12 Popular African Houseplants that Everybody Wants To Grow | African Indoor Plants

Ralph Astley is a retired gardener from Philadelphia who specializes in outdoor plants and trees. With years of hands-on experience, Ralph not only cares for a diverse range of outdoor flora but also shares his extensive knowledge through well-written articles and social media posts. A trusted authority in arboriculture, he's committed to helping the community grow healthier, more robust gardens.
Learn About Our Editorial Policy

2-Minute Read

Here are easy to grow and Most Popular African Houseplants that can introduce to your houseplant collection for a vibrant display!

These are the Most Popular African Houseplants that are also high in demand thanks to their care-free and easy-to-grow nature.

Have a look at the best Australian houseplants here


Most Popular African Houseplants

1. Cylindrical Snake Plant

Most Popular African Houseplants

Botanical Name: Sansevieria cylindrica

Originated in Central Africa, especially Angola, it is a beautiful specimen with its spears-like foliage that also looks like starfish. You can grow it in partial to full sun in a succulent potting mix.

2. ZZ Plant

Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Native to East Africa, this hard-to-kill houseplant can survive in extreme conditions. It prefers dry, well-draining soil and indirect light. The plant also offers several benefits that you can check out here

Check out our article on propagating ZZ Plant here

3. Spider Plant

Most Popular African Houseplants 2

Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum

The spider plant belongs to south and west Africa and features long, slender foliage green-white foliage that hangs beautifully from the rims of the container. It prefers bright, indirect sunlight and moist soil. Check different spider plant varieties here.

Read about several spider plant benefits here

4. Mother-in-law’s Tongue

bloomscape

Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata

Snake plants are indigenous to the tropics of West Africa, from east Nigeria to the Congo. They are easy-to-grow, low-maintenance, and do well in low-light conditions. Check out the best snake plant varieties here.

Have a look at snake plant benefits proven in research here

5. Giant Bird of Paradise

Most Popular African Houseplants 3

Botanical Name: Strelitzia nicolai

This beautiful houseplant is native to the forests of eastern South Africa. It grows slowly and makes for an elegant display with beautiful white flowers with contrasting grey-green foliage. It prefers full sun to partial shade.

Find out the best bird of paradise varieties here

6. African Violet

living4media

Botanical Name: Saintpaulia

Native to the eastern arc mountains of Tanzania and southern Kenya, the flower has become a top choice for indoor plants as it is available in many varieties! The common type has purple flowers over fuzzy green leaves.

Check out our article on growing African violets here

7. Dragon Tree

Most Popular African Houseplants 4

Botanical Name: Dracaena marginata

Most of the dracaena varieties are native to Africa. The dragon tree features narrow green leaves with red margins. It improves indoor air quality and removes various toxins from the surroundings. Check out the best dracaena varieties here.

Have a look at the dracaena plant benefits here

8. Jade Plant

Botanical Name: Crassula ovata

Also known as a money tree, this succulent is native to the KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique, and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. It is easy to maintain and looks great with its plump leaves. Check out its growing details here.

Find the best crassula ovata varieties here

9. Fiddle Leaf Fig

Most Popular African Houseplants 5
torontoparadiseplants

Botanical Name: Ficus lyrata

Fiddle Leaf Fig comes from western Africa. As a houseplant, it does not become too large indoors and shows off glossy green leaves with yellow veins.

Here’s all you need to know about growing fiddle leaf fig

10. African Aloe

shutterstock/Hansie Oosthuizen

Botanical Name: Aloe africana

The plant belongs to North Africa and the Canary Islands. There are many aloe varieties available for containers and it also offers many benefits that you can check out here.

11. Zebra Plant

Most Popular African Houseplants 6
nos_plantes

Botanical Name: Haworthiopsis fasciata ‘Zebra Plant’

The small succulent of the haworthia genus is native to South Africa. It is popular for white-striped patterns that resemble a zebra’s skin. Check out our article on haworthia care here.

Have a look at different haworthia for small spaces here

12. South African Geranium

elenadeshmukh

Botanical Name: Pelargonium sidoides

Also famous as black geranium, it is a herb used for cough and cold remedies. It does well in full sun to partial light and grows mauve flowers.

Here’s a list of the Houseplants You Can Borrow From Friends and Grow for Free

Recent Posts

Join our 3 Million Followers:

[easy-followers hide_title="yes" new_window="yes" nofollow="yes" show_total="no" total_type="text_before" columns="3" template="roundcolor" nospace="no" hide_value="no" hide_text="no"]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here