The 11 Best Office Plants to Liven Up Your Workspace

Fresh air with minimal maintenance

Office plants are literally a breath of fresh air in any working environment. Research shows these biological powerhouses can lead to improved emotional states, fewer negative moods, less frequent distractions, increased creativity and improved work performance. But dim office environments and busy work schedules don’t always create good growing conditions. 

If you're looking for office plants that don't need sunlight (or at least not too much), you've come to the right place. We’ve collected some of the most no-fuss plants around so you can ensure a pleasant work environment with next to no gardening. (And while you’re sprucing up your workplace, check out these other office decor ideas.)

The best office plants

Snake plant

• Light: Any, but less light will lead to a smaller plant. Outside of a sealed box, the snake plant will grow anywhere
• Water: Once every two to three weeks
• Toxicity: Children, cats and dogs

The snake plant, also known as the Dracaena, gets its name from the shape of its leaves. Snake plants come in several sizes and all of them need very little water. If you’re looking for the easiest maintenance office plants can offer, try to find a dwarf variety, such as the Futura Superba or Whitney.

Spider plant

• Light: Bright and indirect
• Water: Around once a week—if the leaves start to brown, scale back your watering
• Toxicity: None

Spider plants are ideal office plants for their striking appearance, small demands and air-purifying abilities. Even NASA has found they’re extremely effective at removing toxic chemicals from the environment.

Pothos

• Light: Low, indirect
• Water: Once every two weeks
• Toxicity: Cats and dogs

The pothos is the indoor plant of choice for offices, homes and apartments around the country. This fast-growing plant with heart-shaped leaves can go from a cutting to a trailing length of vines in as fast as a day—or a few months at most. And if it ever gets too long, you can just cut the ends off with scissors. Those cuttings can even grow into new plants if propagated, leading to ever more greenery. 

Peace lily

• Light: Bright, indirect
• Water: Once every week or two
• Toxicity: Children, cats and dogs

Peace lilies are also known as white sails because of their broad white flowers. They’re native to rainforests and, accordingly, prefer moist environments. Still, they can thrive in lots of different climates and live for several years.

ZZ plant

• Light: Bright, indirect
• Water: Once every week or two
• Toxicity: Cats and dogs

The ZZ plant, or Zamioculas zamifolia, grows a striking ladder of leaves covered in a waxy sheen. They’re native to Africa, so they do well in relatively low humidity. They’re particularly well-suited as office plants because they can thrive even when a fluorescent bulb is their only light source.

Chinese evergreen

• Light: Indirect or low
• Water: Every week or so
• Toxicity: Cats and dogs

Chinese evergreens come in several varieties and all have incredibly striking leaves. Some, such as the Maria, have an elegant green and off-white pattern. Others are bright pink, as with the aptly named Lady Valentine. Generally, the more exotic colors require more light. But no matter the variety, they can produce white flowers similar to those of peace lilies.

Tillandsia

• Light: Bright fluorescent or indirect
• Water: Once a week
• Toxicity: None

Air plants, or Tillandsia, live in pots suspended in midair and use their leaves to collect moisture from the air around them. In an office setting, where the humidity tends to be lower thanks to heating and air conditioning, they need a little help—a nice misting will keep them happy.

Money tree

• Light: Bright, indirect
• Water: Once every one to two weeks
• Toxicity: None

Every business is on the hunt for prosperity, abundance and good fortune. Why not fill the office with symbols of those goals? With the money tree, that connection is right there in the name. Native to Central and South America, this tree can reach up to 6 feet tall indoors and up to 60 in the wild, with glossy leaves running up and down.

Cacti

• Light: Medium, indirect
• Water: Once every few weeks
• Toxicity: None, but watch out for spines

Cacti are classic picks for office plants because of their drought resistance. The come in a wide variety and are typically split into two categories: desert cacti with spines or hairs and forest cacti that come from humid, tropical regions. Both can excel as office plants.

Nerve plant

• Light: Low to medium
• Water: Once a week, or when it droops
• Toxicity: None

Nerve plants, or Fittonia, get their common name from the intricate patterns that run through the leaves. If you’re looking for dramatic pinks, try a Fortissimo or Red Star variety. But be warned: the more vibrant the reds, the more light they’ll need. As for water, the nerve plant has a reputation as a drama queen: when you see it droop, you’ll know it’s time for a drink.

Lucky bamboo

• Light: Low or bright indirect
• Water: Once a week
• Toxicity: Cats and dogs

Ready to be confused? The lucky bamboo plant isn’t actually related to bamboo at all. It just looks like it. In fact, Dracaena sanderiana is more closely related to the corn plant, which is unrelated to the thing we eat with butter and salt (that’s maize). Confusing origins aside, lucky bamboo can grow without soil as long as its stem is submerged in water. If you go the soil-free route, make sure the stems never peek above the waterline.

Stay in the green with Walmart Business+

Running an office is hard enough without learning to garden. Office plants should bring serenity, not additional stress. If you’re looking for a smoother shopping experience, you’re looking for Walmart Business+. With free shipping, no order minimum¹; free delivery from store, $35 minimum²;  2% in Walmart Business Rewards on orders $250 or more³, Walmart Business+ has the tools to help you put more green in your office—in more ways than one. 

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges.  

²Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.  

³Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.