Have you ever brought home a new plant, set it in the perfect spot, and then waited… and waited… for it to actually do something? I’ve been there—excited for that lush, leafy look, only to be met with slow, stubborn growth.
If patience isn’t your strong suit (no judgment!), you’re not alone. The good news is, some houseplants are naturally fast growers, filling out quickly and giving you that full, jungle-like vibe in no time.
Here are 20 of the best plants that don’t make you wait forever to enjoy their leafy goodness.
1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
You’ll see noticeable growth within weeks of bringing this trailing beauty home. The vining stems quickly extend and branch out, especially when given something to climb on.
Pothos thrives in medium to bright indirect light but tolerates low light conditions too. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Pinching back the growing tips encourages branching for an even bushier appearance.
A single pothos plant can easily fill a hanging basket within months. When the vines get too long, simply snip them and stick the cuttings back into the soil for an instantly fuller plant – no rooting hormone needed!
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Few plants multiply themselves as efficiently as spider plants do. The arching stems produce baby plantlets that dangle like spiders, creating a full, cascading effect.
Place your spider plant in bright indirect light and water when the top soil feels dry. The curved, striped leaves grow quickly from the center, forming a dense clump. For maximum bushiness, leave the babies attached or pot them up around the mother plant.
Spider plants reach maturity in just 6-12 months. The fountain-like growth habit makes them perfect for shelves or hanging planters where their babies can dramatically spill over the sides.
3. Potted Herbs (Basil, Mint, Oregano)
Getting double duty from your plants makes growing herbs indoors especially rewarding. Regular harvesting actually stimulates more growth, creating bushier plants while providing fresh flavors for your kitchen.
Most culinary herbs need 6+ hours of bright light daily and consistent moisture. The secret to lush herb growth is frequent pinching – whenever you see a stem with 4-6 leaves, snip just above a leaf node. This encourages the plant to branch at that point.
Herbs like mint and basil can easily fill a 6-inch pot within a month of regular pruning. Group several different herbs together in a wide container for an instantly full look that’s both beautiful and functional.
4. Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)
The striking purple and silver striped leaves of this plant spread rapidly along trailing stems. What makes it exceptional is how quickly it fills out from just a few cuttings.
Tradescantia loves bright, indirect light which intensifies its coloration. Keep the soil lightly moist and mist occasionally to prevent leaf tip browning. When stems get leggy, simply snip them and poke them back into the soil where they’ll root within days.
A small 4-inch starter plant can transform into a cascading masterpiece in just 2-3 months. The stems naturally branch at each node, creating a fuller appearance without much effort on your part.
5. Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Unlike many fast growers that vine, prayer plants expand outward from the center, creating a naturally full silhouette. Their leaves fold up at night like hands in prayer, adding movement to your indoor garden.
These plants prefer medium indirect light and consistently moist (not soggy) soil. The humidity-loving nature means bathroom placement works wonderfully. As they mature, prayer plants send out multiple shoots from the base, quickly filling their containers.
Most varieties stay relatively compact at 10-12 inches tall but spread to 15+ inches wide. Their horizontal growth pattern means even a young plant appears fuller than upright varieties of the same age.
6. Philodendron Brasil
The heart-shaped leaves with yellow-green variegation make this plant stand out, but its growth rate is what will really impress you. New leaves unfurl every few days when conditions are right.
Growing best in medium to bright indirect light, this philodendron requires minimal care. Water when the top inch of soil dries out. Each stem produces multiple branches naturally, but pinching growing tips encourages even more branching for a bushier look.
A single plant can trail several feet within its first year. For a fuller appearance, wind the vines back into the pot rather than letting them hang, creating a mounded effect that makes the plant look twice as dense.
7. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Starting with just a few leaves, peace lilies quickly develop into rounded mounds of glossy foliage. The dark green leaves create a dramatic backdrop for the white spathe flowers that appear throughout the year.
Peace lilies prefer medium indirect light and like their soil to stay slightly moist. They’ll dramatically droop when thirsty but bounce back quickly after watering. As they mature, new growth emerges from the base, naturally creating a fuller appearance.
These plants typically reach 16-24 inches tall and wide within a year. For maximum fullness, look for varieties like ‘Sensation’ that naturally grow larger leaves or choose a multi-stemmed plant when purchasing.
8. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)
Gardeners often overlook coleus as an indoor option, but few plants match its speed and fullness. The brilliantly colored foliage creates instant impact while growing inches per week in good conditions.
Place coleus in bright indirect light to maintain vibrant colors. Pinch off flower spikes to redirect energy to leaf production. Regular pruning encourages branching – each cut stem will split into two new growing points, doubling your plant’s fullness with each trim.
A single coleus can fill an 8-inch pot within 8-10 weeks from a small starter plant. The naturally bushy growth habit means even young plants look substantial, making them perfect for impatient plant parents.
9. Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Vine)
Those distinctive holes develop even in young leaves, giving this plant immediate character. Unlike its larger cousin (Monstera deliciosa), the adansonii grows quickly into a full, trailing plant.
Provide bright indirect light and water when the top inch of soil dries out. The vining nature means it quickly spreads in all directions. Training multiple vines up a moss pole creates a fuller, more vertical display as the leaves grow larger when climbing.
Within 6 months, a small starter plant can produce several 3-foot vines with dozens of perforated leaves. For maximum bushiness, regularly prune longer vines and root the cuttings back in the same pot.
10. Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)
The pancake-shaped leaves on thin stems create a naturally full appearance even when the plant is young. Better yet, pileas produce baby plants around their base that pop up through the soil.
These quirky plants thrive in bright indirect light with weekly watering. Rotate your pilea regularly to ensure even growth, as it tends to lean toward light. No pruning is needed – the plant naturally branches as it matures.
A mature pilea reaches about 12 inches tall and wide within a year. For an instantly fuller look, leave the baby plants in place rather than separating them, creating a multi-generational family of coin-like leaves that fills the pot.
11. Swedish Ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus)
Despite its name, Swedish ivy isn’t actually ivy but grows just as rapidly. The cascading stems covered in scalloped leaves create a waterfall effect within weeks of planting.
This easy-going plant tolerates average indoor conditions and prefers to dry slightly between waterings. Regular pinching of stem tips encourages branching. Each cut point will typically produce 2-4 new stems, exponentially increasing the plant’s fullness.
Swedish ivy can easily grow 2-3 feet long in its first year. The stems naturally branch at nodes, creating a dense appearance without much intervention. For maximum bushiness, grow in a hanging basket where the weight of the stems creates a rounded, full shape.
12. Aluminum Plant (Pilea cadierei)
The metallic silver markings on deep green leaves make this plant immediately eye-catching. Its compact growth habit means it fills out horizontally rather than stretching upward.
Aluminum plants prefer bright indirect light and consistent moisture. The stems naturally branch at each node, creating a bushy appearance. Pinching back tall growth encourages even more branching and keeps the plant compact and full.
A small 4-inch starter can fill a 6-inch pot within 3-4 months. The plant typically stays under 12 inches tall but spreads wider, creating a mounded shape that looks substantial even in its youth.
13. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
Young arrowhead plants grow upright before eventually trailing, giving you two distinct growth phases to enjoy. The arrow-shaped leaves emerge quickly, with new growth appearing weekly in good conditions.
These adaptable plants grow in low to bright indirect light, preferring consistent moisture. As they mature, they naturally branch at the base. Pinching growing tips encourages even bushier growth, with each cut point producing multiple new stems.
A single plant can fill an 8-inch pot within 6 months. The variegated varieties like ‘White Butterfly’ grow just as quickly as the solid green types while adding visual interest with their cream and green patterned leaves.
14. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Classic ivy brings immediate structure to any indoor space. The fast-growing vines can add several inches weekly, quickly creating a lush, cascading effect.
English ivy prefers cooler temperatures and bright indirect light. Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Training multiple vines in different directions creates fullness faster than letting them all trail in one direction.
Within 3-4 months, ivy can trail 2-3 feet from its pot. For a bushier appearance, wind longer vines back into the pot or trim them to encourage branching. Variegated varieties grow slightly slower but offer more visual interest with their cream and green patterning.
15. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
The fiery foliage colors intensify as crotons mature, rewarding your patience with a rainbow display. These tropical beauties naturally grow in a bushy, tree-like form.
Crotons demand bright light – even some direct morning sun – to maintain their vibrant colors and grow quickly. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Crotons naturally branch as they grow taller, but pinching the growing tips encourages additional branching for a fuller appearance.
A young plant can develop into a 2-foot tall bush within a year. The leaf size and color intensity improve with age, making mature plants substantially more impressive than young ones.
16. Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Few plants match the polka dot plant’s speed from tiny starter to bushy statement. The pink or white speckled leaves create an immediate splash of color while growing remarkably quickly.
These plants thrive in bright indirect light and consistently moist soil. Pinching is essential – without regular trimming, they become leggy. Each time you pinch the stem tips, the plant branches at that point, doubling your leaf count within weeks.
A single plant can fill a 6-inch pot within just 2 months. Their naturally compact growth habit (usually 12-18 inches tall and wide) makes them perfect for tabletops or shelves where their spotted foliage can be appreciated up close.
17. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
Unlike most fast-growing houseplants that spread outward, rubber plants shoot upward rapidly. A young plant can add 24 inches of height in a single growing season, with each new leaf larger than the last.
Place your rubber plant in bright indirect light, turning regularly to ensure even growth. Water when the top two inches of soil dry out. For bushier growth, prune the top growing point – this encourages branching below the cut.
The large, glossy leaves (often 8-12 inches long when mature) create substantial visual impact even when the plant is young. Burgundy varieties like ‘Ruby’ or ‘Burgundy’ grow just as quickly as the green types while adding rich color.
18. Baby Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Creating a carpet-like effect, baby tears grows outward rather than upward. The tiny round leaves on threadlike stems create a moss-like appearance that fills containers completely.
This plant loves humidity and consistently moist soil. Bright indirect light promotes the densest growth. No pruning is needed as the plant naturally spreads to fill available space, growing over the edges of containers in a waterfall effect.
A small 2-inch plug can completely fill an 8-inch container within 3-4 months. The diminutive size of each leaf (less than 1/4 inch) creates an incredibly dense texture that looks full even when the plant is young.
19. African Violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
Compact growth makes African violets appear full even when young. The rosette formation naturally creates a dense mound of fuzzy leaves that supports continuous blooming.
These classic houseplants prefer bright indirect light and bottom watering to prevent leaf spotting. The key to bushiness is proper light – when receiving adequate brightness from all sides, they produce multiple crowns that fill out the pot.
Most varieties reach their full 6-8 inch diameter within 6-8 months. The overlapping leaf pattern creates a naturally full appearance, while the near-constant flowering adds another dimension of fullness with blooms held just above the foliage.
20. Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
The intricate vein patterns on fittonia leaves draw immediate attention, while their spreading growth habit quickly fills containers. These low-growing plants naturally form dense mats of colorful foliage.
Fittonias thrive in high humidity and indirect light. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Pinching longer stems encourages branching and helps maintain the plant’s compact shape, though they naturally spread to fill their containers.
A small starter plant can cover the surface of a 6-inch pot within 3-4 months. The maximum height of 3-6 inches means their growth energy goes into spreading rather than getting taller, creating a naturally full appearance.