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.
23 plants
Small (up to 40 cm)الألوفيرا (الصبار)
Aloe Vera
Aloe barbadensis miller
- Direct sun
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)السرخس الأزرق
Blue Star Fern
Phlebodium aureum
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 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
Small (up to 40 cm)فيكس جينسنغ (بونساي)
Ficus Ginseng (Banyan / Bonsai Tree)
Ficus microcarpa
- Bright indirect light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Medium
Small (up to 40 cm)أنثوريوم (نبتة الفلامنغو)
Flamingo Plant (Anthurium)
Anthurium andraeanum
- Bright indirect light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Medium
Medium (40–90 cm)البوتس (نبتة المال)
Golden Pothos (Money Plant)
Epipremnum aureum
- Low light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)جوزمانيا (برومليا)
Guzmania Bromeliad (Light Plant)
Guzmania lingulata
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)فيلودندرون القلبي
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
- Low light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)هويا (نبتة الشمع)
Hoya (Wax / Honey Plant)
Hoya carnosa
- Bright indirect light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)نبتة اليشم (كراسولا)
Jade Plant
Crassula ovata
- Direct sun
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)بامبو الحظ
Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
- Low light
- Regular water (keep soil moist)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)أوركيد فلاينوبسس
Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis spp.
- Bright indirect light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Medium
Small (up to 40 cm)نخيل الصالون (شاميدوريا إليجانس)
Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
- Low light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)بيبيروميا
Peperomia
Peperomia spp.
- Medium light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)نخيل ذيل الحصان (بوكارنيا)
Ponytail Palm
Beaucarnea recurvata
- Bright indirect light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)نبتة الصلاة (مارانتا)
Prayer Plant
Maranta leuconeura
- Low light
- Regular water (keep soil moist)
- Medium
Small (up to 40 cm)بوتس فضي (سكيندابسوس)
Satin Pothos (Silver Pothos)
Scindapsus pictus
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)نبتة الثعبان (سانسفيريا)
Snake Plant
Dracaena trifasciata (syn. Sansevieria)
- Low light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)نبتة العنكبوت (كلوروفيتم)
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum
- Medium light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)ستابيليا (صبار نجم البحر)
Starfish Cactus (Carrion Flower)
Stapelia spp.
- Bright indirect light
- Low water (every 2–4 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)مونستيرا أدانسوني
Swiss Cheese Vine
Monstera adansonii
- Bright indirect light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Small (up to 40 cm)ترادسكانتيا نانوك
Tradescantia Nanouk (Fantasy Venice)
Tradescantia 'Nanouk'
- Bright indirect light
- Medium water (every 1–2 weeks)
- Easy
Medium (40–90 cm)نبتة زد زد (زاميا)
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- 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.