A houseplant is a plant that grows indoors, inside a home or building, rather than outside in a garden or yard. People keep houseplants to make their living spaces more beautiful, bring a touch of nature indoors, and sometimes to improve air quality.

Common houseplants include spider plants with their long, striped leaves, sturdy snake plants that can survive with little water, and ficus trees that can grow several feet tall. Some houseplants, like African violets, produce colorful flowers. Others, like pothos vines, drape gracefully from shelves or hang from ceiling hooks.

Unlike outdoor plants that get rain and natural sunlight, houseplants depend entirely on their owners for care. Each type needs different amounts of water and light. A cactus thrives in bright sunlight and rarely needs watering, while a fern prefers shade and moist soil. Learning what each plant needs takes attention and sometimes trial and error.

People have kept houseplants for centuries. Victorian homes often featured elaborate collections of exotic plants in parlors and conservatories. Today, from small apartments to large houses, houseplants remain popular because they connect us to the natural world even when we're inside.