Plants can spruce up any space, be it your living room, bedroom, entryway, or patio. But what about the kitchen - the heart of your home? With all the modern appliances and limited space on worktops and tables, is there a good place to put plants in kitchens?

Read on to find out how to incorporate kitchen plants and transform the heart of your home. We’ll list the ideal plants for a kitchen and share some tips on greening up this space.

The best kitchen plants are not just compact and easy-care but can be beneficial too. From humidity-managing and air-filtering plants to herbs and culinary varieties with practical value, you can easily create a green corner or window-sill display with kitchen plants. We’ve shortlisted 13 best plants for your kitchen, from everyone's favorite Hibiscus, one of the popular fancy kitchen plants, to the multi-purpose rosemary herb. 

But first, let's take a quick look at some cool tips and tricks to consider when choosing plants to suit your kitchen style and decor. 

How to Create a Modern Kitchen Plant Decor: Tips & Tricks

Plants can instantly elevate your kitchen’s appeal, adding aesthetics and visual interest. These natural design elements are worth every dollar and can be easily placed on window sills, hung from kitchen cabinets, or arranged on open shelves. This creates a cozy, natural atmosphere that brightens up the space where you spend time cooking, eating, or sipping coffee, first thing in the morning. 

So, if you wonder how to choose the right kitchen plants, here are some tips and tricks to consider when decorating your kitchen with greenery:

• Consider your kitchen’s size: Smaller plants are ideal for compact kitchens, while larger spaces with plenty of floor space, empty corners, and free shelf surfaces can accommodate bigger pots or hanging plants. 
• Lighting conditions and humidity are also key: Select indoor plants that thrive in the available light (bright or filtered); choose humidity-tolerant plants for your kitchen. 
• Furniture arrangement: Consider plants on top of your fridge, standing glass cabinets, or any unused corner that could use a touch of greenery. 
• Practical considerations: Culinary plants like herbs are perfect for non-spacious kitchens. They’re not just decorative kitchen window plants but also practical, giving you fresh ingredients at your fingertips. 
• Plants’ well-being: Be mindful of air vents, steam, or heat from appliances, which can harm your plants. Avoid placing them too close to stoves or microwaves.
• Houseplants safety: If you have pets or young kids, choose non-toxic and resilient plants Some plants can be poisonous, while others might be easily damaged. Opt for pet-friendly plants and place them out of reach from curious hands and paws.

13 Best Kitchen Plants Ideas to Consider

Choosing the right plants for your kitchen can be challenging with so many options around you. But don't worry; we’ve narrowed your search to just these 13 kitchen plants that can transform your space. 

1. Lemon Button Fern - Scented Delight

The pet-friendly Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') is a smaller version of the Boston fern, growing to a maximum height of one foot. This compact Asian fern is low-maintenance and fits perfectly in your small kitchen, adding a lively touch. You’ll appreciate the plant’s delicate fronds and lush green appearance, which adds a tropical touch to your kitchen and helps purify the air. It likes medium, indirect light, acidic soil, and high humidity to thrive indoors. 

2. Orchids - Elegance Personified 

Orchids (Orchidaceae) belong to the Orchidaceae family. They are some of the most popular flowering plants. Despite their long stems and large petals, orchids are perfect for the kitchen with their elegant appearance and ability to thrive in high humidity, adding a touch of exotic beauty to the space. 

3. Rosemary - The Ultimate Culinary Herb

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant herb with needle-like leaves and a woody stem. It makes a great kitchen plant because it’s easy to grow, spreading its lovely aroma. Rosemary thrives in bright light, hence, it’s perfect for a sunny kitchen window. Plus, you can snip fresh sprigs to use in your cooking anytime or make an essential oil, full of benefits.

4. Calathea Concinna ‘Freddie’ - Nature’s Clock

Calathea concinna ‘Freddie’ (Calathea concinna ‘Freddie’) is a striking plant with vibrant green leaves adorned with dark green stripes, creating a beautiful pattern. This affordable plant doesn't grow much in size and thrives in low to medium light, making it perfect for places with indirect sunlight, like your kitchen. ‘Freddie’ is also known for its air-purifying qualities, ornamental value, stress reduction, and humidity regulation. 

5. Jade and Pearl Pothos - No Two Identical Leaves Beauty

The Jade and Pearl Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a beautiful, low-maintenance plant from the Araceae family. Its striking green and white variegated leaves add a fresh, elegant touch to any space. This trailing plant thrives in low to medium light, making it ideal for kitchens with limited sunlight for most of the day. While its air-purifying qualities will filter your kitchen’s indoor air, its beautiful vines will add a lovely, natural look to your shelves or countertops.

6. Pink Polka Dot Plant - Plant With Attractive Polka Dots

The Pink Polka Dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is originally from South Africa, East Asia, and Madagascar. It's commonly known as a “freckle face” plant, due to the unique small, rounded spots or freckles all over its leaves. This tropical plant does well in warm, humid conditions with bright, indirect light or partial shade, and thus, makes an ideal choice for every kitchen.  

7. Thyme - Perfect Culinary Plant for Kitchens

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a versatile and aromatic herb that's easy to care for and perfect for your kitchen. With its tiny, fragrant leaves and woody stems, thyme adds a fresh, earthy flavor to dishes. It's a hardy plant that thrives in small pots, making it suitable for kitchen window sills or hanging planters. Beyond its culinary value, thyme is known for its antibacterial properties, making it a practical and charming addition to any kitchen.

8. Air Plants - Say Hi to Soil-Free Plants

Don't want a plant with soil for your kitchen? Then, air plants (Tillandsia) can be the perfect match. These soil-free wonders are epiphytes, meaning they can grow on almost any surface, without being rooted in soil. Two of the most exquisite air plant varieties include the Silver Queen with grayish-white leaves and the Butzii, which produces stunning purple blossoms. Very forgiving and pet-safe, air plants with curling, sculptural leaves offer a stress-free way to bring home some natural beauty. 

9. Marjoram - Medicinal Herb

Next, we have the sweet Marjoram, which has various medicinal benefits. This fragrant herb comes from Western Asia and Northern Africa and is recognized by its soft, green leaves. With a mild, sweet flavor, Marjoram is used in Mediterranean dishes, salads, and sauces. Marjoram, or Origanum majorana, is easy to grow indoors, thriving in bright, sunny spots like a kitchen windowsill. Plus, the pleasant aroma of this herb can fill your kitchen with a fresh, herbal scent.

10. Hibiscus - Vibrant Flowering Plant

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is another excellent choice for a kitchen plant. A type of flowering shrub from tropical regions, the Hibiscus is known for its vivid green, toothed leaves, and silky, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, purple, red, white, or yellow. These vibrant flowers add a splash of color to your kitchen, while their petals come in handy in brewing refreshing teas, bringing both beauty and health benefits to your kitchen space.

11. Coffee Plant - Green Vibrancy in a Pot

Nothing beats the Coffee plant (Coffea arabica) for coffee and plant lovers. Native to Ethiopia and the Arabian Peninsula, it's a beautiful shrub with bright green, glossy leaves, which produces white flowers that ripen into coffee berries. You may not get a cup of homegrown coffee from just one coffee plant, but it's still a great addition to your kitchen. After all, this indoor plant improves concentration and adds an aesthetic appeal. 

12. Peperomia Plants - Attractive Semi-succulent

Peperomia plants (Peperomia trifolia) are perfect for adding a pop of green to your kitchen. They’re ideal for small spaces with their compact size, bushy growth pattern, and thick, glossy leaves. These low-maintenance plants thrive in indirect light and can even handle a bit of neglect, making them great for busy kitchens. Moreover,, their unique leaf pattern adds charm to your countertop or shelf.

13. Philodendron Cordatum - Trailing Beauty

The Philodendron Cordatum (Philodendron cordatum ‘Green) is one of many hanging plants for kitchens, courtesy of its gorgeous trailing stems and emerald, heart-shaped leaves. Place this Philodendron plant on top of your kitchen cabinets to create a stunning display. It prefers bright, indirect light with medium watering. Moderate fertilization is recommended, but only during the growing season. 

Conclusion

From air-purifying plants, like ferns, and culinary herbs to small-sized succulents and blooming plants, there are plenty of kitchen plants to choose from for the heart of your home. When selecting plants, consider your kitchen’s lighting, space, and how much care they need. Ensure to place your green companions away from heat and steam. Also, keep your greenery out of reach from pets and kids. Your kitchen will surely feel more vibrant and inviting with the right plants.