If you want to make a commitment to something, start with plants that have unusually long lives.
Every single one from this list will make it to at least 10 years of age. Not only that – they are quite easy to care for. This makes them perfect for novices and busy beavers.
Some of them have superpowers, while others look stunning in every location.
Here are my 15 top choices (although, there are a lot more)!
Let’s get started!
#1 Aglaonema
If you’re like me, then you love to have options. That’s why I love this plant. There are many aglaonema species you can choose from.
And the best part about them is that pink, green, creamy, and gray plants all have the exact same needs. Give them a lot of indirect light, occasional watering and feeding, and prune them when they get too big, leggy, or discolored.
This is all you need to do if you want your aglaonema to reach its full potential and last for over 30 years.
Yes, it can last for an entire generation!
#2 Cast Iron Plant
I have to admit, I wasn’t the most avid fan of cast iron plants. Their looks have never appealed to me.
Recently, something changed. The more I looked at it, the more I realized how amazing it is. It can purify the air (a bit), it doesn’t need too much care, and it can grow in low light.
But that’s not its only superpower! You can find the cast iron plant on the list of plants that prevent mold.
And to top it all off, cast iron plants can last for 50 years and beyond. Maybe the one I have outlives me!
#3 Christmas Cactus
Christmas cactus blossoms are everything I wished for these holidays – and everything I gained.
With proper care, you can expect this plant to live and bloom for 20-30 years. Make sure you prune your Christmas cactus, give it plenty of light, a little bit of water, and it will flourish.
#4 English Ivy
English ivy is one of the best plants for rooms without windows because it can flourish in low-light levels.
But that’s not all it has to offer. This beauty can live up to a hundred years (although, there’s been records of certain plants with more than 400 years of age). (1)
Now, that’s impressive!
P.S. English ivy is toxic to pets and invasive in many parts of the US. Keep it in pots and you won’t cause any harm to your ecosystem.
#5 Ficus (Rubber Tree)
Ficus is one of the most appreciative indoor trees out there. It doesn’t need a lot to grow big and strong.
Yet, it can get unwell. There are several reasons your ficus tree might be dropping leaves, so make sure you give it everything it needs for a long lifespan.
This rubber tree can live for up to 20 years if you grow it indoors all the time, up to 40 if you keep it outdoors and take it indoors over winter, and over a hundred years old when in its native habitat!
#6 Hoya
What I love about this plant is that there are countless hoya varieties you can choose from. Find the one you like the most, and you’ll be able to enjoy its leaves and flowers for up to 30 years.
Indoor-grown plants live longer, especially if you give them everything they need. Irrigate them once the top part of the mix is dry, give them plenty of indirect sunlight, and repot them from time to time.
#7 Jade Plant
I have a love-hate relationship with this one. Don’t get me wrong, jade plants are adorable and so easy to care for.
Yet, I always do something that sets them off. Some Jade plant tips I wish I knew sooner are that you do need to water it often and give it plenty of light.
Do this, and you may be one of the lucky ones whose jade plant can live up to 50-100 years of age. That’s not so bad, is it?
#8 Monstera
Monsteras can get huge! That’s why you have to find a spot that can house this monster.
The good news is that monstera plant care isn’t too complicated. Give them plenty of indirect sunlight, water when the top part of the growing medium is dry, occasional repotting, and infrequent feeding.
With a little bit of luck and nurturing, your monstera can live for 40 years. No wonder everyone thinks of them as heirloom plants!
#9 Philodendron
I remember refusing to get a philodendron for years. I thought these plants were too mainstream. But when I stopped being so petty, I realized how amazing they actually are!
Philodendron plant care is simple to follow. Give them some moisture once the topsoil is dry and expose them to indirect light.
Do these two things and your plant will live to be 20 years old. Repot and fertilize it from time to time, and you may even extend its lifespan for a decade or longer.
#10 Ponytail Palm
If you want a compact tree for your home, then the ponytail palm is the way to go. It is one of the best indoor palm trees that can improve your home decor (even though it’s not a true palm).
This plant is, in fact, a succulent. That means you have to provide it with a loose and draining soil mix, plenty of sunlight, and a little bit of water for proper growth.
Do these things, and you’re more than likely to see your ponytail palm live for several decades, and up to a hundred years when grown outdoors in the right conditions.
#11 Pothos
Pothos is one of my favorite houseplants. With just a little care, you’ll be able to enjoy its heart-shaped, colorful leaves for 5-10 years on average.
Yet, if you meet all its needs, it can live a lot longer than this. I firmly believe that it is immortal as long as we don’t do something that can kill it.
Make sure to prune your pothos to encourage new growth, keep it in a well-drained potting soil, and expose it to bright indirect light.
#12 Sago Palm
If you want this plant to thrive, make sure to use potting soil for palm trees. It will ensure it gets all the nutrients, drainage, and moisture retention the sago needs.
Give it plenty of sunlight and water when the top part of the growing medium is dry.
Do all this, and your sago palm will be able to last for 200 hundred years. That’s a little less than 10 generations. No one can say that’s not impressive!
#13 Snake Plant
One of the things I love about snake plants is that you can neglect them for weeks and they will still flourish. The average lifespan of this beauty is 10-25 years, depending on how well you take care of it.
You can grow your snake plant in water or in a well-drained soil mix, and that’s it. It doesn’t need that much water or sunlight to shine.
#14 Spider Plant
The spider plant care guide is more than simple. Ensure you don’t overwater it, plant it in a soil mix with great drainage, and that’s it.
The good news is that once you get this plant, chances are it will outlive you. Provide it with suitable care, and it will flourish for 20-50 years.
And even if it does start to wither, you can always propagate the countless plantlets it pushes out and grow yourself a new plant.
#15 ZZ Plant
I saved the best one for last. I love ZZ plants. They require virtually no care. When you examine the ZZ plant care guide, you’ll see you have to repot them rarely, never prune them, give them any kind of light other than direct afternoon sunlight, and irrigate just once or twice a month.
What more could we ask for?
Do all this (or rather nothing), and your ZZ plant will live for at least 10 years, although it can surpass this lifespan easily with proper care.
References:
1. BMP ENGLISH IVY (Hedera helix) (n.d.). Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District.