8 Indoor Vining Plants That Add Vertical Interest to Your Home

string of hearts — Photo:
Suphanni Chongmithom/Getty Images

There are plant lovers and there are plant lovers. You know the type—they favorite gift for any holiday is a new houseplant and they already have one in every corner of their home. For phytophiles who can’t get enough of their indoor jungle, the walls or ceilings of their home provide generous real estate for new additions. And there's nothing that helps bring more life to your interior design than a wall that's literally climbing with vines.

Fortunately, there are plenty of vining plants that will thrive indoors, acting as an easy way to add vertical interest—and a back-to-nature appeal—to your home. Below, we’re rounding up some of the best options, from low-maintenance pothos to eye-catching spiderwort, to dress up your home with more lively touches.

01 of 08

Pothos

When most people imagine an indoor vining plant, they probably picture a pothos first. The perennially popular plant is quick-growing and low-maintenance, making it a great option for newbies and plant pros alike. Pothos plants boast generous leaves, with unique striations in white, yellow, and various shades of green. Its stems are thick and sturdy, so it’s easy to twine it onto a nearby shelf or train it up the wall with hooks without worrying about damaging the plant.

02 of 08

Hoya Carnosa (Wax Plant)

Beloved for its rich green leaves and shiny finish, hoya is a great vining plant option for homeowners who look for varietals with subtle sophistication. Instead of boho or jungle-like, hoya skews a bit more modern, with thin vines that almost disappear against the walls or furniture. Bonus: This beauty is non-toxic, so your pets are safe during any nibbling encounters.

03 of 08

Arrowhead Plant

Arrowhead Vine — Penpak Ngamsathain/Getty Images

Looking for a plant that can thrive in your dimly lit office or windowless bathroom? Look no further than arrowhead, a low-light-tolerant vining plant that touts unique shades of pale green, emerald, and mauve. True to its name, arrowhead’s leaves have a distinct pointed shape, with a shape that starts out compact and begins to sprawl, easily climbing with help from a pole or hooks.

04 of 08

English Ivy

English ivy got a bad rap in the ‘80s and ‘90s when everyone and their mother had a faux version that crinkled at the slightest jostle. Well, we have good news: The real deal is so much better—and it’s pretty easy to care for! A vigorous grower, English ivy will is quick to fill an empty wall or frame a window with its beautiful lobed leaves and rich green pigment. A word of warning: You’ll need to stay on top of this one lest it get out of control—don’t be afraid to prune it regularly.

05 of 08

Spiderwort

Tradescantia Zebrina — Cn0ra/Getty Images

This unique vining plant lives up to its eerie name, with a color palette that ranges from deep green to fuschia and burgundy. It appears beautifully dense until it begins to branch out, growing about an inch a week. Make sure to clear off any dead leaves often, and keep this one out of the reach of curious critters—some varietals can be dangerous for pets.

06 of 08

String of Hearts

If your design style swings toward cottagecore or coastal grandmother, you’ll love the delicate nature and charming appeal of the string of hearts plant. This wispy vining specimen is best known for its heart-shaped leaves and gangly nature, growing up to 12 feet long. Keep in mind, this pick is more delicate than most, so while its vines are a great way to add visual interest, they’re best left dangling off a high shelf instead of attached to the wall.

07 of 08

Creeping Fig

Ficus Pumila — Ekaterina Fedulyeva/Getty Images

Cousin to the notoriously finicky fiddle leaf fig, the creeping fig is decidedly easier to care for—and much more compact. With bitsy leaves and thin stems, creeping fig looks great styled into a basket or trailing up a trellis or series of wall hooks. This eager grower will perform enthusiastically for a few years, but it does have a shorter lifespan than most. To ensure you always have a stock at home, you can propagate new plant babies from its cuttings.

08 of 08

Heartleaf Philodendron

Another easy-growing and popular pick, heartleaf philodendron can be found at almost any plant store, making it a great species to buy or gift to a fellow plant-lover. With it, you can spread the love around your home, styling it into almost any scenario, from the top shelf of a bookshelf to a boho macrame plant hanger. Warning: Heartleaf Philodendron is toxic to pets, so make sure you keep your dog or cat far away.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!