-safe list with ASPCA citations
• Types of philodendron — variety guide for #2 pick
• How to propagate pothos — turn one fast-grower into a dozen
• Houseplant fertilizer schedule — feeding for fast growth
• Humidity for houseplants — accelerator for tropical species

Toxicity classifications above are sourced from the ASPCA Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant Database. Growth-rate ranges synthesised from manufacturer care sheets and longitudinal data from the Royal Horticultural Society houseplant collection.