18 Best Desk Plants For The Office

Office spaces are not exactly known for having the snazziest decor, are they?

Beige walls, fluorescent lighting, and furniture that screams ‘corporate sensible’ hardly inspire creativity. But pop a vibrant little plant on your desk, and suddenly everything changes.

Beyond adding that much-needed splash of personality, office desk plants actually boost productivity, reduce stress, and clean the stale air around you.

If your workspace is begging for a touch of life (and let’s be honest, whose isn’t?), we’ve rounded up the 18 best green companions to transform your 9-to-5 – from hard-to-kill survivors that thrive in soul-crushing low light to statement pieces that’ll have your colleagues asking for plant parenthood advice during coffee breaks.

1.Snake Plant (Sansevieria)

Highlights:

• Practically indestructible – perfect for forgetful plant parents
• One of the best air-purifying plants, filtering toxins even at night
• Striking architectural form with stunning variegated patterns

Snake plants are the ultimate office companion for busy professionals. These stylish plants with their tall, sword-like green leaves require minimal attention and actually prefer to dry out between waterings. They’re remarkably tolerant of low light conditions, though they’ll grow faster in brighter spots. If you’re notorious for killing houseplants, this resilient beauty might just break your unlucky streak – simply water once every 2-3 weeks and watch it flourish.

2.ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Highlights:

• Glossy, dark green foliage that appears almost artificial in its perfection
• Can survive months of neglect and still look fabulous
• Grows incredibly slowly, meaning it won’t outgrow your desk space

The ZZ plant has earned its reputation as nearly unkillable, making it a stellar choice for office environments where plant care might slip your mind. This gorgeous plant with its polished, emerald leaves thrives in low light and requires watering only when completely dry. Its compact size and architectural form create instant impact without demanding much in return – perfect for adding sophisticated greenery to even the busiest workspaces.

3.Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Highlights:

• Available in several stunning varieties including marble queen, golden, and neon
• Tells you when it needs water by visibly drooping its leaves
• Can be trained to trail or climb, adding versatility to your space

This beloved desk plant is brilliantly adaptable and forgiving. Pothos plants thrive in a range of conditions, from low light corners to spots with filtered sunshine. Their trailing vines create a lush cascade of green leaves that can transform an ordinary office desk into something special. For best results, allow the soil to dry out between waterings and trim occasionally to encourage fuller growth – each cutting can even be propagated to create new plants for colleagues.

4.Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Highlights:

• Produces elegant white blooms throughout the year
• Acts as a natural air purifier, removing common office toxins
• Dramatically droops when thirsty, making it impossible to miss watering cues

The graceful peace lily brings a touch of sophistication to any workspace with its glossy green leaves and distinctive white flowers. While it prefers medium to low light conditions, this remarkable plant will let you know precisely when it needs attention by visibly wilting – but perks up quickly after watering. Keep the soil lightly moist and mist occasionally to maintain humidity, and this elegant beauty will reward you with regular blooms and air-cleansing benefits.

5.Aloe Vera

Highlights:

• Medicinal plant with gel that soothes minor burns and skin irritations
• Spiky architectural form adds interesting texture to your workspace
• Listed by NASA as one of the top air-purifying plants

This practical succulent doubles as a first-aid kit and striking desk plant. Aloe prefers bright indirect light but adapts reasonably well to office conditions. Its fleshy, serrated leaves store water, making it delightfully low maintenance – only needing watering when the soil is completely dry. Position your aloe in a spot with moderate light and minimal drafts, and you’ll have a beautiful, beneficial companion that thrives with minimal care.

6.Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Highlights:

Produces baby plants that dangle from long stems, creating a dramatic effect
One of the most studied air-purifying plants, excellent for office environments
Available in variegated forms with striking white stripes
Cheerful and incredibly forgiving, the spider plant makes a perfect office plant for beginners. These fast-growing beauties adapt to various light conditions, though they prefer bright indirect light. The arching leaves create an elegant fountain effect, while the baby plantlets add whimsical charm. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings, and trim off the babies to give to colleagues or replant for a fuller display – creating your own mini garden community.

7.Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)

Highlights:

• Symbolises prosperity and good fortune in many cultures
• Can live for decades, becoming more characterful with age
• Develops a trunk-like stem and tree-like appearance over time

This charming succulent brings good vibes to your workday with its plump, oval leaves and tree-like structure. Jade plants prefer bright light but adapt to office conditions with regular care. As a succulent, it stores water in its leaves, allowing for extended periods between waterings – simply check that the soil is completely dry before watering again. With minimal attention, your jade plant will mature into an impressive bonsai-like specimen that becomes a true desk companion.

8.Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Highlights:

• Require no soil whatsoever, allowing for creative display options
• Come in numerous varieties with different shapes and textures
• Can be displayed in glass terrariums, on decorative stands, or mounted

These fascinating plants take low maintenance to new heights – literally growing on air! Air plants absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves rather than roots, making them ideal for minimalist office spaces. Simply mist thoroughly once a week or soak for 20 minutes in filtered water every two weeks. Their small size and unique appearance make them perfect conversation starters, while their adaptability means they can thrive almost anywhere with indirect light.

9.Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Highlights:

• Distinctive round leaves create a playful, modern aesthetic
• Produces numerous baby plants that can be easily propagated
• Rotates its leaves toward light sources, creating gentle movement

With its perfectly round leaves on slender stems, the Chinese money plant brings quirky charm to any office desk. This trendy plant performs best in bright indirect light but tolerates lower light conditions. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and rotate occasionally for even growth. Its compact size makes it perfect for small spaces, while its unique appearance adds instant character to your work area – keeping colleagues intrigued and your space looking modern.

10.Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Highlights:

• Glossy, leather-like leaves in deep green or burgundy varieties
• Excellent air purifier that removes formaldehyde from office environments
• Can be maintained as a compact desk plant or allowed to grow into a statement piece

The rubber plant combines dramatic good looks with surprising resilience. Its thick, glossy leaves make a bold statement in any workspace while requiring minimal fuss. This adaptable plant prefers bright indirect light but tolerates lower light conditions. Allow the soil to dry partially between waterings, and wipe the leaves occasionally to maintain their lustrous shine. Start with a small specimen for your desk, and you’ll have the option to let it grow into an impressive floor plant as your career advances.

11.Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)

Highlights:

• Creates a tropical, holiday-like atmosphere in any workspace
• Feathery fronds add texture and movement to office environments
• Rated highly for air-purifying capabilities

Bring resort vibes to your daily grind with the elegant majesty palm. While it requires a bit more attention than other options on our list, its feathery fronds create an unmatched tropical atmosphere. Place in a spot with consistent natural light, keep the soil lightly moist (but never soggy), and mist regularly to maintain humidity. A small specimen makes a lovely desk plant before potentially graduating to a larger floor plant that transforms your entire workspace.

12.English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Highlights:

• Classic trailing plant with timeless appeal
• One of the most effective plants for removing airborne mould
• Available in variegated forms with beautiful patterns

This elegant climber brings traditional charm to modern workspaces with its distinctive lobed leaves. English ivy thrives in medium light conditions and prefers consistently moist (but not waterlogged) soil. Its trailing habit works beautifully cascading from shelves or trained around monitor stands. While preferring higher humidity than some office plants, regular misting keeps ivy looking its best – rewarding your efforts with lush, air-purifying greenery that softens harsh office edges.

13.Haworthia

Highlights:

• Compact succulent with striking patterned leaves
• Some varieties have translucent “windows” at leaf tips
• Thrives in artificial office lighting

This charming little succulent is like a miniature aloe but even more resilient for office environments. Haworthias stay remarkably small, making them perfect desk plants for limited spaces. They prefer bright indirect light but adapt well to office conditions and can thrive under fluorescent lighting. Water sparingly – only when the soil is completely dry – and these architectural gems will reward you with interesting textures and patterns without demanding much attention in return.

14.Prayer Plant (Maranta)

Highlights:

• Leaves fold up at night like hands in prayer
• Stunning patterned foliage with remarkable colour combinations
• Creates gentle movement in your workspace as leaves adjust throughout the day

With its dramatic patterned leaves that move throughout the day, the prayer plant brings natural animation to your workspace. These beautiful plants thrive in medium to low light conditions with consistent moisture (never allowing them to dry completely). While they require a bit more attention than some others on our list, their spectacular foliage and fascinating movement patterns make them worth the extra care – creating a dynamic presence that keeps your office environment feeling alive.

15.Philodendron

Highlights:

• Available in climbing or non-climbing varieties
• Heart-shaped leaves create a naturally pleasing aesthetic
• Extremely adaptable to varying office conditions

These classic office plants have stood the test of time for good reason – they’re incredibly forgiving and beautiful. Whether you choose the trailing heartleaf variety or a more compact type, philodendrons adapt well to low light conditions and irregular watering schedules. They prefer to dry slightly between waterings and will grow steadily with minimal attention. Their heart-shaped leaves bring a touch of sentimentality to your workspace while their easy-going nature ensures they’ll remain happy companions through busy work periods.

16.African Violet (Saintpaulia)

Highlights:

• Produces charming flowers in purple, pink, or white year-round
• Compact size makes it perfect for limited desk space
• One of the few flowering plants that thrives under fluorescent lights

For those craving colour beyond green, African violets deliver with their velvety leaves and delightful blooms. These compact beauties perform surprisingly well in office environments, particularly enjoying the consistent temperature and fluorescent lighting. Water from the bottom when the soil feels dry to the touch, avoid getting water on the fuzzy leaves, and these flowering gems will reward you with continuous blooms – bringing a cheerful presence to even the most demanding workdays.

• 17.Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Highlights:

• Can be grown in water alone with decorative stones
• Associated with good fortune and positive energy
• Can be shaped and trained into spirals or other forms

Despite its name, lucky bamboo isn’t actually bamboo at all, but it certainly brings an element of Zen to your workspace. This resilient plant grows happily in a simple container of water (refreshed weekly) with decorative stones for support. Position in low to medium indirect light, away from drafts, and this symbolic plant will thrive with minimal intervention. Its elegant stems can be found in straight, spiral, or braided formations, adding distinctive character to your desk while symbolising prosperity and good fortune.

18.Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Highlights:

• Earned its name through virtually indestructible nature
• Thrives in conditions that would kill most other plants
• Victorian-era favourite that’s making a stylish comeback

Living up to its name, the cast iron plant might be the toughest office plant available. With broad, glossy leaves that emerge directly from the soil, this resilient beauty tolerates deep shade, irregular watering, and temperature fluctuations with remarkable grace. Place it in a forgotten corner of your office and water occasionally when the soil feels dry – this unfussy plant will continue to look impressive with minimal input from you, bringing classic elegance to modern workspaces.

Caring For Your Office Plants

Selecting the right plant is just the beginning of your office garden journey. To keep your desk plants thriving:

• Understand the specific light requirements for each species and position accordingly
• Develop a consistent watering routine that works with your schedule
• Consider a small humidifier for moisture-loving varieties in dry office environments
• Rotate plants occasionally to ensure even growth
• Clean leaves regularly to remove dust and keep them looking their best
• Be mindful of temperature fluctuations, particularly near air conditioning vents

With these simple care practices, your office desk plants will flourish, transforming your workspace into a more productive, healthy, and visually appealing environment.