The UK's favourite house plants

Create an indoor jungle with the UK’s favourite house plants
 

House plants are really growing on us here in the UK. It seems we just love to ‘bring the outside in’ and fill our homes with fresh greenery. How’s this for a fact: our fondness for indoor plants has grown so much that the UK now searches for house plants on Google more than 360,000 times a month¹. That’s more than we search for candles or cushions!

We weren’t surprised to see though, that “fake house plants” are just as popular - we know what we like, and sometimes that’s having things easy. But caring for a plant doesn’t have to be all that difficult, especially if you pick a low maintenance one. A living leafy green addition to the family also can’t be beaten for its positive impact on wellbeing and productivity².

With many of us still spending more time indoors, it seems that it could be the perfect time to think about introducing a little flora to your space. Plus, you can add “proud plant parent” to your list of skills. While you still might not want to venture out to garden centres and flower markets at the moment, there are plenty of online plant shops that you can order from that will deliver fresh plants and flowers direct to your door – places like Patch and RHS Plants. Isn’t that blooming wonderful?

To give all you budding plant parents some inspiration, we’ve un-earthed the most popular indoor plants in the UK¹. We’ve also uncovered some top tips for caring for your newest additions to help you pick the best option for your humble abode.
 

The beautiful, flowered hydrangea is currently THE most popular plant here in the UK. This colourful flower adds a simple pop of colour to any room in the house, from sky blues to pastel pinks and lilac purples. They’re known for being hardy, meaning they can tolerate different conditions and are great for those starting out. They flower mainly in the summer, so now is the perfect time to get your hands on one too. With bright, but not direct sunlight, hydrangeas grow pretty quickly, so you’ll be able to see the fruits of your love and labour in no time at all. Just make sure you keep the soil moist – they love a drink!

If you’re looking for something a little more green and sturdy, succulents and cacti are all the rage among those self-classified plant parents and those just starting out with green members of the family. There are many many different types under this plant family, including ones you may have already heard of, like aloe vera and the snake plant. These diverse and beautiful plants all store water in their foliage and have adapted to be tough enough to survive challenging climates like the desert. This makes cacti and succulents some of the easiest indoor plants to care for – just pop them in a warm spot where there’s plenty of indirect sunlight and watch them thrive. They don’t need watering too often either – think desert weather – just a little soaking when the soil is dry.
 

For a little inspiration on which succulent is best to start out with, the money plant is one of the most popular. It’s also known as the jade plant, lucky plant, or money tree. Legend has it that the money plant will bring you good fortune. Of course, cynics would say that it’s only got its name because the round, flat leaves look a bit like coins…But you won’t know until you try it – find out for yourself whether money really does grow on trees!

Another surprisingly tough cookie in the world of house plants is the peace lily, making this elegant plant another perfect option for those wanting to dip their toes into indoor horticulture for the first time. While peace lilies love humidity (a bathroom would be a perfect spot or give them a regular mist with a water spray bottle), they tend to bounce back if you forget to water them. They’re pretty happy in low light so they’re great if your humble abode only has small windows, but will flower more in lighter spaces. If you don’t have the greenest of fingers (yet!), this could be the plant for you.

If you’re looking more for statement style as well as something easy to care for, look no further than the large-leafed “Insta-famous” monstera deliciosa. This lush indoor plant also goes by the name of swiss cheese plant, Indian ivy, fruit salad plant, Mexican breadfruit, and even custard Plant! It only needs a light watering and flourishes in plenty of indirect light, but it doesn’t mind a semi-shaded spot either. It also loves a misting a couple of times a week – so get the water spray bottle at hand. If you’re keen to add some tropical vibes to your home, the monstera deliciosa could be for you.

For those who are feeling nervous about becoming a plant parent, the devil’s ivy might give you a little more confidence. It’s known for being one of the most ‘unkillable’ indoor plants. Ok, it still needs a little loving, but is generally happy in any light conditions and with just a little watering. They really can live almost anywhere. Not only does this gorgeous trailing plant look fabulous on your bookshelves, mantelpiece or windowsill, it’s been named one of the best house plants for purifying the air too³. A win win situation right there if we do say so ourselves.

If you fancy more of a challenge, why not consider an air plant. This small and wiry rooted variety from Mexico and South America has certainly bloomed into the spotlight recently here in the UK. Air plants can’t be rooted in soil – out in the great outdoors, these mysterious looking shrubs usually grow on tree trunks, bushes and other plants. They also need an excellent airflow to grow, so they’re more needy than most, but the more love and effort you put in, the more you get out, right? You can buy glass globes to house your air plants and hang them in windows or around your home. These stylish displays could help transform your indoor space and give it that extra bit of personality.

While you’re busy looking after your plants (or faking it – we won’t tell!), remember that Sheilas’ Wheels can help look after your home with our Buildings Insurance and Contents Insurance. Un-earth the right insurance for your home today.

*Disclaimer: By the way, we’re sure we don’t need to say this, but some of these plants are toxic to humans and pets, so please be aware and keep out of reach of pets and little ones.

¹Google Search Data acquired through Sem Rush (March 2020, based on 12 months data)
²https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=949
³NASA Clean air study - https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19930072988

 

 

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