Vining plants are great for the home when you have a shelf that’s crying out for tumbling foliage, or you have exhausted your surface-space option when it comes to growing houseplants, and you want more plants!
It also helps that the foliage of vining plants tends to be the most interesting, and some of the most beautiful plants you can grow.
Depending on the species, they are also very easy to care for, and fast-growing, vigorous, and forgiving plants that look good pretty much anywhere.
Interested in growing your next vining plant, but you’re not sure where to start? Here are 12 different options to get you started.
1. Cissus Rhombifolia ‘Grape Ivy’
Cissus rhombifolia, also known as the grape ivy, has a curious tumbling habit with densely packed vines, full of leaves that arrange themselves in a fan shape.
This plant is perfect for hanging pots (See also Hanging Plants That Don’t Need Full Sun), or on a large plant stand where you can show off the vines to full effect.
It helps that it is easy to grow, but it won’t do well in low light levels, and cannot tolerate lots of water, so keep it somewhere bright and indirect, and allow at least some of the soil to dry out in between watering.
2. Dischidia Nummularia ‘String Of Nickels’
Dischidia plants are not some of the most well-known vining houseplants out there, but they are steadily growing in popularity thanks to their unusual foliage.
Dischidia nummularia is a lovely epiphyte that features coin-shaped leaves and needs an airy, well-draining potting mix with infrequent watering to keep this plant happy.
It’s part of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, but it is considered pet safe.
3. Epipremnum Aureum ‘Pothos’
By contrast, Pothos, or Epipremnum aureum is one of the most popular indoor plants.
It’s a very vigorous plant, and some varieties will even do well with no natural light at all, provided that they are under fluorescent lighting for at least most of the day.
Give it the right conditions, and you’ll need to prune back this plant regularly to stop it from outgrowing its space.
If you choose a variegated variety, such as ‘N’Joy’ or ‘Marble Queen’, it will need bright and indirect light to help support the variegation and stop it from reverting.
4. Hedera Helix ‘English Ivy’
If you’re after something that will grow extremely quickly, Hedera helix or ‘English Ivy’ is one of the best vining houseplants you can grow.
It has deeply lobed leaves in bright green (sometimes with yellow or cream splotches if you go for a variegated variety) and will climb or trail, depending on whether you give it any support or not.
Like Pothos, it can handle lower light levels, but you will need to give it brighter light if it is variegated (See also Pothos NJoy Care).
English Ivy likes its conditions to be on the cooler side, preferably with some humidity, so choose cool rooms without drafts or sources of heat, and lightly trim it back to keep on top of the growth.
5. Hoya spp. ‘Wax Plant’
Is there a more beautiful, flowering vine than the Hoya? There are many Hoya plants to choose from, some of which come from tropical climates, and some that hail from higher elevations, so there is a type for every home.
While the foliage is gorgeous in its own right, usually featuring semi-succulent leaves, the star of these plants are the flowers, with clusters of tiny, wax-like flowers in different shapes.
Hoya plants are easy to grow, as long as you give them plenty of indirect light (maybe with a few hours of morning sunlight thrown in), and allow the soil to dry out in between watering.
6. Monstera Adansonii ‘Swiss Cheese Vine’
If you fancy a Swiss Cheese plant, but you don’t have an extra four feet of floor space for a giant specimen, Monstera adansonii is the plant for you.
It features highly fenestrated leaves in miniature, and in the right conditions, it can grow ten feet long!
Give the plant bright and indirect sunlight, and water when the top inch or two of compost has gone dry.
If you prefer, you can grow this plant in water, as long as you give the plant some appropriate seaweed fertilizer every time you top up the plant’s water.
Like all Monstera plants, it’s worth keeping the Swiss Cheese vine away from pets and children, as it is classified as toxic if ingested.
7. Monstera Karstenianum ‘Monstera Peru’
One of the most unusual Monsteras you can grow is Monstera karstenianum, also known as Monstera Peru.
Unlike most plants within the genus, this one does not develop fenestrations, but the leaves are still beautiful, in dark green with deep veins, giving the plant a reptilian look.
It needs well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, lots of indirect sunlight, and warm temperatures to thrive.
8. Philodendron Hederaceum ‘Brasil’
One of the most beautiful trailing Philodendrons available is ‘Brasil’, and it helps that this plant grows quickly, even for a variegated plant.
It produces heart-shaped leaves in shades of deep green with lime green variegation, and each pattern is unique to the leaf.
Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry out in between watering to prevent any fungal issues or root rot, and give the plant plenty of indirect light, with a few hours of direct morning sunlight if you can.
9. Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum f. micans ‘Black Gold Philodendron’
For a touch of luxury in any home, you can’t go wrong with the Black Gold Philodendron, also known as Philodendron micans.
It looks similar to a Jewel Orchid with its velvety leaves, and these can come in shades of red, pink, copper, and deep purple in dark shades.
It’s normally grown as a climbing plant, but if you don’t give it support to clamber up, it will happily trail over the sides of a hanging pot.
It needs bright and indirect light, freely draining soil, and aim to let the top inch or so of soil dry out in between watering.
10. Scindapsus Treubii ‘Moonlight’
One of the most eye-catching Scindapsus varieties is ‘Moonlight’, featuring pale silvery green leaves that look like they’ve been coated in the moonlight.
It’s an easy-growing plant that needs filtered sunlight, but it is susceptible to overwatering, so allow the soil to mostly dry out in between watering.
11. Senecio Peregrinus ‘String Of Dolphins’
One of the most curious trailing plants around, the ‘String Of Dolphins’ produces small leaves that look like dolphins leaping off the vines.
Keep it somewhere bright and indirect (or under a grow light), and give it succulent soil with plenty of drainage.
These plants are drought tolerant, making them the perfect choice for those who don’t want to babysit their plants.
12. Tradescantia Pallida ‘Purple Heart’
One of the largest-leaved Tradescantia species, ‘Purple Heart’ features deep purple leaves and flowers.
If you want the brightest color possible, put it in a bright position that gets a few hours of direct sunlight.
Make sure the soil drains well, and water it when the top inch of soil dries out.
Things To Consider When Growing Vining Plants Indoors
Should You Prune Indoor Vines?
Indoor vines are usually very vigorous varieties, so it’s worth pruning them occasionally, so they don’t touch the floor!
You can also propagate the parts you take off, so all is not lost when you give your plants a haircut.
Do Indoor Vines Need Support?
Most indoor vines will happily trail if you don’t give them support, and whether you should give them support or not depends on which look you prefer.
Final Thoughts
Vining houseplants are among the most forgiving and beautiful plants you can grow indoors, but it is worth making sure you keep an eye on the moisture and light levels, as they can be sensitive to both.
