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The PILF-opedia

Ferns with benefits: the ones that are easy on the eyes, hard on the heart

Gorgeous and a lot of work: Presence 3 or higher and Ease under 3. PILF leans toward the easygoing side, though what’s at a place depends on what’s in stock; these are here so you know what you’d be signing up for.

  1. 1

    Wandering Dude

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 4.5. Bold stripes and a purple underside: a splash of color that spills over the edge.
  2. 2

    Philodendron Selloum

    Ease 2.6 · Presence 4.4. Big, glossy and deeply cut, it brings the jungle into a room in a single plant.
  3. 3

    African Violet

    Ease 2.5 · Presence 4.1. Cottage-sweet and a little retro, it’s a pot of color for a windowsill or a kitchen table.
  4. 4

    Bird of Paradise

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.7. Big, sculptural and unmistakably tropical: a statement plant for a sunny corner.
  5. 5

    Philodendron Xanadu

    Ease 2.7 · Presence 3.8. Tropical and full without the height: a lush, low mound that fills a floor corner or the space beside a chair.
  6. 6

    Dragon Tail Plant

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.5. Glossy and a little wild, it fills a corner as it climbs.
  7. 7

    Lemon Lime Dracaena

    Ease 2.6 · Presence 3.8. Bright, graphic and a little retro, it reads as a splash of lime in a plain modern room.
  8. 8

    Purple Shamrock

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.5. Deep purple and a little whimsical, it brings color to a bright kitchen or a sunny sill where green plants blend in.
  9. 9

    Satin Pothos

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.5. Soft silver on dark green, it reads calm and modern, and it goes anywhere a pothos would, only dressier.
  10. 10

    Umbrella Tree

    Ease 2.5 · Presence 3.9. A classic green tree for a bright room, tidy enough for an office and big enough to fill a corner.
  11. 11

    English Ivy

    Ease 2.3 · Presence 4.1. Classic and a little romantic: trailing ivy softens hard edges, from a bookcase to a mantel.
  12. 12

    Dumb Cane

    Ease 2.7 · Presence 3.6. Big, painterly leaves with a bit of retro to them: a bold tropical plant for a room with a window.
  13. 13

    Pink Princess Philodendron

    Ease 2.7 · Presence 3.6. Dark leaves splashed with bubblegum pink: a showpiece for a bright, modern room.
  14. 14

    Bird's Nest Fern

    Ease 2.8 · Presence 3.5. Bold and sculptural, it reads tropical and clean, more modern than a lacy fern.
  15. 15

    Lipstick Plant

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.4. Glossy and trailing, with pops of red, it gives a hanging basket a vintage, tropical look.
  16. 16

    Swiss Cheese Vine

    Ease 2.2 · Presence 4.1. Lush and a little wild: holey, heart-shaped leaves bring jungle texture to a bookcase, a hanging pot or a moss pole in the corner.
  17. 17

    Monstera Peru

    Ease 2.8 · Presence 3.4. Dark, textured and compact, it suits a desk or a side table near a window.
  18. 18

    Rex Begonia

    Ease 2.1 · Presence 4.1. Pure color: silver, pink, burgundy and near-black leaves that read like a small work of art on a table.
  19. 19

    Anthurium

    Ease 2.2 · Presence 3.9. Glossy and graphic, it reads bold and tropical, a bit of color that doesn’t come and go with the seasons.
  20. 20

    Arrowhead Plant

    Ease 2.5 · Presence 3.6. Soft, colorful leaves that look fresh and a little retro, in a hanging pot or climbing a pole.
  21. 21

    Goldfish Plant

    Ease 2.6 · Presence 3.5. Glossy and cheerful, it suits a hanging basket or the edge of a bookcase.
  22. 22

    Kimberly Queen Fern

    Ease 2.8 · Presence 3.3. Full, fresh and a little tropical, it softens a corner indoors and dresses up a shady porch in summer.
  23. 23

    Moth Orchid

    Ease 2.8 · Presence 3.3. Elegant and a little formal: one arching spike of flowers turns a table into a centerpiece.
  24. 24

    Philodendron Birkin

    Ease 2.9 · Presence 3.2. Crisp and graphic: the pinstriped leaves look drawn by hand, and they suit a modern room.
  25. 25

    Christmas Cactus

    Ease 2.8 · Presence 3.2. A living heirloom: flat, jointed stems that spill over the pot, and a burst of color in the darkest weeks of the year.
  26. 26

    Mini Monstera

    Ease 2.4 · Presence 3.6. A jungle vine in miniature: split leaves climbing a pole give a small room the look of a big monstera without the sprawl.
  27. 27

    Money Tree

    Ease 2.6 · Presence 3.2. Glossy, open and tree-like, it brings a small tropical tree to a living room or an office, braided trunk and all.
  28. 28

    Stromanthe Triostar

    Ease 2.2 · Presence 3.6. Painterly and a little theatrical: cream, pink and green on top, hot pink underneath.
  29. 29

    Burro's Tail

    Ease 2.3 · Presence 3.5. A living sculpture for a sunny window: thick, blue-green braids hanging straight down.
  30. 30

    Polka Dot Begonia

    Ease 1.7 · Presence 4.1. Bold and graphic, it suits a bright room with plain walls, where the spots can be the pattern.
  31. 31

    Prayer Plant

    Ease 2.4 · Presence 3.4. A painterly, patterned plant for a side table or a bright bathroom, best seen up close.
  32. 32

    Croton

    Ease 1.8 · Presence 3.9. Loud, tropical color for a sunny room: it works like a bouquet that lasts.
  33. 33

    Fiddle-Leaf Fig

    Ease 1.9 · Presence 3.8. Sculptural and leafy, it’s the small tree that anchors a modern living room.
  34. 34

    Coffee Plant

    Ease 2.0 · Presence 3.6. Glossy, dark and full, it looks at home in a kitchen or a café, and it comes with a story: flowers, then berries.
  35. 35

    Areca Palm

    Ease 2.1 · Presence 3.4. Lush and airy, it gives a bright room a relaxed, resort feel.
  36. 36

    Ficus Audrey

    Ease 2.3 · Presence 3.2. A modern indoor tree with a pale trunk and big leaves, for a room that wants something tall without the drama.
  37. 37

    Alocasia Polly

    Ease 1.6 · Presence 3.8. Dramatic and graphic, a statement plant for a bright spot where the veins can be seen up close.
  38. 38

    Weeping Fig

    Ease 2.0 · Presence 3.4. A classic indoor tree: a slim trunk and a soft, weeping canopy that fills a bright corner.
  39. 39

    Cat Palm

    Ease 2.0 · Presence 3.1. Soft and full, it brings a tropical note to a bright corner.
  40. 40

    Poinsettia

    Ease 1.7 · Presence 3.2. Classic holiday color: festive in red, quieter and more modern in white or pale pink.
  41. 41

    Meyer Lemon

    Ease 1.0 · Presence 3.6. A kitchen-garden classic: glossy leaves, perfumed flowers and, with luck, a few lemons, in a big pot by a sunny window.
Other lists
Soilmates: the ones you’ll grow old withBest fronds: the ones that are always there, never needyTrophy plants: the ones that you show off on your gridHard-to-kill: the ones that survive with a smilePet-safe: the ones that can co-exist with your crittersLow lights: the ones that love it with the lights offPocket plants: the ones that are short king looking like snacksSee all 100 in the PILF-opedia →