Growli

Plants for…

56 best plants for a cold or unheated room

Tropical houseplants stall when a room runs cool — the species that handle it are either rated hardy in a UK winter (RHS H3+) or so drought-tolerant they accept the slowed-down watering a cool room imposes.

How this list is built: an RHS rating of H3 or hardier, OR documented drought-tolerant watering — the two signals that a plant will survive a cooler, more variable room— filtered from Growli's structured plant-care library, not hand-picked.

PlantLightWaterPets
Aloe veraDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeksMildly toxic to pets
Cacti (general care)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)Soak when the mix is bone dry — roughly every 2-4 weeks in summerPet-safe
Cast iron plantLow light (north window or shaded room)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
ChamomileDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
CliviaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 daysToxic to pets
Corn plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
CosmosDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
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
DahliaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering 2-3 times per week, more in heatToxic to pets
DracaenaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
Dragon treeMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
EcheveriaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 10-14 days in summerPet-safe
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
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
Forget-me-notMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Geranium (pelargonium)Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 5-10 daysToxic to pets
HaworthiaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
HelleboreMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly watering until establishedToxic to pets
HoyaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is mostly dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
HyacinthBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Weekly watering during growthToxic to pets
HydrangeaBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Deep watering 1-2 times per week, more in heatToxic to pets
IrisDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly watering during growthToxic to pets
Jade plantDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeksMildly toxic to pets
KalanchoeDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysToxic to pets
Kentia palmMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
LavenderDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic 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
Maidenhair fernMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Keep evenly moist — often every 2-3 daysPet-safe
MarigoldDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the top of the soil is dry, every 5-7 daysMildly toxic to pets
MonsteraBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 7-10 daysMildly toxic to pets
NasturtiumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
PansyDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Twice-weekly wateringPet-safe
PeonyDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a week in dry spellsToxic to pets
PeperomiaMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the soil is almost fully dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Ponytail palmDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is bone dry, every 2-3 weeksPet-safe
PrimroseMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)Weekly wateringPet-safe
RoseDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a week, more in heatPet-safe
Sago palmBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the top half of the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysToxic 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
SedumDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 days for potted plantsPet-safe
Snake plantMedium indirect light (a couple of metres from a window)When the soil is bone dry, every 2-3 weeksMildly toxic to pets
SnapdragonDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly wateringPet-safe
Staghorn fernBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)Soak the mount weekly in summer, every 2-3 weeks in winterPet-safe
String of bananasBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 14 daysMildly toxic to pets
String of dolphinsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
String of heartsBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
String of pearlsDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeksToxic to pets
SunflowerDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Deep watering once a weekPet-safe
Sweet peaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Weekly deep wateringToxic to pets
TulipDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)Water at planting; rely on rainfall afterToxic to pets
Wax plantBright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)When the soil is dry, every 10-14 daysPet-safe
Weeping figBright 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
YuccaDirect sun (at least 4-6 hours)When the soil is mostly dry, every 10-14 daysMildly toxic to pets
ZZ plantLow light (north window or shaded room)When the soil is completely dry, every 2-3 weeksMildly toxic to pets

Plants for a cold or unheated room — frequently asked questions

What makes a plant right for a cold or unheated room?

It is an RHS rating of H3 or hardier, OR documented drought-tolerant watering — the two signals that a plant will survive a cooler, more variable room. Growli's library currently lists 56 plants that fit that profile, and the list will grow as the library grows. Match a plant to the room's reality, not a generic "best of" guess.

Are these plants safe for cats and dogs?

Not necessarily — this list is selected for a cold or unheated room, not by pet safety. Each plant below shows its ASPCA toxicity status in the table; tap any plant for its full pet-safety guide. If pets share the room, cross-check this list with the dedicated pet-safe library.

Do I really need a humidifier for cold or unheated room?

It depends on the species, not the room. The plants below are picked to fit a cold or unheated room's natural conditions, so most do not need extra humidity beyond a pebble tray or grouping with other plants.

How big do these plants get?

It varies — see each plant's mature size on its care guide. Most species selected for a cold or unheated room are tabletop to medium height; the large-floor-plant list is the place to start if you specifically want a statement-sized plant.

More room shortlists