9 Tiny Houseplants That Will Look Adorable in Your Mini Garden (2024)

Gardening

Houseplants

Types of Houseplants

Jamie McIntosh

Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.

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Updated on 02/17/24

The Best Tiny Plants

01 of 09
Baby Tears

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Everything about Soleirolia soleirolii is cute: the common name of baby tears elicits that "aww" reaction, and the myriad of tiny leaves gives character and charm to this easy houseplant. Grow baby tears in a small terrarium or under a glass cloche in bright filtered sunlight to give this small plant the humidity it craves to stay lush.
- Name: Baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
- Light: Prefers bright, filtered light or artificial lights.
- Mature Size: 4 in. tall, 36 in. wide
02 of 09
String of Pearls

Succulents give us so many interesting leaf forms, including the string of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) which so closely resemble every kid's least favorite veggie (but the plant isn't at all edible).
The plant's unusual leaf form helps it thrive in its native South Africa, where the spherical leaves maximize water retention while minimizing leaf surface area that would result in water loss to evaporation.
String of pearls will trail daintily from a small hanging container in a warm room with filtered light; snip off the pearls as needed to shape and keep in bounds. Note that this plant is toxic to people and pets.
- Name: String of pearls (Curio rowleyanus, formerlySenecio rowleyanus)
- Light: Filtered light, prefers direct morning sunlight and diffused afternoon, sunlight.
- Mature Size: 1-2 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. long
03 of 09
Air Plant

Few plants are as forgiving as those in the Tillandsia genus. These epiphytes or air plants live perched on branches in frost-free environments, taking the moisture they need from the air using specially adapted scales on their spiky leaves.
Mount them on driftwood, arrange them in a basket, or create a soil-free mini terrarium for these mess-free plants. They grow very slowly and need little more than partial sunlight and a weekly dunking in water to stay hydrated.
- Name: Air plant (Tillandsia)
- Light: Bright to medium indirect light.
- Mature Size: 2-12 in. tall
04 of 09
Donkey's Tail

Sedum morganianum is the perfect houseplant for that person who has a bright sunny spot with room for a small trailing or creeping plant. The fleshy, succulent leaves of the donkey's tail are a clue to the drought tolerance of this plant.
Grow donkey's tail in a sandy cactus potting mix to prevent root rot. If you accidentally break off one of the stems, don't discard it because donkey's tail is easy to propagate with cuttings. Let the wound callus over. Then, insert the cut end into some succulent potting soil, and place it in indirect light until roots form.
- Name: Donkey's tail (Sedum morganianum)
- Light: Bright morning sunlight, diffused afternoon sunlight.
- Mature Size: 1–4 ft. long, 1–2 ft. wide
Continue to 5 of 9 below
05 of 09
Scotch Moss

A patch of bright green Arenaria verna conjures up notions of garden fairies, gnomes, or any woodland creature who might like to nestle in the ethereal mossy foliage of this low-growing plant.
As a Scotland native, Scotch moss prefers the cool, moist conditions of its homeland. Frequent misting will keep your moss perky and bright. Indirect light from a north-facing window will help to maintain the chartreuse color without scorching the plant.
If your moss produces tiny white flowers, you'll know you've mastered its growing requirements.
See Also
29 Stunning Plant Combination Ideas for Container Gardens
- Name: Scotch moss (Arenaria verna)
- Light: Bright indirect light, but avoid low light.
- Mature Size: 1–2 in. tall, 8–10 in. wide
06 of 09
Wooly Thyme

Wherever you need a pick-me-up of aromatherapy, place a container of Thymus pseudolanuginosus. The soft, fuzzy leaves and tiny flowers are so adorable and touchable.
The slow-growing plants only reach an inch in height and creep slowly to form a dense, wooly mat in a full sun container (and may even flower). Water wooly thyme sparingly, when the soil's surface is dry to the touch.
- Name: Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)
- Light: Prefers direct, bright light.
- Mature Size: 1/2-1 in. tall, 12 in. wide
07 of 09
Venus Flytrap

Venus flytrap plants are sometimes billed as novelty plants but with a little care, they make the perfect small houseplants. The leaves of Dionaea muscipula, with their teeth-like raspy edges, are equipped with trigger hairs that, when touched twice, snap shut on prey insects like those pesky fruit flies you've been trying to get rid of.
These quirky plants have some equally oddball growing requirements: They do well in a peat moss growing medium, and being sensitive to minerals, need distilled water. Add bright light and cool winter temperatures to ensure a long life for your Venus flytrap.
- Name: Venus flytrap (Dionaeamuscipula)
- Light: Bright, direct sunlight at least four hours a day.
- Mature Size: 6-12 in. tall, 6-9 in. wide
08 of 09
African Violet

What's old is new again. African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha) were the "it" plant for your grandparents, but they are enjoying a resurgence, spurred perhaps by fun and funky new varieties with ruffled or picotee blooms and variegated foliage.
What hasn't changed is the compact size of African violets and their free-flowering nature. These plants prefer tiny pots, which spurs blooming. Keep your African violets moist and pot-bound, give them bright light, and feed them with a balanced flower fertilizer to keep them performing all year.
- Name: African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
- Light: Bright, indirect light.
- Mature Size: 6-9 in. tall and wide
Continue to 9 of 9 below
09 of 09
Purple Shamrock

Purpleshamrock(Oxalis triangularis), also known as false shamrock, grows nearly black foliage but the color is a verydeep purple. The triangular leaves fold up almost like an umbrella and reopen in the morning. The plant bears tiny flowers that are a white to pale pink or lavender color. Note that purple shamrock (or any shamrock plant) is toxic to animals and people.
- Name: Purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)
- Light: Bright light.
- Mature Size: 1/2 in.–1 ft. tall, 1–2 ft. wide

FAQ

Which tiny plant is the easiest to take care of?

Succulents, such as the string of pearls and donkey's tail, are known to be some of the easiest tiny plants to take care of. Succulents are so maintenance-free because they hold water in their fleshy parts and are very forgiving of drought and light conditions.
Do tiny plants stay small?

Tiny plants are cultivated to stay small. But if they seem to be growing larger than you'd like, it's okay to trim them a little bit back to size.

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The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

String of Pearls,Senecio rowleyanus.University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension.
Are Succulents Safe to Have Around Pets? ASPCA.
Shamrock Plant. ASPCA.
Oxalis traingularis. North Carolina University Plant Toolbox.

9 Tiny Houseplants That Will Look Adorable in Your Mini Garden (2024)

The Best Tiny Plants

Baby Tears

String of Pearls

Air Plant

Donkey's Tail

Scotch Moss

Wooly Thyme

Venus Flytrap

African Violet

Purple Shamrock