The Best Plants To Keep In Your Kitchen

Growing plants in your home is a great way to breathe life into your dwelling. They help purify the air, add natural color to your design, and have even been proven to improve your mood. Many varieties make incredible houseplants, but if you’re looking for ones to specifically keep in your kitchen, some are better than others.

Some of the best low-maintenance plants for your kitchen include succulents, spider plant, pothos, and air plants. Boston fern, aloe vera, and English ivy all do well in humid indoor spaces, and often thrive in a kitchen. Orchids, nasturtium, and African violet are great flowering plants and herbs, including basil, rosemary, mint, and chives, are also great options for the kitchen.

If you’re interested in adding a new plant to your kitchen, choose wisely. While many varieties do well on a windowsill, several plants are particularly suited for this room in your home. Whether you’re looking to have fresh herbs within arm’s reach, want to add edible flowers to your cuisine, or are looking for a species that purifies the air and thrives in a humid space, the list below has the perfect choice for you.

10 Potted Plants To Keep In Your Kitchen

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is one of the best plants to grow in a kitchen for several reasons. For one, they are a natural remedy for soothing burns that can occur while cooking. Aloe is also fairly low-maintenance, is adaptable and enjoys a room-temperature environment. It is also a member of the succulent family, which means it doesn’t require constant watering. As long as it has plenty of light, it will do well, which makes it a perfect plant to keep by your kitchen window.

2. English Ivy

For those looking to add a bit of Victorian charm to the home, consider adding English ivy, another fantastic low-maintenance plant for slightly humid, room-temperature spaces. One of its greatest benefits is that it filters out mold spores and other airborne toxins, helping to purify the air naturally. For those looking for a hanging plant that adds color and drama, this ivy is a good choice. While it loves some direct sunlight, it can tolerate indirect sun as well.

3. Orchid

For a long-lasting flowering plant in your kitchen, choose an orchid. They can last decades if properly cared for, and many species bloom for several months per year. Orchids are great houseplants because they require minimal sunlight and water. They are particularly well-suited for kitchens because they absorb moisture as readily from humidity as from light watering.

4. Spider Plant

The spider plant is one of the most popular indoor plants, and there are reasons for this. They are a dynamic hanging plant that is easy to care for and resilient even when neglected from time to time. It is also among the best plants to bring into a home to increase oxygen levels and help purify the air. If you want to add a plant and improve air quality in your home, put a spider plant on your shopping list.

5. Succulent

Succulents are versatile, low-maintenance plants that you can put in just about any indoor space. While they look like cacti, they are not, and don’t require much light and prefer indirect sun rather than hours of direct light. A succulent stores water in its plump leaves, which helps it regulate its moisture levels. It’s very difficult to underwater these plants (although you can kill succulents by overwatering them). They are great in kitchens and perfect plants for small spaces like narrow windowsills.

6. Pothos

Pothos is another air-purifying choice. It enjoys humid, warm conditions, which are often found in a kitchen. It’s also one of the easiest climbing plants to grow in the home. There is a wide variety of pothos, and it's not difficult to keep them alive. It thrives in various environments and can quickly bounce back even after serious neglect.

7. Boston Fern

If you’re looking to add a fern to your houseplant arsenal, consider a Boston fern. It can tolerate shade and enjoys the humid conditions found in a kitchen, especially if you frequently boil water . It's a perfect option for those who don't have a window sill, as these ferns do best in hanging baskets. Additionally, they help filter out toxins and add oxygen to the room.

8. Air Plant

This is an ornate and incredibly low-maintenance plant for the kitchen. You can create a stunning terrarium with them and opt for exotic flowering varieties that can add pops of color to the room each time they bloom. An air plant absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, which means humid spaces like the kitchen is an ideal indoor habitat for this interesting plant. An air plant doesn't require soil, making it a cleaner, more sterile option for those who want to keep the kitchen extra tidy.

9. African Violet

If you’re looking to add natural color to your kitchen, an African violet is arguably the best flower to grow. The flowering plant is compact, and will fit on most window sills and in tight spaces often found on cramped kitchen counters. It also enjoys the humidity in a kitchen and provides beautiful purple or pink flowers year-round, which means you’ll always have colorful flowers in your kitchen, even in the winter.

10. Nastrutium

If you’re a big fan of food presentation, nasturtiums are a great flowering plant to add to your kitchen garden. This plant has edible, non-toxic flowers that are often added as a garnish and incorporated into salads and other dishes to add color, flavor, and elegance.  Even if you aren’t interested in eating the flowers, its colorful orange and red blooms add warmth and vibrance to any kitchen.

Four Potted Herbs To Keep In Your Kitchen

1. Basil

Basil is one of the most popular herbs. Different varieties are used in cuisines around the world, and this refreshing herb is always more delicious fresh than dried. It’s also an herb that grows well in a kitchen, especially if your kitchen gets plenty of sun. If you prune and care for a basil plant, it can survive a year or longer.

2. Rosemary

Of all the popular herbs you can grow, rosemary is one of the most resilient. Once established, this plant can survive below-freezing temperatures, drought, and various light conditions. This fragrant herb is also effective at keeping mosquitoes and other pests away, making it a perfect plant for the house. It also adds a lovely evergreen aroma to any room.

3. Chives

Chives are an allium used in many cuisines, often as a garnish on various savory dishes. They grow constantly and are very difficult to kill as long as you water them and keep the soil moist. They add an instant fresh onion flavor to any dish and can last through the winter if they have enough light.

4. Mint

Mint is one of the most versatile herbs you can grow. You can add it to savory and sweet dishes, and it makes a fantastic tea. It’s also an herb that grows like a weed in the right conditions. As long as you give it plenty of water and light, it will thrive indoors. It’s a great fresh herb to have on hand, as it makes a great garnish, is perfect in cocktails, and has a lovely aroma.

Summing Up Plants You Can Keep In Your Kitchen

As you hunt for the perfect plants to add to your kitchen, there are many varieties to consider. You can opt for herbs that elevate your cuisine, flowering plants that add color, or low-maintenance houseplants that help purify the air and are difficult to kill. 

Some herbs you can easily grow in your kitchen include mint, basil, rosemary, and chives. Flowers that thrive in kitchens include African violets, nasturtiums, and orchids. Aloe vera is a great option as it’s low-maintenance and can treat burns. Succulents, air plants, Boston ferns, and English ivy are unique and low-maintenance choices. Spider plants and pothos are easy to grow and fantastic at purifying the air in your kitchen.

Related Guides:

• What To Know Before Growing Houseplants
• Why Won’t My Houseplants Grow?
• Nine Plants That Are Great For Your Home’s Feng Shui