The 7 Fastest-Growing Houseplants
If you're eager to see lush greenery fill your home without the long wait, you're in the right place. We all love the idea of an instant indoor jungle, but nature usually takes its time, even when grown indoors. Fortunately, there are some plants that love to sprout quickly. Whether you're filling a bare corner or just need a little encouragement from a plant that actually grows when you watch it, these picks are incredibly rewarding. Let's look at the best, fastest-growing houseplants out there.
Golden Pothos
You'll often hear this vine called Devil's Ivy because it's nearly impossible to kill, but its growth rate is the real standout. It's not uncommon for a healthy Pothos to lengthen by a foot or more in a single month during the growing season. They aren't fussy about light, though they'll grow faster and thicker near a window. You can let them trail from a high shelf or train them up a wall hooks for a more vertical display.
Heartleaf Philodendron
While it looks similar to the Pothos, the Heartleaf Philodendron has a charm all its own with its darker, matte texture and elegant leaf shape. It's a rapid grower that loves to climb if given a moss pole, which actually encourages the leaves to get larger. If you prefer a trailing look, it'll happily cascade down the side of a bookcase too. It's also wonderfully communicative! The leaves start to droop slightly when thirsty, letting you know exactly what it needs.
Tradescantia Zebrina
Often known as the Inch Plant, this colorful gem earns its nickname by growing roughly an inch of new stem every week when it's happy. The shimmering purple and silver leaves adds a pop of color that most other fast-growing plants lack. It's a bit thirstier than the others, so keep the soil moist, and if it starts looking leggy, don't hesitate to pinch back the stems. You'll find that trimming it actually makes it grow thicker and faster, creating a bushier, more vibrant spark of color.
Monstera Deliciosa
If you want something that offers size and drama rather than length, the Monstera Deliciosa, otherwise known as the Swiss Cheese Plant is your best bet. While it starts small, a happy Monstera can explode in size, putting out massive, fenestrated leaves that look almost prehistoric. It's a thrill to watch a new leaf unfurl from a tight spike into a giant, glossy fan. Give it plenty of bright, indirect light and a little room to spread out, and it'll become the focal point of your living room in no time.
Spider Plant
There's a reason this plant has been a household staple for decades. It's not just the arching, grass-like leaves that fill out a pot quickly, it's the babies. Once established, a Spider Plant sends out long runners adorned with tiny plantlets, which people call its 'babies'. You can leave them attached for a cascading look or snip them off to root in water. They're incredibly generous plants that seem to multiply before your eyes, and they're forgiving if you forget a watering or two.
Arrowhead Vine
The Syngonium, or Arrowhead Vine, offers a lush, bushy look that eventually gives way to a climbing vine as it matures. It's one of those plants that seems to have a new leaf opening every time you look at it. The foliage changes shape as the plant ages, evolving from simple arrow shapes to deeply lobed leaves. It's versatile, thriving in low light but really speeding up when placed in a brighter spot. It's perfect for filling empty tabletop space quickly.
Money Tree
For those who want a tree-like silhouette without waiting ten years, the Pachira Aquatica is a fantastic choice. These braided beauties can grow up to two feet in a single year with the right lighting. They love deep watering followed by a dry spell, making them low-maintenance for busy schedules. The canopy fills out rapidly, providing a lovely umbrella of green leaves. It's believed to bring good fortune, but the real luck is how quickly it transforms a room's atmosphere.
Building a collection of houseplants doesn't have to be a slow, patience-testing process. By choosing these vigorous growers, you'll see visible changes week by week, which is a wonderful reminder of the life and energy you're nurturing in your home. Remember that faster growth means they'll need a bit more food and water than your slower plants, so keep an eye on them. We hope you enjoy the lush, vibrant sanctuary you're creating!