Indoor Plant Guide
Indoor plants that suit Riyadh homes and offices: how much light and water each one needs, and how easy it is to care for.
Every plant has a full profile with the rooms that suit it and how safe it is around cats and dogs.
A tip for Riyadh homes
Riyadh homes run air-conditioning most of the year, which drops indoor humidity to 15–25%. Keep plants out of the direct blast of AC vents, group humidity-loving plants together or use a small humidifier, and use filtered water for plants that brown at the tips. West-facing windows get harsh afternoon sun in summer; place plants a metre back or behind a sheer curtain.
10 plants
Extra large (over 150 cm)نخيل الأريكا
Areca Palm
Dypsis lutescens
- Bright indirect light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Medium
Large (90–150 cm)نخيل البامبو (شاميدوريا)
Bamboo Palm
Chamaedorea seifrizii
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)كالاثيا
Calathea
Goeppertia (Calathea) spp.
- Medium light
- Regular water (keep soil moist)
- Needs experience
Medium (40–90 cm)أسبيديسترا (النبتة الحديدية)
Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior
- Low light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)أجلونيما (ريد لايم)
Chinese Evergreen (Red Lime)
Aglaonema 'Red Star'
- Low light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Extra large (over 150 cm)نخيل الكنتيا
Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)نخيل الصالون (شاميدوريا إليجانس)
Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
- Low light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)زنبق السلام (سباتيفيلم)
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
- Low light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)نبتة الصلاة (مارانتا)
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura
- Low light
- Regular water (keep soil moist)
- Medium
Medium (40–90 cm)نبتة الثعبان (سانسفيريا)
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria)
- Low light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Illustrative images
Indoor plant questions
Which indoor plants are best for a bedroom?
Choose plants that cope with medium or low light and need little fuss, such as Peace Lily, Snake Plant, Cast Iron Plant, Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen (Red Lime). Keep them out of the direct AC draft.
Which plants tolerate low light in Riyadh?
Plants marked "low light" in the guide, such as Peace Lily, ZZ Plant, Snake Plant, Golden Pothos (Money Plant), Prayer Plant, Cast Iron Plant, live happily in inner rooms and offices without a nearby window.
Which plants are safe for cats?
16 plants in this guide are recorded as non-toxic by the ASPCA, including Money Tree, Spider Plant, Areca Palm, Moth Orchid, Cymbidium Orchid, Boston Fern. Use the "Pet-safe only" filter to see them all, and call a vet immediately if a pet eats any plant.
Why are my plant's leaf tips turning brown?
Riyadh homes run air-conditioning most of the year, which drops indoor humidity to 15–25%. Keep plants out of the direct blast of AC vents, group humidity-loving plants together or use a small humidifier, and use filtered water for plants that brown at the tips. West-facing windows get harsh afternoon sun in summer; place plants a metre back or behind a sheer curtain.