By Fish Bazaar · Updated 22 October 2026 · 14 min read
Indoor plant names are easiest to learn by shape: heart-shaped trailing leaves are money plant (pothos), upright sword leaves are snake plant, feathery fronds are areca or parlor palm, a rosette with a water-holding central cup is a bromeliad, and a silvery tuft with no soil is an air plant (Tillandsia). Below are 30 common indoor plants with their common and botanical names, how to recognise each, and whether the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick answer: Look at the growth habit first (trailing, upright, palm, rosette), then the leaf shape, then confirm the botanical name on the label. Common names overlap badly: “money plant” alone can mean four different species, so always use the botanical name when you check pet safety.
About this guide: Written by the Fish Bazaar plant team. Fish Bazaar is an India-based seller of live bromeliads and air plants (Dombivali West, Maharashtra), so we handle, pack and ship these plants ourselves and we sell what we recommend; we say so wherever it applies. Last updated: 22 October 2026.
Orders are processed within 7 business days, we share a video of your plants before dispatch and send tracking on WhatsApp.
Key takeaways
- Shape narrows the name fastest. The leaf-shape table in this guide takes you from what you see to a short list of names.
- Common names are unreliable. Money plant, lucky plant and “palm” each cover several unrelated species, so botanical names matter for care and pet safety.
- In India, “money plant” usually means pothos (Epipremnum aureum), but money tree, jade plant and Chinese money plant are different plants with the same nickname.
- Bromeliads are the group most often sold without names. Neoregelia, Aechmea, Billbergia, Vriesea, Cryptanthus, Tillandsia and Alcantarea are covered here with price starting points.
- Pet safety follows the species. The ASPCA lists pothos, snake plant, peace lily and monstera as toxic to pets, and spider plant, parlor palm, areca palm and calathea as non-toxic.
- Photos can mislead. Many houseplants have look-alikes, so confirm with a label, a nursery or a second source before you rely on an app result.
In this guide
- How to identify an indoor plant
- Leaf shape to plant name table
- Trailing and climbing plants (1 to 4)
- Upright foliage plants (5 to 11)
- Palms and ferns (12 to 14)
- Flowering plants (15 to 18)
- Succulents, spider plant and more (19 to 23)
- Money plant name: which plant is it?
- Indoor plants by leaf colour
- Bromeliad names (24 to 30)
- Air plant names
- How to read a plant label
- Pet safety by name
- Lucky plant names
- Where names go wrong
- Choosing a plant from its name
- Your questions answered
How to identify an indoor plant by name
Naming a houseplant is a short elimination exercise. Work through these four checks in order and stop when the options drop to two or three.
- Growth habit. Does it trail or climb, stand upright, form a palm-like crown, sit as a flat rosette, or grow from a swollen base? Habit alone separates pothos from snake plant and a Neoregelia from a fern.
- Leaf shape and edge. Heart, sword, oval, lobed, split, feathery or strappy? Smooth edges point to different plants than toothed or spiny edges (spines suggest Aechmea or aloe).
- Pattern and colour. Variegation, silver banding, red undersides and stripes are strong clues; the colour table later in this guide groups plants this way.
- Flower or label. A white spathe suggests peace lily, a glossy red or pink spathe suggests anthurium, and a tag showing the genus settles the rest. Tags can be wrong, so cross-check.
If you are still choosing what to buy rather than naming a plant you already own, the best indoor plants for home in India list is organised by room, and the complete guide to indoor plants in India shows the whole decision path.
Leaf shape to plant name: a quick lookup table
Use this table when you can see the plant but have no name. It lists the most likely common names for each shape and the look-alike to rule out. It includes a few extra plants (cast iron plant, money tree, Chinese money plant, ponytail palm and croton) that are not in the numbered list below but are often mistaken for ones that are.
| What you see | Most likely names | Look-alike to rule out |
|---|---|---|
| Heart-shaped leaves on a trailing vine | Money plant (pothos), heartleaf philodendron | Pothos has waxy, uneven, often variegated leaves; heartleaf philodendron is softer, plain green and sheds papery sheaths at the nodes |
| Stiff, upright, sword-like leaves | Snake plant, with dracaena as a taller cousin | Snake plant leaves rise directly from the soil; dracaena leaves sit on a woody cane |
| Huge leaves with splits and holes | Monstera (Swiss cheese plant) | Young monstera leaves are solid; splits appear as the plant matures |
| Large, violin-shaped, veined leaves | Fiddle leaf fig | Rubber plant has smooth, oval leaves with a central midrib and no violin waist |
| Thick, glossy, oval leaves | Rubber plant, ZZ plant | ZZ plant has many small oval leaflets along an arching stem; rubber plant has one large leaf per node |
| Long dark leaves rising straight from the soil | Cast iron plant (Aspidistra), peace lily | Peace lily gives white spathes; cast iron plant is plain dark green and almost never flowers indoors |
| Round coin-shaped leaves on thin stalks | Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) | Jade plant has thick, succulent, oval leaves on woody stems |
| Plump, oval, succulent leaves on woody stems | Jade plant | Aloe is a spiky rosette; jade is branching and tree-like |
| Thick, spiky rosette of fleshy leaves | Aloe vera | Agave is larger and sharper; some Aechmea look similar but have a central cup |
| Feathery arching fronds on cane-like stems | Areca palm, parlor palm | Areca clumps are taller with many stems; parlor palm is smaller with a single, thinner stem |
| Swollen, bulb-like trunk base with a leaf fountain | Ponytail palm | It is not a true palm; areca palm has no swollen base |
| Soft, lacy, arching fronds without a stem | Boston fern | Ferns have fronds that unfurl from a coil and often show spore dots underneath |
| Arching striped leaves with dangling baby plants | Spider plant | Nothing else makes the long runners with plantlets |
| Painted, patterned leaves that fold up at night | Calathea | Many are now filed under Goeppertia; the pattern and night folding are the giveaway |
| Braided trunk topped with palm-like leaf clusters | Money tree (Pachira aquatica) | The braid is formed by training several seedlings, not natural growth |
| Beads on a thin trailing stem | String of pearls | String of hearts has heart-shaped leaves; see the hanging plants guide |
| Flat rosette with a water-holding central cup and bold colour | Neoregelia, Aechmea, Billbergia, Vriesea | Check the leaf edge: spines mean Aechmea; soft edges suggest Neoregelia or Vriesea |
| Flat, wavy, star-shaped plant with no cup | Cryptanthus (earth star) | It is a ground bromeliad, so it looks like a flat star and not a vase |
| Silvery grey tuft with no soil, often on wood or a shell | Tillandsia (air plant) | Check the roots: air plants have only wiry anchor roots |
| Red, pink or bronze leaves on a bushy stem | Croton, red Aglaonema | Neoregelia is the red-leaved rosette; croton is a woody shrub |
The same shape logic also drives the room guides: tall silhouettes are covered in big and tall indoor plants, and trailing forms in hanging indoor plants and vines.
Trailing and climbing indoor plants with names (1 to 4)
Vines are the easiest plants to name wrongly because several have heart-shaped leaves. Pothos and philodendron are separate genera, English ivy is a woody climber, and string of pearls is a succulent. All four are listed as toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.
| # | Common name | Botanical name | How to recognise it | ASPCA listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Money plant, pothos, devil’s ivy | Epipremnum aureum | Waxy heart-shaped leaves, often splashed with yellow, cream or white; leaves are uneven at the base and end in a point | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 2 | Heartleaf philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Softer, thinner, glossy heart-shaped leaves, usually plain green, with papery sheaths that dry at the nodes | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 3 | English ivy | Hedera helix | Lobed, pointed leaves with pale veins on woody trailing stems | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 4 | String of pearls | Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus) | Round bead-like leaves on thin trailing stems, each with a tiny point | Toxic to dogs and cats |
Pothos is the plant behind the most popular nickname in Indian homes. Its varieties (Golden, Marble Queen, Neon and others) and its problems are covered in the money plant and pothos care guide. For beginner-friendly trailing options see easy low-maintenance indoor plants.
Upright foliage plants with names (5 to 11)
These are the architectural plants: the ones that give a corner height and a clean outline. They are also the group where “one name” often hides several species, such as the many dracaenas and the dozens of rubber plant colour forms.
| # | Common name | Botanical name | How to recognise it | ASPCA listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue | Dracaena trifasciata (sold as Sansevieria trifasciata) | Stiff upright sword leaves with grey-green cross-bands, often with yellow edges | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 6 | ZZ plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Glossy, waxy oval leaflets in pairs along arching stems from a thick rhizome | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 7 | Rubber plant | Ficus elastica | Thick, glossy, oval leaves; new leaves unfurl from a pink or red sheath. Burgundy forms are darker | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 8 | Dracaena (corn plant, dragon tree) | Dracaena fragrans, D. marginata | Woody cane topped with strappy leaves; corn plant has broad striped leaves, dragon tree has thin red-edged ones | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 9 | Chinese evergreen | Aglaonema species | Oval leaves with silver, pink or red patterns on short stems | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 10 | Monstera, Swiss cheese plant | Monstera deliciosa | Large heart-shaped leaves that develop deep splits and holes as the plant matures | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 11 | Fiddle leaf fig | Ficus lyrata | Very large, violin-shaped, strongly veined leaves on an upright trunk | Toxic to dogs and cats |
Monstera has its own detailed guide: monstera care in India. If you want a dim-room plant from this group, snake plant, ZZ plant and Chinese evergreen are the usual picks, with the honest limits explained in indoor plants for low light.
Palms and ferns with names (12 to 14)
Feathery plants are the easiest to confuse with each other. Look at stems and frond structure: palms have cane-like or trunk-like stems and fronds divided into leaflets, while ferns grow fronds straight from the soil. These three are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA, which is why they appear so often in pet homes.
| # | Common name | Botanical name | How to recognise it | ASPCA listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Areca palm, golden cane palm, butterfly palm | Dypsis lutescens | Clumping, tall, with yellow-green arching fronds on several cane-like stems | Listed non-toxic |
| 13 | Parlor palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Compact palm, slim single stems, deep green arching fronds; stays small indoors | Listed non-toxic |
| 14 | Boston fern | Nephrolepis exaltata | Lacy, arching, sword-shaped fronds that grow directly from the soil | Listed non-toxic |
The care of areca palm and the other most-purchased plants is compared on one page in money plant, snake plant, peace lily and areca palm care. For help with water and mix, the guide to how to water indoor plants covers the finger test.
Flowering indoor plants with names (15 to 18)
Flowers make naming easy, but the showy part is often not a petal. Peace lily and anthurium both display a modified leaf called a spathe around a small flower spike. Orchids and African violets have true petals.
| # | Common name | Botanical name | How to recognise it | ASPCA listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Peace lily | Spathiphyllum species | Dark glossy leaves with a white spathe wrapped around a cream flower spike; not a true lily | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 16 | Moth orchid | Phalaenopsis hybrids | Broad leathery leaves and arching flower stalks with flat, moth-shaped blooms | Listed non-toxic |
| 17 | African violet | Saintpaulia (now Streptocarpus in some references) | Small, fuzzy, rounded leaves in a rosette with purple, pink or white flowers | Listed non-toxic |
| 18 | Anthurium, flamingo flower | Anthurium andraeanum | Heart-shaped glossy red, pink or white spathe with a central spike (spadix) | Toxic to dogs and cats |
Peace lily is often searched as “indoor plant lily”. True lilies (Lilium) are bulbs with trumpet flowers and are considered far more dangerous to cats, so always check which one a seller means. For a seasonal view of blooms, read indoor plants with flowers in India, which also explains how bromeliad bracts work as long-lasting colour.
Succulents, spider plant, calathea and lucky bamboo (19 to 23)
The last five houseplants do not share a habit, but each has a very distinctive look once you know it.
| # | Common name | Botanical name | How to recognise it | ASPCA listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Aloe vera | Aloe vera (also written Aloe barbadensis) | Thick, fleshy, spiky-edged grey-green rosette | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 20 | Jade plant | Crassula ovata | Plump, oval, coin-like succulent leaves on woody branches | Toxic to dogs and cats |
| 21 | Spider plant | Chlorophytum comosum | Arching green and white striped leaves with long runners carrying baby plantlets | Listed non-toxic |
| 22 | Calathea | Calathea (many now filed under Goeppertia) | Painted, patterned leaves, often purple below, that fold upwards at night | Listed non-toxic |
| 23 | Lucky bamboo | Dracaena sanderiana | Straight green stalks with narrow leaves, often twisted and grown in water; not a true bamboo | Toxic to dogs and cats |
The cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) above is not in the numbered list, but it is the plant people most often confuse with peace lily when no flower is showing, and the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic. Lucky bamboo and jade plant belong in the “lucky” section further down, since both are popular for cultural reasons.
Money plant name: which plant is it?
In India, the plant sold as money plant is almost always pothos (Epipremnum aureum), a trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves. Elsewhere, and in some Indian nurseries, the same nickname is used for three other plants. The table separates them so you can check pet safety and care by the right name.
| Name used | Botanical name | What it looks like | ASPCA listing | Care in one line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Money plant (India default) | Epipremnum aureum | Trailing or climbing vine with heart-shaped, often variegated leaves | Toxic to dogs and cats | Bright to low indirect light; water when the top 3 cm of mix is dry |
| Money tree | Pachira aquatica | Braided trunk with palm-like clusters of five to seven leaflets | Listed non-toxic | Bright indirect light; let the mix dry between waterings |
| Jade plant, lucky plant | Crassula ovata | Thick succulent coin-like leaves on a woody stem | Toxic to dogs and cats | Bright light; water only when the mix is dry through |
| Chinese money plant | Pilea peperomioides | Round, coin-shaped leaves on thin stalks, with pups at the base | Listed non-toxic | Bright indirect light; water when the top layer is dry |
The takeaway is simple: if a label says only “money plant”, ask for the botanical name before you decide whether it is safe around pets. Water-growing, hanging and Vastu questions about money plant are answered in the pothos care guide, and the plants to grow in water at home guide explains the water method in detail.
Indoor plants by leaf colour
If colour is what you noticed first, this table runs the identification backwards, from colour to likely names. Red, pink and silver foliage depend on light, so a plant that looks red in a nursery may turn greener in a dim room.
| Leaf colour | Plants to look at | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Red and burgundy | Neoregelia (‘Firefly’, ‘Volcano’, ‘Medusa’), burgundy rubber plant, croton, red Aglaonema | Bromeliad red deepens in bright indirect light; see indoor plants with red leaves |
| Pink and rose | Cryptanthus (‘Pink Star’, ‘Arelli’), Neoregelia ‘Cherry Blossom’, pink Aglaonema, Billbergia ‘Strawberry Cream’ | Pink forms often fade to green in low light |
| Silver and grey-green | Billbergia ‘Northern Light’, Tillandsia, silver Chinese evergreen, snake plant | Silver on air plants is trichome scales that absorb water |
| Striped and banded | Cryptanthus ‘Zebra Star’, Aechmea chantinii, Vriesea ‘Tiger Tim’, snake plant, spider plant | Banding gets paler in low light |
| Deep green and glossy | ZZ plant, rubber plant, peace lily, philodendron, cast iron plant | Glossy dark leaves tolerate lower light |
| Cream and green variegated | Variegated pothos, variegated Neoregelia, spider plant | Variegated plants need brighter light than all-green ones |
| Purple and pink patterns that fold at night | Calathea, Persian shield | Humidity-sensitive; brown edges in dry AC rooms |
Bromeliad names: the group most often sold without labels (24 to 30)
Bromeliads are the plants nurseries most often sell as “colourful indoor plant” with no genus on the tag. All bromeliads belong to the family Bromeliaceae, and the pineapple is one of them. Seven groups account for nearly every bromeliad you will meet in Indian homes. Fish Bazaar sells live bromeliads and air plants, so we know these groups well and also say where they are the wrong choice; the table shows what each looks like and a starting price per plant as listed on 22 October 2026. For a deeper species walk-through see the bromeliad species guide, and for the basics read what is a bromeliad.
| # | Group (genus) | Common name | How to recognise it | Example names | Starting price per plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Neoregelia | Blushing bromeliad | Flat or open rosette with a wide central cup; leaves blush red, pink or striped, with fine teeth | ‘Volcano’, ‘El Nido’, ‘Firefly’, ‘Medusa’, ‘Wild Rabbit’ | ₹180 |
| 25 | Aechmea | Urn plant | Tall urn-shaped rosette with stiff, spiny-edged leaves and a bold, long-lasting flower spike | ‘Lucky Stripes’, ‘Orange Torch’, ‘Pink Torch’, chantinii ‘Black’ | ₹500 |
| 26 | Billbergia | Queen’s tears | Narrow upright tube of leaves, often banded or spotted, with arching, pendant flowers | ‘Cherry Bomb’, ‘Northern Light’, ‘Kolan Magic’, leptopoda | ₹2,500 |
| 27 | Vriesea | Flaming sword | Smooth-edged, soft, glossy rosette with a flat, sword-shaped flower spike | ‘Tiger Tim’, ‘Smudge Grub’ | ₹3,000 |
| 28 | Cryptanthus | Earth star | Low, flat, wavy-edged star with no central cup, often striped or blushed | ‘Arelli’, ‘Zebra Star’, ‘Elaine’, ‘Ruby Red’ | ₹293 |
| 29 | Tillandsia | Air plant | Small silvery tuft that grows without soil, covered in fine scales | ionantha, stricta, ‘Funky One’, ‘Sweet Isabel’ | ₹400 |
| 30 | Alcantarea | Giant bromeliad | Very large, broad, leathery rosette that grows into a statement plant | imperialis (green), red giant | ₹3,000 |
Neoregelia 'Volcano' (Mini)Neoregelia mini · ₹180 
Aechmea 'Lucky Stripes'Aechmea · ₹500 
Billbergia 'Cherry Bomb'Billbergia · ₹2,500 
Cryptanthus 'Arelli'Earth star · ₹400 
Tillandsia IonanthaAir plant · ₹400
Quick ways to tell the groups apart: a cup with a flat rosette is Neoregelia; a tall urn with spines is Aechmea; a narrow tube is Billbergia; a smooth soft rosette with a flat flower spike is Vriesea; a star with no cup is Cryptanthus; and a silvery tuft with no soil is Tillandsia. Browse by group in the Neoregelia, Aechmea, Billbergia and Cryptanthus earth star collections, or the rare and giant bromeliads. The whole range is on the all bromeliads page.
Bromeliads also solve the “name and colour” problem that green plants leave: the University of Florida describes bromeliads as plants whose leaves often form a cup that holds water, and that cup is the clearest identification clue as well as the clearest care rule (UF/IFAS EP337). The ornamental pineapple, such as Pineapple ‘Red Stripe’ at ₹350, is a striped-leaf member of the same family. The full pillar guide is bromeliads as indoor plants in India.
Air plant names: Tillandsia species and cultivars
Air plants are bromeliads of the genus Tillandsia that absorb water and nutrients through scales on their leaves, so they can grow on wood, shells or wire without potting mix. They are sold under short species names and cultivar names, which is why the label matters. The table lists names you will meet on Indian listings; shapes are described in general terms because individual plants vary.
| Name on the label | Typical look | Price per plant (22 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Tillandsia ionantha | Small, compact, silvery tuft; leaf centres can blush red before flowering | ₹400 |
| Tillandsia funkiana | Slender, thread-like leaves on a thin, clumping plant | ₹400 |
| Tillandsia stricta | Stiff, upright, grey-green rosette with narrow leaves | ₹500 |
| ‘Funky One’ | A named air plant sold under this cultivar name | ₹500 |
| ‘Sweet Isabel’ | A named air plant sold under this cultivar name | ₹500 |
| Tillandsia brachycaulos ‘Multiflora’ | Short-stemmed rosette that can turn red when flowering | ₹600 |
Air plant care is different from every houseplant above: they need soaking or misting and a good dry-out, plus bright indirect light. The routine is in air plant care in India, the soil-free angle is in indoor plants without soil and air plants, and the choice of species is on the Tillandsia air plants collection.
How to read a plant label: genus, species, cultivar
A full plant name has up to four parts, and the quotation marks matter. Learning them stops you buying a plant under a vague nickname.
| Part | Example | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Genus | Neoregelia | The broad group; it sets the basic care and shape |
| Species | Tillandsia ionantha | A naturally occurring kind within the genus, written in italics |
| Cultivar (in single quotes) | Aechmea ‘Lucky Stripes’ | A named, selected or bred form; the name is a variety name, not a species |
| Hybrid sign (x) | Neoregelia x hybrid | A cross between two species or cultivars; many bromeliad names you see are hybrids |
| Common name | Money plant, urn plant, earth star | A nickname that can change by region and may be shared by unrelated plants |
Many bromeliad cultivar names are registered or traded under a grower’s name, so spellings and parentage vary between sellers. Where a hybrid has no published parentage, the genus plus the cultivar name is the right label. To compare bromeliad naming with the plant family’s wider history, see the Bromeliaceae family explained.
Pet safety by plant name
Names matter most here. The ASPCA database lists plants by common and botanical name, and it can show that a plant is toxic to dogs and cats, or non-toxic. Listed as toxic does not always mean fatal; the usual signs are mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting, and the right step is to call a vet or pet poison helpline, not to try home remedies. Check any plant yourself in the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list before you buy.
| ASPCA listing | Plants from this guide |
|---|---|
| Listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats | Areca palm, parlor palm, Boston fern, moth orchid, African violet, spider plant, calathea, cast iron plant, money tree, Chinese money plant |
| Listed as toxic to dogs and cats | Money plant (pothos), heartleaf philodendron, English ivy, string of pearls, snake plant, ZZ plant, rubber plant, dracaena, Chinese evergreen, monstera, fiddle leaf fig, peace lily, anthurium, aloe vera, jade plant, lucky bamboo |
| Bromeliads and air plants | Bromeliads are generally regarded as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and the ASPCA lists several as non-toxic; search the exact genus and read are bromeliads safe for cats and dogs? |
Remember that non-toxic still means a chewed plant can upset a stomach, and sharp leaves such as Aechmea spines can scratch a nose. The full shortlist is in pet-safe indoor plants for cats and dogs.
Lucky indoor plant names and what they mean
Many Indian families keep plants they consider auspicious. Money plant, jade plant, lucky bamboo, tulsi and money tree are the names you will hear most often. These are cultural and Vastu beliefs, not horticulture, and we make no claims about luck. A traditional south-east placement for money plant, for example, should still give way to the spot where the plant gets enough light. Directions and cautions are in indoor plants and Vastu, and the gifting side is in indoor plant gifts for Diwali.
Where names go wrong: honest limits of identification
Identification has limits, and a guide like this one cannot remove them. Four problems come up repeatedly:
- Nursery labels are often generic. A tag reading “palm” or “dracaena” may cover several species with different care.
- Photo apps are guesses. They are right often but not always, and they cannot tell a cultivar from its parent. Confirm with a second source.
- Taxonomy changes. Snake plant moved into Dracaena, calathea into Goeppertia and African violet into Streptocarpus in some references. Both names can be correct on different labels.
- Look-alikes are real. Pothos and philodendron, peace lily and cast iron plant, and many hybrid bromeliads look similar when young or out of flower.
For plants with an unclear name, treat the plant as the safest likely match for pets and care until you have confirmed the name. If you cannot identify a plant from a photo, the nursery or a botanic garden helpline is a better source than a guess.
Choosing a plant from its name
| If you want | Names to start with | Where to read next |
|---|---|---|
| An easy first plant | Pothos, snake plant, spider plant, ZZ plant, Billbergia | indoor plant care for beginners |
| A pet-friendlier plant | Spider plant, areca palm, parlor palm, calathea, bromeliads | pet-safe indoor plants |
| Flowers | Peace lily, moth orchid, anthurium, Aechmea, Billbergia | indoor plants with flowers |
| A dim room | Snake plant, ZZ plant, cast iron plant, Chinese evergreen | indoor plants for low light |
| Small desk plants | Mini Neoregelia, air plants, Cryptanthus, jade plant | small indoor plants for desks |
| A collector’s plant | Billbergia hybrids, Alcantarea, Vriesea | rare and unusual indoor plants |
When you buy online, ask for the botanical name in writing and look for a seller who shows the exact plant. At Fish Bazaar we share a video of your plants before dispatch, send tracking on WhatsApp, process orders within 7 business days and ship live plants across India from Dombivali West, Maharashtra. Live plants are not returnable, so report any damage on receipt; the details are in the shipping policy. The buyer checklist is in where to buy indoor plants online in India.
Fish Bazaar is a bromeliad and air plant seller, so most of the ready-to-buy plants we link here are bromeliads; for pothos, snake plant and other common houseplants you may find a local nursery easier. Browse the bromeliads under ₹500 if you want to start small and cheaply.
Related indoor plant guides
- The complete guide to indoor plants in India
- Best indoor plants for home in India
- Indoor plant care for beginners
- Care cards for the five most popular indoor plants
- Easy bromeliads for beginners
- The complete bromeliad plant guide
- Indoor plants with red leaves
- Hanging indoor plants and vines
- Indoor bonsai plants in India
Keep exploring: related guides across our plant library
These guides cover the same topic from other angles, from bromeliads and indoor plants to garden and balcony plants.
- Garden Plants With Names and Pictures: India Guide (2026)
- Easiest Bromeliads for Beginners in India (Indoor Varieties)
- Bromeliaceae Family Explained: Species, History and Origins
- Balcony Plants by City in India: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru
- Year-Round Garden Maintenance in India: Month-by-Month Guide
- Balcony Vertical Garden and Wall Plants in India (2026)
- Perennials vs Annuals in India: What to Plant and When
- Bromeliad Care Guide for India
- Garden Plants in India: The Complete Guide (2026)
- Balcony Plants in India: The Complete Guide (2026)
Your questions answered
What are some indoor plants with names?
Common indoor plants include money plant (pothos), snake plant, ZZ plant, peace lily, areca palm, spider plant, rubber plant, monstera, aloe vera and jade plant, plus bromeliads such as Neoregelia and air plants (Tillandsia). This guide names 30 of them with botanical names and pet notes. For picks by room, see best indoor plants for home in India.
What is the money plant name?
In India, money plant is usually pothos, Epipremnum aureum, a trailing vine with heart-shaped leaves. The same nickname is also used for money tree (Pachira aquatica), jade plant (Crassula ovata) and Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides). Check the botanical name, because pet safety differs. See the pothos care guide.
How do I find the name of an indoor plant?
Look at the growth habit, leaf shape and pattern, then check for a flower or label and match it with a botanical name. A photo-identification app can suggest a name, but confirm it with a second source or the nursery, especially for hybrids and look-alikes. The shape table above shortens the search quickly.
What is the name of the plant with a water-holding centre?
That is a bromeliad, most often a Neoregelia, Aechmea or Vriesea. The leaves form a central cup (a tank) that holds water. Cryptanthus earth stars and Tillandsia air plants do not have a cup. Read what is a bromeliad for the full explanation.
What are air plants called?
Air plants belong to the genus Tillandsia, a group of bromeliads that take in water and nutrients through leaf scales and need no potting soil. Common names include ionantha, stricta and funkiana. They need soaking or misting and bright indirect light. See air plant care in India.
Which indoor plants are safe for cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists spider plant, areca palm, parlor palm, Boston fern, moth orchid, African violet, calathea and cast iron plant as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and bromeliads are generally regarded as non-toxic. Even non-toxic plants can upset a stomach if eaten, so check the listing yourself. See pet-safe indoor plants.
Which indoor plant has red leaves?
Neoregelia bromeliads are the most reliable red-leaved indoor plant, and croton, burgundy rubber plant and red Aglaonema also have red foliage. Red colour needs bright indirect light and fades in dim rooms. See indoor plants with red leaves.
Is a peace lily a real lily?
No. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is an aroid with a white spathe, not a true lily (Lilium). The ASPCA still lists it as toxic to dogs and cats, and true lilies are considered far more dangerous to cats. Always check which plant a seller means before bringing it home.
What is the difference between pothos and philodendron?
Pothos has waxy, uneven heart-shaped leaves that are often variegated, while heartleaf philodendron has softer, thinner, usually plain green leaves and sheds papery sheaths at the nodes. Both are listed as toxic to dogs and cats by the ASPCA. Care is similar, as explained in the pothos care guide.
What do the single quotes in a plant name mean?
Single quotes mark a cultivar, a named selected or bred form, such as Aechmea ‘Lucky Stripes’. The name before it is the genus and sometimes the species. Many bromeliads are hybrids, so the cultivar name plus the genus is often the correct label. Browse the all bromeliads page for examples.
Where can I find names and pictures of garden plants?
Our garden plant name guide lists common garden plants with pictures and short descriptions, and our balcony guide covers the plants that suit pots and railings. Names help you search for care instructions. See garden plants with names and pictures and balcony plants in India.
How many types of bromeliads are there?
Botanists describe over 3,000 species in the bromeliad family, and growers have created many more hybrids and cultivars. Only a small number are common in the Indian trade. Names such as Neoregelia, Guzmania and Aechmea are genera. See the bromeliad family explained and the species guide.
What are some names of tall indoor plants?
Common tall indoor plants include rubber plant, fiddle-leaf fig, areca palm and snake plant. Each needs bright indirect light and a stable heavy pot. For heights and care, see big and tall indoor plants, and for outdoor spaces see tall balcony plants for privacy.
Sources and further reading
- ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants (ASPCA)
- Bromeliads (EP337) (University of Florida IFAS)
- Bromeliads (University of Missouri IPM)
हिंदी में संक्षेप: इनडोर पौधों के नाम पहचानने का सबसे आसान तरीका उनका आकार है। दिल के आकार की लटकती पत्तियां मनी प्लांट (पोथोस) की होती हैं, खड़ी तलवार जैसी पत्तियां स्नेक प्लांट की, पंख जैसी पत्तियां एरेका या पार्लर पाम की, और बीच में पानी रखने वाला कप वाला पौधा ब्रोमेलियाड होता है। बिना मिट्टी के उगने वाला चांदी जैसा पौधा एयर प्लांट (टिलैंडसिया) कहलाता है। भारत में मनी प्लांट आमतौर पर पोथोस को कहते हैं, लेकिन यही नाम मनी ट्री और जेड प्लांट के लिए भी चलता है। पालतू जानवरों की सुरक्षा के लिए हमेशा वानस्पतिक नाम देखें, क्योंकि ASPCA की सूची के अनुसार पोथोस, स्नेक प्लांट और पीस लिली विषैले हैं, जबकि स्पाइडर प्लांट और एरेका पाम विषैले नहीं माने गए हैं।
Not sure which plant suits your room, light or budget? Message us on WhatsApp at +91 91523 30102 with a photo of your space and we will help you choose. Browse all bromeliads and air plants, or return to the complete indoor plants guide for the full library.
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