10 Houseplants Hardest to Kill
Curator's note — I have killed houseplants. Plenty of them. The fern that needed daily misting, the calathea that resented every move, the alocasia that just gave up on a damp Sunday. After enough funerals, I started keeping a different list: plants I have tried to kill and could not. These ten survived neglect, overwatering, repotting accidents, drafts from a window I forgot to close, and at least one cat. If you have lost a plant lately and concluded that you are bad at this, start here. You are not bad at this. You picked the wrong plant.
The list
#1 Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
The benchmark. Snake plants want a lot less than you think — bright shade is plenty, and they truly prefer to dry out between waterings. The most common cause of death is overwatering, not under. I have one in a north-facing bathroom that gets watered when I remember (about every three weeks) and it has not just survived but doubled in size. Rhizome rot is the one thing to watch for; if the leaves get soft at the base, you have been too generous. Compare to Aspidistra elatior — similar tolerance for low light, but Aspidistra grows much slower.
#2 Pothos / Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
If snake plants are the benchmark for neglect, pothos is the benchmark for forgiveness. It wilts dramatically when thirsty, then bounces back within hours of watering — almost theatrically. The trailing vines tolerate everything from a dim hallway to bright filtered light. Mine has been in the same pot for four years and only resents being moved when I forget to turn it back toward the light. Cuttings root in a glass of water in about a week, which is how I have given away maybe twenty plants from one parent vine.
#3 ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The ZZ is what I recommend to people who travel for work. The rhizomes store water like a camel, so two or three weeks between waterings is normal and actively healthy. Glossy, dark green, almost artificial-looking foliage that asks for nothing. Watch out for one thing only: the sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves when repotting. If you have a windowless office with one fluorescent strip, this is the plant. Light it does not love, but light it will tolerate.
#4 Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
The name is not marketing. Cast iron plants survived Victorian parlours lit by gas lamps and they will survive your living room. Slow growers, which is part of why they last — they are not pushing new growth that needs more water and nutrients. I have a friend whose Aspidistra came from her grandmother, planted in the 1960s. Compare to Sansevieria — both are extreme-low-light champions, but Aspidistra has the broader, more arching leaves that read as ornamental rather than architectural.
#5 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are the cheerful ones on this list. They produce baby plantlets on long stems, which makes them feel rewarding even when you have done nothing. Bright indirect light produces the strongest variegation, but they tolerate dimmer rooms with only a slight fade. They drink more than the others here — weekly in summer — but they signal thirst clearly by limpening at the tips. Bonus: the babies root in soil or water within a few days, so the plant pays you back in cuttings.
#6 Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Closely related in behavior to pothos, but with smaller heart-shaped leaves and faster growth. The "I forgot about this plant for a month" recovery is near-perfect. It will climb if given a moss pole, trail if hung, and shape into a bushy desk plant if pinched back. Best for: anyone who likes the idea of a vine but does not want to commit to managing trellises.
#7 Aglaonema / Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)
Aglaonemas tolerate low light, dry indoor air, and inconsistent watering. The variegated cultivars — pink, red, silver — bring colour to corners that would otherwise be Snake Plant territory. They prefer warmth, so a draft-free spot helps; I lost one to a January window once, which was my fault, not the plant's. If your office is overheated and dim, this is your plant.
#8 Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata)
Dracaenas grow into tall, narrow tree forms over years and tolerate skipped waterings well. They are sensitive to fluoride in tap water — leaf tips brown quickly — so I switched mine to filtered water and the problem disappeared. Not the cheapest fix, but the plant survived three apartment moves and a cat phase, so I'm willing.
#9 Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa)
Monstera deserves a slot here mainly because it forgives you while looking impressive. It is more demanding than the others — it actually wants moderate humidity and brighter light — but the consequences of failure are slow leaf yellowing, not death. Mine survived two months of being parked in a basement during a renovation. It came back. Compare to Philodendron hederaceum — same family, but Monstera is dramatically larger and wants more light.
#10 Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Rubber plants get a bad reputation because Ficus benjamina drops leaves at the slightest stress, and people lump them together. Ficus elastica is different — thick, leathery leaves that hold on. It tolerates skipped waterings, low humidity, and bright-shade-to-indirect light. The burgundy cultivars are stunning when given enough light to deepen the colour. The one rule: do not move it after it has settled in. It will sulk for weeks.
Quick comparison
| Plant | Light tolerated | Water frequency | Pet-safe? | Difficulty (1=easiest) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Snake Plant | Low → Bright indirect | Every 2-3 weeks | No (mildly toxic) | 1 | | Pothos | Low → Bright indirect | Weekly | No (toxic) | 1 | | ZZ Plant | Low → Medium | Every 2-3 weeks | No (toxic) | 1 | | Cast Iron Plant | Very low → Medium | Every 1-2 weeks | Yes | 2 | | Spider Plant | Medium → Bright indirect | Weekly | Yes | 2 | | Heartleaf Philodendron | Low → Bright indirect | Weekly | No (toxic) | 2 | | Aglaonema | Low → Medium | Every 1-2 weeks | No (toxic) | 2 | | Dragon Tree | Medium → Bright indirect | Every 1-2 weeks | No (toxic to cats) | 3 | | Monstera | Bright indirect | Weekly | No (toxic) | 3 | | Rubber Plant | Bright indirect | Weekly | No (mildly toxic) | 3 |
Final pick
If you have killed every plant you have owned and want one that will not require you to think for the next year: snake plant. North-facing windowsill, water when you remember, ignore otherwise. If you want one that looks more alive and trails dramatically: pothos. If you have pets that chew leaves and the toxic plants are off the table: cast iron plant or spider plant. I keep all three. They all look fine.
Sources & verification
- Royal Horticultural Society, Houseplant care guides (rhs.org.uk)
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)
- Costa Farms care information (costafarms.com)
- Personal cultivation, 2018–present
Reviewed by Funfactorium Editorial · Last updated 2026-06-11