10 indoor plants that flower all year round – choose from our expert recommendations for non-stop blooms
There's so much more to houseplants that greenery. These flowering indoor plants will add a touch of beauty to your interior look to enjoy all year round
We all love the look of fresh green foliage that indoor plants bring to our homes. But have you thought about adding some color by introducing flowering house plants to your collection? It's a small detail but will add a joyful touch to your interior space.
The good news is that our expert recommendations are not just flowering varieties that are up and over before you've really had time to enjoy them. The indoor plants we've chosen here bloom for months, and they are generally easy to care for too.
While most indoor plants are more likely to flower in spring and summer, if you can keep the conditions in your home consistently warm and bright, it’s not unusual to see plants flower for much longer periods.
Growing vibrantly colored indoor plants offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of flowers all year-round too, which is especially nice in winter when the garden may be lacking in them. There is a great choice when it comes to the best indoor plants that are long-flowering so there is sure to be one here for you.
BY SARAH WILSON
1. Cape primrose
The flowers of Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) come in lots of different colors from deep purple to blue, pink and white, often with veining, and they look a little like orchids. They are also a close relative of the African violet.
Generally blooming from May until October, if the conditions are right you can expect an even longer flowering period. Cape primroses can be in bloom for as much as 10 months of the year if they're placed in natural light on a north or east-facing window, making them one of the best indoor house plants too.
If you don't give your plant enough water it will soon wilt, but will revive quickly with a little TLC. If you feed them regularly throughout the growing season, from spring to fall, you will have a continual display of flowers. But too much food or water will leave you with lots of leafy growth but scant or non-existent flowers.
Be sure to deadhead Cape primroses regularly too and you will soon be rewarded as these are one of the best indoor plants that flower all year.
2. Peace lily
The cool and elegant peace lily is an exceptional choice if you're looking for indoor plants that flower all year-round. It's visually appealing, with profuse lily-like white blooms, and an easy-going nature. In fact, it can tolerate occasional neglect too, so no wonder it's top of the popularity list.
'The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is a classic choice for indoor plant fans due to its prolific elegant white flowers and ability to thrive in low-light conditions,' says Zahid Adnan, horticulturist and founder of The Plant Bible. 'What also sets this plant apart is its air-purifying qualities. It's one of the best air-cleaning indoor plants as it removes harmful toxins. This means it's one of the best bedroom plants too.'
The Spathiphyllum wallisii variety of peace lily like this one from plant.com is known for its prolific flowering. Use a fertilizer with every 6-8 weeks to encourage healthy growth and lots of flowers. Remember the more light you give it the more blooms it will produce.
3. African violet
'African violets are loved for their petite size and prolific blooming habits, making them one of the best indoor plants that flower all year-round,' says Becky Decker, plant expert and founder of gardeninghood.com. 'These charming plants produce clusters of delicate, velvety flowers in various shades of purple and pink, and can provide a constant source of color and joy all year long.'
African violets (also known as Saintpaulia) can bloom year-round with optimum growing conditions, although they may occasionally take a break from blooming. But it won't be long before the next flush of flowers comes along. Just remember to remove any faded flowers as soon as you see them to encourage more blooms.
There are new varieties of African violets available now that they flower more profusely and for longer. They're more resistant to their flowers dropping off, too. These are easy indoor plants to grow as long as you keep the compost moist and protect them from strong sunlight and cold draughts.
4. Begonia
'I visited a relative a few years ago in Minneapolis and she had a wax Begonia (Begonia semperflorens-cultorum) in a pot that was flowering in late November,' says plant expert Dr. Clydette Alsup-Egbers, associate professor of environmental plant science at Missouri State University. 'It was growing in a bright sunroom. Begonias are typically outdoor bedding plants for shady areas and are popular because they provide a chance for colorful flowers in the shade but they make fantastic indoor plants too.'
A large family of plants with many hybrids, begonias are native to tropical climates in South and Central America, Africa and Asia. They often have exotically patterned leaves and it's this interesting foliage that they are generally grown for. However the flowers are pretty too, and prolific if you choose a variety like the Rieger begonia.
They are perfect plants for north and east-facing windows that receive little or no sun, and they can also grow in rooms without any natural light making them a great choice for indoor low-light plants. Ideally they need to be kept at a constant temperature. If the leaves curl up and turn crispy you need to water them but don't overdo it and leave the plant sitting in water, as this could cause the roots to rot.
5. Mother of millions
I have one of these plants (sometimes called Mexican hat plant or chandelier plant) and it has been producing numerous pendulous clusters of lovely flowers for months. At the base of its stem it has baby plants dotted around that are flowering too, miniature versions of the main attraction.
Since I bought it at a plant sale last year it has doubled in height. I have ignored it pretty much the whole time, apart from the occasional watering when I remember. As it is part of the succulent family it's able to cope with drought conditions and lack of attention. So it gets my vote as one of the best low-maintenance indoor plants.
It doesn't even seem to shed any of its waxy serrated leaves. Tiny plantlets develop along the margins of the leaves that drop off into the compost and quickly develop roots and grow into plants you can pot up to multiply your collection.
Technically, it's known as Bryophyllum, and related to the Kalanchoe. I definitely think it's one of the best indoor plants that flower all year-round.
6. Anthurium
'Rarely without their showy blooms, anthurium are known as the world’s longest blooming houseplant,' says Eliza Blank, founder of houseplant specialists The Sill. 'Each bloom can last up to eight weeks, and new ones pop up often.'
The shape of their eye-catching shiny red flowers is perhaps the reason why they're commonly known as flamingo flowers or painter’s palette flowers. You can also get them in pink like this one from The Sill if you prefer a softer look.
Exotic anthurium are very easygoing indoor plants to add to your collection. They bloom best in bright indirect light, should be watered every couple of days to keep the soil moist, and like to have their leaves misted regularly. Throughout the growing season they respond well to being fertilised every 2–4 weeks. Their flowering will extend for months if you follow this easy care routine.
As they thrive in humid environments it means they're one of the best bathroom plants too, and will instantly give the room a lift.
7. Bromeliad
'The bromeliad plant is cherished for its stunning foliage and unique exotic blooms,' says gardening expert Marcie Pratt, founder of gardening site Up On Duncan Hill. 'These tropical plants come in an array of colors, patterns, and sizes, making them a versatile choice for any indoor space.'
The flowers tend to be small and delicate, carried on neon-bright colored bracts that persist long after the blooms fade. These plants are from the rainforest, so they thrive in high humidity and like year-round warmth. They need minimal watering, as the leaves funnel water into the plant's cup shaped 'reservoir' below.
They love a sunny bathroom, or a bright windowsill in the kitchen where they will flower for many months, but in a dark room they will wither and die. 'I have nursed a few bromeliads back to health and they are super-resilient,' says Marcie.
8. Kalanchoe
'Another indoor plant I admire is the Kalanchoe,' says Marcie Pratt. 'They are hugely versatile plants and have the most beautiful blooms that come in an array of colors like red, pink, yellow, and orange. They are succulents, which means they're excellent drought-tolerant indoor plants. Great if you tend to forget regular watering.'
The clusters of flowers in vibrant hues bloom for weeks and will add a long-lasting pop of color to your interior. The compact size and resilient nature of this easy plant are another reason why it's one of the favorite indoor plants that flower all year-round. The most popular variety for growing indoors is kalanchoe blossfeldiana (there are also varieties that thrive outdoors).
Once blooming is done, the plant needs a rest. Snip off any deadheads and reduce watering until new growth resumes. These beauties can easily be encouraged to flower again. Like most flowering plants, kalanchoe benefits from fertilizer, and should be fed once a month during spring and summer. If flowering is sparse, switch to a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorus.
9. Orchids
'Orchids make excellent indoor house plants,' says Virginia Hayes, indoor plant pro at Westerlay Orchids in Santa Barbara, California. 'Since orchids come in many varieties, picking one that flowers well is easy. One of the best varieties for this is the Phalaenopsis orchid, which can flower for three months or longer.'
Ensure good orchid care by giving the plants the right level of light and humidity, fertilizing them frequently, and providing the right amount of water, says Virginia. 'Orchids can flower for many years if they are given the right attention and management. With proper care, your orchid can essentially last a lifetime.'
They produce small lateral branches of blooms from dormant nodes once their initial flush of flowers has ended. Snipping whole flowering stems back to soil level will encourage the production of new ones, which will give you more lovely blooms.
Orchids are one of the best indoor plants that flower all year-round, with their enchanting blooms in a range of gorgeous colors and lengthy flowering cycle. When nurtured correctly, they will reward you with a display of breathtakingly beautiful flowers that lasts for months.
10. Pelargoniums
With their clusters of vibrant flowers and fragrant foliage, pelargoniums (geraniums) are long-standing favourites, both indoors and out. A row of these bright and cheerful plants on a warm and sunny kitchen windowsill is an uplifting sight, and they are definitely one of the best indoor plants for direct sunlight.
You can grow pelargoniums indoors as houseplants if you're an apartment gardener or find out how to overwinter them inside and return them outdoors again when the weather starts to warm up. Either way these plants are consistent bloomers and will flower continuously for months on end if provided with enough light.
After a natural rest period with few or no flowers, they will bloom all over again. Just remember not to overwater them. You can leave the compost to dry out in between waterings, and it should be barely moist when the plant isn't in bloom.
There's so much more to houseplants that greenery. These flowering indoor plants will add a touch of beauty to your interior look to enjoy all year round