As the sun gracefully arcs across the sky, south-facing windows bathe in the soft morning glow and the warm afternoon rays. This part of the house takes a front-row seat to the sun’s daily performance, making it an ideal place for plants to flourish.
In this article, we will uncover the top plants to place in south-facing windows. Whether you’re looking to turn your window sill into a masterpiece of natural elegance or bring someone a thoughtful green gift, this guide will help you choose which plant to get.
Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula
Origin: Mediterranean
Size: Up to about 2 feet tall
Light: Thrives in bright, direct light
Water: Once every two weeks
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
Lavender is an herb known for its fragrant purple spikes that bring a sense of tranquility and relaxation to any space. Its essential oils are believed to have calming properties, making it a popular choice for aromatherapy.
This plant is also used in perfumes, cosmetics, and even culinary delights.
It symbolizes purity, serenity, grace, calmness, elegance, and luxury.
Best use: The lavender is a perfect gift for birthdays or as a gesture of support during challenging times. Gifting someone a lavender is a thoughtful way to convey well-wishes and positive energy.
Snake Plant
Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata
Origin: West Africa
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light
Water: Once every two weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans if eaten
The snake plant stands tall and proud with its upright, sword-like leaves that are often deep green and marked with contrasting bands or patterns. The leaves are rigid and fleshy and can have a pointed or rounded tip, depending on the specific variety.
As the plant matures, it forms dense clusters of leaves that create a lush appearance. Snake plants are known to be excellent at purifying the air, making them both a functional and stylish choice for anyone.
These plants represent peace and tranquility, and in feng shui, they are believed to attract money, prosperity, and positive energy.
Best use: Snake plants are the perfect gifts for family and loved ones moving into a new home to express your wish for them to prosper in this new chapter of life.
Jasmine
Botanical Name: Jasminum
Origin: Asia
Size: Up to 20 feet in height
Light: At least 6 hours of bright indirect light daily
Water: 2 to 3 times in a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
Jasmine has an array of dainty flowers that infuse the air with a subtle, sweet fragrance. The flowers have a symmetrical design with slender petals that form a five-pointed star.
Jasmine’s glossy, dark green foliage and slender vines create a lush backdrop to the beauty of its blossoms, creating a visually harmonious composition.
Jasmine flowers symbolize love, purity, beauty, modesty, and sensuality.
Best use: These flowers are perfect gifts for birthdays, date nights, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and even Mother’s Day.
Chinese Money Plant
Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
Origin: China
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Once every 1 to 2 weeks
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
The Chinese money plant has a unique and captivating appearance with its smooth, coin-shaped leaves dangling delicately from thin, upright stems. It is a low-maintenance plant that does well with misting.
This plant is a symbol of wealth and generosity. It is believed that sharing shoots and cuttings of this plant is a way to share one’s wealth and attract it.
Best use: The Chinese money plant is a perfect gift for birthdays and for family and friends who just moved into a new home or started a new business venture.
Croton
Botanical Name: Codiaeum variegatum
Origin: Southeast Asia
Size: Up to 6 to 10 feet tall
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Toxic to pets and humans if eaten
Crotons are a burst of color and vibrancy with their eye-catching, unique, and stylish foliage. The leaves are usually large and leathery in a dazzling array of shades, including fiery reds, sunny yellows, deep greens, and rich oranges.
They have a striking variegation, featuring bold patterns, speckles, and veins. They can also take on various shapes, from elongated and narrow to broad and serrated which creates an even more dynamic appearance.
This tropical plant is not just a feast for the eyes; it also purifies the air, making it the perfect choice for those seeking both style and substance in their plant collection.
It stands for change and becoming a better version of yourself.
Best use: Because of its dynamic appearance, the croton plant is a perfect gift for artistic souls and those who appreciate colorful plants.
Because of its symbolism, it’s also perfect for someone who recently graduated or anyone embarking on a new chapter in their life.
Kalanchoe
Origin: Madagascar and tropical parts of Africa
Size: Up to 18 inches tall
Light: Thrives in bright, direct light
Water: Once every 2 to 3 weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if eaten
Kalanchoe is a succulent plant that has vibrant and long-lasting blooms with fleshy, oval-shaped leaves that form neat rosettes. It has thick, waxy leaves and the flowers often come in hues of pink, red, orange, or yellow.
This plant symbolizes persistence, affection, and eternal love. In feng shui, it is said to bring wealth and prosperity.
Best use: Since kalanchoe is a succulent plant, it’s a perfect gift for busy individuals who don’t have much time to look after plants.
Ponytail Palm
Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Origin: Southeastern Mexico
Size: Up to 6 feet tall indoors
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light
Water: Once every 2 weeks
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
The ponytail palm has elongated, green, arching leaves that cascade gracefully from a central point, resembling the locks of a stylish ponytail. This characteristic adds a touch of whimsy to any space.
The plant has a bulbous trunk that’s often swollen at the base that stores its water. Despite its name, the ponytail palm is not closely related to a true palm tree.
It symbolizes growth and is believed to promote harmony and break negative patterns for a happier life.
Best use: This plant is a great gift for individuals who are busy and can be forgetful when it comes to watering plants. It can also be an excellent gift to someone starting a new career or a promotion.
String of Hearts
Botanical Name: Ceropegia woodii
Origin: South Africa
Size: Up to 3 feet in height indoors
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Non-toxic to pets and humans
The string of hearts is a captivating trailing vine that enchants one’s eyes with its delicate and distinctive appearance. Its dainty, heart-shaped leaves that cascade in long strands create an elegant and graceful display.
This makes it perfect for hanging baskets or elevated surfaces.
The leaves come in shades of green with hints of silver or purple and hang from thin, wiry stems that form an attractive curtain of foliage.
The heart-shaped leaves of this plant are often seen as a symbol of love and affection.
Best use: The string of hearts can be a great gift for someone who lives in a home with a high ceiling for them to place the plant in hanging baskets.
Pencil Cactus
Botanical Name: Euphorbia tirucalli
Origin: Africa
Size: Up to 6 feet tall indoors
Light: Thrives in bright, direct light
Water: Once every 2 to 3 weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets
Unlike traditional cactus, the pencil cactus features thin, pencil-like stems that shoot upward, creating an intriguing and architectural silhouette. The stems give the impression of a cluster of slender pencils bundled together.
This succulent is known for its resilience and low-maintenance nature since it thrives in harsh conditions.
While lacking the traditional spines of a cactus, the pencil cactus has a modern and minimalist appeal that adds a touch of contemporary elegance to any indoor space.
Best use: The pencil cactus is an excellent choice for those seeking a unique and interesting addition to their plant collection.
Citrus Trees
Origin: Asia and Australia
Size: Up to 6 feet tall indoors
Light: Thrives in bright, direct light
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Can be toxic to pets if ingested
The citrus tree brings the invigorating scent of citrus into your living space and creates an atmosphere of natural freshness.
It is comprised of varieties such as lemon, orange, and lime. Its lush, glossy green foliage creates an evergreen backdrop for the star of the show—the aromatic, vibrant fruits that dangle like jewels from its branches.
Whether it’s the zesty aroma of a lemon or the sweet fragrance of an orange, the citrus tree brings a burst of flavor and energy into your home.
The citrus tree symbolizes growth, vitality, joy, abundance, success, and rejuvenation.
Best use: The citrus tree is the perfect gift to celebrate occasions like housewarmings or welcoming a new baby.
Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Origin: Arabian Peninsula
Size: Up to 3 feet in height
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Once every 2 to 3 weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
The aloe vera plant is both a decorative succulent and a healing wonder. Its thick, green, fleshy leaves are adorned with serrated edges that form a visually appealing rosette.
Aloe vera’s leaves contain a gel-like substance known for its soothing properties that make it a popular choice for natural skincare remedies. Even Queen Cleopatra herself was believed to have used this plant to care for her skin.
The aloe vera symbolizes beauty, healing, health, and protection.
Best use: This plant is the perfect gift for friends and family who love or have plant collections that can also be used for medicinal purposes.
Chinese Hibiscus
Botanical Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Origin: Tropical Asia
Size: Up to 16 feet tall
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight
Water: Once or twice a day
Toxicity: Toxic to pets if ingested
The Chinese hibiscus adds a splash of tropical vibrancy and elegance to any indoor space.
With its glossy, dark green leaves and large, trumpet-shaped flowers, this flowering plant is a true showstopper. It comes in a variety of colors, including reds, pinks, oranges, and yellows, with a protruding stamen at the center.
The Chinese hibiscus symbolizes courage, life, and beauty. It is also associated with fame, riches, glory, and glory.
Best use: This flower is a perfect gift for anyone who appreciates vibrant flowers with a lush and tropical look.
Geranium
Botanical Name: Pelargonium
Origin: Southern Africa and Australia
Size: Up to 24 inches tall
Light: Thrives in bright, direct light
Water: Twice a week
Toxicity: Mildly toxic to pets if ingested
Pelargoniums, more commonly known as geraniums, create a breath of botanical charm with their diverse and colorful blooms.
They feature clusters of vibrant, five-petaled flowers that come in an array of colors, including reds, pinks, whites, and purples. The leaves are often rounded with darker horseshoe-shaped zonal bands and a cottony appearance on both sides.
Geraniums symbolize happiness, friendship, and good health.
Best use: This flower is a perfect gift to celebrate friendship with someone or as a gesture to someone that you want to be friends with.
Jade Plant
Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
Origin: South Africa
Size: Up to 6 feet tall when grown indoors
Light: Thrives in bright, indirect light
Water: Once every 2 to 3 weeks
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested
The jade plant adds a touch of sophistication and positive energy to any space. Its compact and sturdy trunk looks like a miniature tree that gives rise to thick, fleshy oval leaves, often tinged with red along the edges.
It is known for its resilience and longevity and is seen as a symbol of prosperity, friendship, growth, and renewal.
In feng shui, the jade plants are believed to attract good luck, wealth, fortune, and success.
Best use: This plant is a fantastic gift for occasions like housewarming or when celebrating someone’s new business venture.
Anthurium
Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum
Origin: Colombia and Ecuador
Size: Up to 3 feet tall
Light: Thrives in medium to bright, indirect light
Water: Once a week
Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if eaten
The anthurium is a tropical flowering plant that is known for its heart-shaped, glossy leaves and exotic blooms.
The flowers are often in shades of red, pink, or white, and feature a glossy texture and an elongated spadix that extends from the center.
This tropical beauty has a luxurious appearance that makes it a living work of art, adding a touch of the extraordinary to any indoor space.
These flowers symbolize strength, perseverance, and hospitality. In feng shui, they represent good luck, love, and relationship.
Best use: Anthuriums are great gifts for different occasions such as housewarmings, birthdays, and even weddings.
