For those of us that love flowers, the best houseplants are the ones that bloom. A mass of foliage can't compete with the colour, enchantment, and – in some cases – scent that they fill a room with. A few – such as cape primroses and geraniums – produce a succession of flowers for most of the year, whilst others – including urn plants and orchids – bear a few blooms that look good for months.
In general, most houseplants with latent flower power will come up with the goods if they are given sufficient light. Bright, indirect sunlight and lots of it is what they crave. A few (such as clivia and cacti) also insist upon a hibernation stint (which usually involves being moved to a cooler place – such as the spare bedroom – for a few weeks) in order to stimulate flowering.
A floriferous houseplant is often the same price as (or less expensive than) a bunch of flowers, but, arguably, has more personality and, in the right conditions, will flower year and year. There is a wide range of indoor plants that bloom in different seasons, so you could have a house full of flowers 365 days of the year.
The best indoor flowering plants
One of the most low-maintenance houseplants, the humble geranium flowers for months. Bought as baby plug plants in the garden centre in spring and potted on, you could end up with 20 plants for a fiver. As long as you like the fragrance of geranium leaves, it's a quick way to fill a windowsill with colour (there are varieties in shades of red, pink, and white). Snap off the stems once they have flowered.
- Position: Bright, indirect light. 12 to 24°C.
- Humidity: Average
- Watering: Water when the top of the compost feels dry; water less in winter.
- Height: 30 to 60cm.
- Width: 30 to 60cm.
- Similar: Persian cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is another houseplant that can be bought as bedding and produces fragrant blooms in winter and spring in a cool, light spot, such as a porch.
This dramatic bromeliad grows on trees in Brazilian forest. The big, strappy leaves are heavily mottled grey and, in summer, the plant throws up a starburst of purple flowers and pink bracts, which looks good for months. It only flowers once, but produces baby plants, which can be potted up at 12 centimetres.
- Position: Bright, indirect light. 15 to 27°C.
- Humidity: Average to high.
- Watering: Pour rainwater or filtered water into the central 'well' of stems, so that it is 2 centimetres deep (pour water out before putting fresh water in); water the compost in summer, if very dry; water sparingly in winter.
- Height: 60cm.
- Width: 60cm.
- Similar: Angel's tears (Billbergia x windii AGM) is another fabulously exotic bromeliad that likes water in its well and produces baby plants.
This shrubby evergreen from subtropical Asia has waxy cream flowers that fill a room with incredible scent on summer nights. It likes an even temperature that doesn't drop below 15°C at night and is kept above 20°C during the day. Opt for one of the hardier cultivars, such as 'Crown Jewel' or 'Kleim's Hardy', if you can't maintain those temperatures. Feed with tomato fertiliser weekly in summer.
- Position: Bright, indirect light. 10 to 24°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Water with room temperature rainwater or filtered water. Keep the compost moist, but never saturated. Water sparingly in winter.
- Height: 60cm.
- Width: 60cm.
- Similar: Madagascar jasmine (Stephanotis floribunda AGM) has fragrant summer blooms and like the same position and care.
This elegant orchid grows on trees in Asia, producing beautiful long-lasting blooms on canes during spring. There are several cultivars available; Spring Dream is a white form. Do not cut cut the canes back after flowering.
- Position: Dappled or indirect light and warmth in spring and summer; bright indirect light and cooler temperatures in autumn and winter. 8 to 24°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Water with rainwater (or filtered tap water that has been left to stand overnight). Water regularly from mid-spring to mid-summer, then gradually reduce, until you are watering very sparingly in winter. Do not give the plant any water in early spring until you are sure it has developed flower buds. Give grow feed in spring and summer and bloom feed in autumn.
- Height: 25cm to 1m.
- Width: 10 to 40cm.
- Similar: Fishbone cactus (Epiphyllum anguliger) is an epiphytic forest cactus with impressive, fragrant blooms in late spring and summer and performs in similar conditions.
There is a huge range of hybrids of these pretty primroses from Central and Southern Africa, but all have tubular flowers above deeply veined leaves over a long period, from spring into autumn. 'Falling Stars' is lavender blue and 'Hope' is raspberry red. Remove old leaves in spring and don't re-pot too often.
- Position: Bright, indirect light (including east and north-facing windowsills, if sufficiently bright). 12 to 24°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Allow the top of the compost to dry out before watering; never leave the plant sitting in water. Add liquid tomato food once a month in spring and summer. Water very sparingly in winter.
- Height: 30 to 60cm.
- Width: 30 to 60cm.
- Similar: African violets (Streptocarpus ionanthus syn. Saintpaulia) need the same care and position and produce richly coloured blooms from spring to autumn.
This hemiepiphyte grows between the branches of trees in the Philippines. It has superb leaves that are heavily veined and, in spring and summer, it is hung with panicles of rosy bracts that resemble grapes. Give liquid food once a fortnight during the growing season. Re-pot in orchid compost every few years.
- Position: Bright, indirect light. 17 to 25°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Water from below when the compost has almost dried out.
- Height: 1m.
- Width: 1m.
- Similar: The flamingo flower (Anthurium) enjoys the same conditions and care and produces long-lasting spathes in bold shades, such as red and pink.
From the Eastern Himalayas, this begonia is ideal for a bright north or east-facing bathroom. The wonderful textured foliage is often maroon, pink, and silver with claret undersides, and, over a long period, sprays of small pink or white flowers bloom amongst it. There are umpteen varieties, such as 'Red Tempest'. Do not re-pot too often, as restriction stimulates flowering.
- Position: Bright, indirect light and good ventilation. 13 to 22°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Allow soil to dry out between watering and add liquid food during the growing season.
- Height: 30cm.
- Width: 30cm.
- Similar: Fantasy venice (Tradescantia cerinthoides 'Nanouk' AGM; syn. T. albiflora 'Nanouk') has lovely purple-pink leaves and small pink-white blooms and enjoys the same conditions and care.
Great plants for growing with children, these little succulents look like pebbles, which helps to protect them from being eaten by tortoises in their native Southern Africa. In summer and autumn, they produce white or bright-yellow daisy flowers. Feed once in summer.
- Position: A bright, sunny windowsill (but move out of scorching south-facing sun in midsummer). 10 to 27°C.
- Humidity: Low to average.
- Watering: Don't overwater (water is required when the leaves feel soft, especially when young). Water sparingly in winter, and don't water at all when the plant begins its winter growth.
- Height: 10cm.
- Width: 10cm.
- Similar: Just as weird and just as wonderful, fairy elephants' feet (Frithia pulchra AGM) bear pink winter flowers and appreciate the same conditions.
This elegant South African plant produces an architectural fan of dark-green leaves and, in spring and summer, bold-orange flowers on tall stems. It requires a winter hibernation period in a cooler place to stimulate flowering. It likes a snug pot, so only re-pot when necessary.
- Position: Bright, indirect light, well away from radiators. 16 to 23°C during growth (10°C in winter).
- Humidity: Average.
- Watering: Keep compost moist (but never saturated) during growth and add liquid feed once a month. Water very sparingly during its winter hibernation.
- Height: 60cm.
- Width: 50cm.
- Similar: The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri)– which is closely related to the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) – also likes a winter dormant period to stimulate its spring scarlet flowers and demands similar conditions.
Growing on trees in subtropical Asia, this climber is a great plant for a hanging pot in a bathroom or kitchen. In spring and summer, the blush flower clusters release perfume at night and drip with nectar in the mornings. The variety 'Tricolor' (often sold as Krimson Queen) has cream, green, and pink leaves.
- Position: Bright, indirect light. 17 to 24°C.
- Humidity: High.
- Watering: Water regularly during the growing season (and add liquid food fortnightly), but sparingly in winter.
- Height: 5m.
- Width: 2m.
- Similar: The red-flowered lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans AGM) is another epiphyte that does well in a hanging pot and likes the same conditions.
