22 Easy Indoor Vine Plants and Climbers to Grow

Indoor vine plants can trail and climb to create eye-catching elements in your home. Trailing houseplants are very popular because they allow you to introduce a nice green element into your home. It gives your space a green, live backdrop, and they can help improve your indoor air quality. Under the correct conditions, indoor vine plants are very easy to grow and keep thriving for years to come. As a bonus, you don’t have to be a professional gardener with a host of tools either. You can mix and match different types of indoor vine plants to create a serene and calming environment, and I’m going to give you several examples.

Since there are so many indoor vine plants available, knowing which ones go nicely together and which ones are easier to grow is an important key to your success. You’ll be able to take a look at my list, understand the growing conditions for each indoor vine plant, and see what it looks like to get an idea whether or not it would work well for you. If you get it right, you can easily brighten up your home’s interior while keeping your plants thriving and growing for years to come.

1. Bougainvillea

This indoor vine plant works well if you’re someone who routinely forgets to water their plants as it likes the soil to stay mostly dry. You should only water it when the soil is half dry to keep it growing. You can prune it to keep it to a manageable size, and you should add liquid fertilizer every month when it blooms. It does best in full sun conditions, and this is a lateral vine with small thorns that will produce clusters of pink or yellow flowers. It likes resting and higher humidity during the winter months, and it likes a highly organic soil that is rich in micronutrients and iron. This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and people, so wear gloves when you prune and shape it to your liking.

1 Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea by Robert Wallace / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

2. Pothos

Pothos is an indoor vine plant that requires you to place it in a bright spot in your home by a window. However, it only needs infrequent watering sessions to keep it happy. You should trim the plant regularly and cut it short to allow for even growth, and you can feed them twice a month with a liquid fertilizer. It can cause drooling and irritation with cats and dogs, and it’s mildly toxic. Better known as Devil’s Ivy, this is ranked as one of the easiest plants to keep alive. It can support itself when it grows, and it offers heart-shaped, green leaves. This plant makes an excellent office plant, and it helps to purify the air.

2 Pothos
Meet Scruffy by Quinn Dombrowski / CC BY-SA 2.0

3. Burros Tail

This is a slightly more finicky indoor vine plant that has chubby, rice-like grains for leaves. It does well in a house where the humidity levels are higher, and it likes to stay in one spot once you place it. Put it in a hanging basket away from areas where people can touch it, and water it every time the soil gets completely dry. It likes very bright sunlight, so hanging it by a south-facing window is a good pick. If the leaves start to fall, it’s time to remove the entire stem to prevent it from infecting the rest of the plant. It has light green coloring, and it does well in peat pots.
3 Burros Tail
Burro’s Tail by sk / CC BY-ND 2.0

4. Clematis

Clematis is an indoor vine plant that comes back every year, and it’s a fragrant plant that will produce colorful flowers. It works well as a climbing vine or as a tabletop plant, and it needs very well-draining soil to thrive. You can place it in a bright spot with full sun, and it needs regular watering sessions when you notice that the soil is starting to dry out. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them away from it. Use a water-soluble fertilizer once a month with this plant, and remove any dead branches you see all year-round to keep it healthy and growing from season to season.
4 Clematis
Clematis by manuel m.v. / CC BY 2.0

5. Betel Leaf Plant

Better known as the Piper betle, this indoor vine plant likes to be in a partially-shaded spot. This makes it perfect for indoor growth. It’s native to India, and it has strong medicinal benefits for helping with colds and coughs. This is an edible vine that is nontoxic to people and animals, and it offers green, heart-shaped leaves with pretty white flowers. In Asia, this is a rare plant. However, it’s relatively easy to grow and propagate. You should prune it regularly when it matures to keep it looking tidy, and make a point to water it regularly. It actively grows in spring and fall, and it goes dormant in the winter.
5 Piper Betle
(蔞葉) Piper betle [香港青松觀 Tuen Mun, Hong Kong] by 阿橋 HQ 蒟葉 / CC BY-SA 2.0

6. Bleeding Heart

This is a green indoor vine plant that produces white and red bi-colored flowers that stand out nicely against the foliage. Bleeding Heart plant is native to West Africa, and it likes to grow in a very humid area. However, it’ll do well with normal indoor humidity levels. They go dormant and rest during cold snaps, and they like bright but indirect sunlight. Put them in a well-draining soil and make sure you water them every week or two. During the growing season, you can feed them once every two weeks to encourage fuller growth. Also, it’s recommended that you repot them every year to support a larger plant and further growth.
6 Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Hearts by Garrick Russell / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

7. Lacy Tree Philodendron

This is an upright indoor vine plant that has very lacy roots. You get green leaves that splitter, and this is how the plant got the name of the Split Leaf Philodendron. It requires no direct sunlight when you grow it inside, and this allows you to move it around the house. You should moderately water the plant, but you do want to let the top inch of soil dry out between watering sessions. If the roots stay too wet, they’ll rot. This plant can easily withstand humid environments since they’re from the tropics, and you can add a trellis to the pot to give it additional support if you notice it drooping.
7 Lacy Tree Philodendron
Lacy Tree Philodendron (philodendron bipinnatifidum) 3 by Javier Alejandro / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

8. Wisteria

Did you know that you can grow Wisteria as a bonsai plant? This indoor vine plant will bloom with very fragrant white, blue, or violet flowers, and they make excellent focal points. It likes warm conditions, but this plant will also do well under direct sunlight. It likes hotter and slightly more humid climates over dry ones, and you want to make a point to keep the soil damp without saturating it. This is a rapidly growing plant that will require pruning to keep it under control, and you should prune it every spring. It’s toxic to livestock, pets, and people, so handle it with care and keep it up where no one can get at it. If you add a trellis to encourage it to climb.
8 Wisteria
Wisteria by Henning Follmann / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

9. Creeping Fig

Creeping figs are one indoor vine plant that makes a gorgeous wall covering indoors, or you can create a focal point by putting it into a container. Add a pole for support and let it climb. You should put them in a rich but well-draining soil that you keep moist but not saturated. It works well with normal room humidity levels, and you don’t need any special care if you don’t want it to climb. Put it in a space that gets bright but indirect sunlight, and you want to apply fertilizer once a month during the spring, summer, and fall months. Cut back in the winter and water less frequently when the temperatures drop. You don’t have to prune it to keep it healthy.
9 Creeping Fig
Ficus_pumila-leaves-Kula_Botanical_Garden-Maui by Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 2.0

10. Black Eyed Susan

Many people won’t think of an indoor vine plant when they think of the Black Eyed Susan, but this vine is native to Africa. It produces orange, red, or yellow flowers with a black center, and this coloring makes it a very popular houseplant. They need very little attention when you grow them indoors, except you want to make a point to keep the soil moist but not soggy. They work well in hanging baskets that allow them to drop gracefully down toward the floor. These plants do best in full sun to partial shade, and you should prune them lightly to keep them neat. They’re toxic to dogs and cats, and you should give them water-soluble plant food regularly to encourage growth.
10 Black Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan vine by Dwight Beers / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

11. String of Pearls

While this indoor vine plant isn’t traditionally attractive, there is something very charming about it that makes it popular. This is a trailing-style plant that is very tolerant to drought, and this makes it a great pick for anyone who forgets to water their plants. It can thrive just like a succulent cacti can, and it has very thin stems with rounded leaves that look like green pearls. It works well in a hanging basket with a sandy soil, and you want it in an area that gets bright sunlight. Water it seldomly, and cut back your watering to once a month during the cooler winter months. Too much water will kill this plant.
11 String of Pearls
Erbse am Band (Senecio rowleyanus) by Maja Dumat / CC BY 2.0

12. English Ivy

There are over 100 species of this indoor vine plant, but English Ivy is the most common. You get a green, woody vine that is perfect indoors as a hanging decor, center table plant, or as a wall creeper. It has very well-draining soil that is very rich, and you should put it in a place that gets bright but indirect sunlight. You won’t have to water it a lot to keep it happy, and you should fertilize it every few weeks. Occasionally wash the dust off the leaves, and trim the plants to keep it bushy. If you notice the leaves turning brown, remove any dead foliage and cut back on watering it.
12 English Ivy
Frosty English Ivy by Marco Metzler / CC BY 2.0

13. Arrowhead Plant

This indoor vine plant’s name is a perfect descriptor for how it looks. You’ll get a green and leafy appearance that offers arrowhead-shaped leaves. This plant doesn’t flower, but it will trail and look nice all year round. It does best if you put it in a very humid place that isn’t directly by any heat source. It does best in very rich soil that drains well, and it will grow very fast. You can trim and shape it as you like, and it should be in a space that gets bright but indirect sunlight. It needs frequent watering, and you can watch the leaves to get an indicator of the plant’s health. If the leaves start to droop, give it more water. They usually perk right back up.
13 Arrowhead Plant
Syngonium_podophyllum-leaves by Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 2.0

14. Spider Plant

This indoor vine plant is one of the best hanging plants to have in your home due to how easy it is to grow and care for. It has high air purifying abilities, and it likes to be root bound in smaller pots. You’ll get a plant that has long green stems with eye-catching white flowers. This plant likes to have spells of water where you keep around half of the soil dry. They can withstand a heavy drought, so they’ll forgive you if you forget to water them. Put this vine in an area that gets indirect but bright sunlight, and prune the new sprouts from the plant to propagate them. Fertilize it once a month during spring and summer, and cut back in the winter.
14 Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum by Ventilago / CC BY-ND 2.0

15. Jasmine

Jasmine is a very fragrant indoor vine plant that has more than 200 species to choose from, and J. Polyanthum is the most common type that you’ll find growing happily indoors. It offers green foliage that offsets the tiny white flowers, and it grows best if you plant it in soil that drains very well. This plant loves water, but you shouldn’t saturate the soil. The soil should dry out after three or four watering sessions before you water it again. Fertilize it once every two years with phosphorus and potassium-rich fertilizers. Prune this plant to shape it, and give it a trellis for support once it starts to climb. Most jasmine isn’t harmful to pets, but there are a few mildly toxic species.
15 Jasmine
Jasmine by Ken Bosma / CC BY 2.0

16. Wandering Jew

The Wandering Jew is an indoor vine plant that does very well in smaller container gardens. You’ll usually see the zebra-type species of this plant that offers purple and green stripes, and the undersides of the leaves are a deep purple coloring. This plant prefers areas that offer high humidity levels, but humidity can lead to bacterial and fungal growth. You should repot it at least once a year since it grows so quickly. Put it in a spot that offers bright but indirect sunlight and water it moderately when you see the soil start to dry out. Fertilize it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer once a month, and keep it out of reach of your dogs or cats because it’s toxic if they eat it.
16 Wandering Jew
Wandering Jew by G. Dawson / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

17. Maidenhair Vine

Also known as Wire Vine, this indoor vine plant is a native to New Zealand. It grows wonderfully indoors, and you’ll get triangular, glossy leaflets and thin, tangled stems as it grows. You should water this plant once a week and put it in a place that gets medium lighting. During the spring and summer months when it’s actively growing, apply a liquid fertilizer once a month. You’ll have to routinely prune this plant to keep it in check since it grows so quickly. If you notice dead leaves, prune them immediately before it spreads to the rest of the plant. The soil should drain well but stay moist, and you want to keep the temperature and humidity levels constant so it doesn’t go into shock.
17 Maidenhair Vine
Muehlenbeckia complexa by Jon Sullivan / CC BY-NC 2.0

18. Hoya Shooting Stars

This indoor vine plant is one of the easiest houseplants to grow that is low-maintenance. This climbing vine offers very thick and waxy leaves, and it gives you yellowish-white flowers that look like shooting stars. It likes to be in a humid and bright environment, and the soil should drain very well between watering sessions. It can do well in a drought, but it needs sunlight. In fact, it can withstand direct sunlight without a problem, and this will encourage it to bloom. It’ll also bloom under fluorescent lighting. You want to feed the plant once a month and cut any old stems off to a few inches to encourage new flower development.
18 Hoya Shooting Star
Shooting Star Hoya– 流星毬蘭01 by jennyhsu47 / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

19. Swedish Ivy

Swedish Ivy is one indoor vine plant that likes to be in a hanging basket and trail down. It’s a great pick if you want something that is very easy to maintain, and you’ll get smaller green leaves in the shape of an oval with it and scalloped edges. It looks dramatic when it drapes down over shelving or the basket ledge. Put it in a spot that gets bright but indirect sunlight, and make a point to water it when the soil gets party dry. Pinch the vine tips after it flowers to help prevent the growth of leggy stems and keep the plant looking neat and manicured. It will grow all year-round.
19 Swedish Ivy
Swedish Ivy by premasagar / CC BY-NC 2.0

20. Heartleaf Philodendron

The Heartleaf Philodendron is an indoor vine plant that does very well in lower lighting conditions. This is a climbing species that has green, large leaves in a fun heart shape. The leaves also have a very glossy shine, and this is a sun-shy plant that needs just enough water to stop the soil from completely drying out. Put it in a place that has a higher humidity level with low to moderate lighting. It’ll grow very long creeping vines that you can let cascade down or train to grow up along walls or moss-covered poles. It’s easy to propagate through cuttings, and it has a very rapid growth rate.
20 Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum var. oxycardium juvenile 1a by Scott Zona / CC BY-NC 2.0

21. Peperomia

This is another one of the easiest indoor vine plants to grow, and you can pick from several different trailing varieties with it. This is a smaller plant that offers very thick and full foliage. You can get leaf patterns that range from speckled or marbled to striped. The leaves come in different shapes, and it likes to be in a very bright spot in your home. You should only water it when the soil starts to dry out, and you want to mist it once in a while. The foliage will lose some of the signature color if the lighting conditions are lower, but it will continue to grow. Make sure that it has a well-draining but rich soil.
21 Peperomia
Peperomia rotundifonia by Rigel / CC BY 2.0

22. String of Hearts

This is another indoor vine plant that offers very dainty, thread-like stems. It has larger leaves in the shape of a heart, and you may hear it called a chain of hearts, sweetheart vine, or a rosary vine. It’s a type of vining succulent, and it comes in a large range of color combinations. Place this plant somewhere in your home that gets bright but indirect sunlight. It does well in high places because the vines can trail between 6 and 13-feet at full maturity, and it offers variegated green and silver leaves. You should only water it when the soil dries out, and you can trim away any brown sections to keep it healthy.
22 String of Hearts
starr-100411-4404-Ceropegia_woodii-in_pot by Forest and Kim Starr / CC BY 2.0

How to Properly Care for Indoor Vine Plants

Growing indoor vine plants can help bring the outside indoors, and a lot of the indoor vine plants you can get have air-purifying qualities. Most of the plants on the list are very low maintenance, and this makes them perfect for beginners or busy people who don’t have time to baby their plants along. There are a few main considerations to keep in mind when you look at indoor vine plants, including:

  • Lighting Conditions – Generally speaking, most indoor vine plants like bright light, but you have to put them in a spot that is protected from direct sun. Many tropical houseplants will adapt to shade or lower-lighting conditions as well. But, they won’t bloom well and they can lose some of their more vibrant coloration.
  • Temperature and Humidity – Most of the indoor vine plants and climbers on the list thrive when you put them at average room temperature and humidity levels. You want to keep your plants well away from any cold drafts, direct sunlight, or hot radiators or heat sources. Household air is usually too dry for these plants, so you’ll have to use a tray with pebbles and rocks or mist the leaves once a week to increase the direct humidity levels. It’s also possible to put them by a humidifier.
  • Water – Since most of these plants grow very well in pots, you want to have a well-draining but rich soil. This potting mix will help the plant hold enough moisture without the soil getting too waterlogged and causing rot. Water your plants until water drains from the bottom once a week or every other week. Some plants like more water and some like to dry out between sessions.

Bottom Line

The indoor vine plants on the list are all easy to grow, easy to maintain, and they provide bright focal points around your home. You can mix and match the different options to create a small indoor garden, or you can try one or two and see how well they grow before you expand. Whatever you choose to do, you won’t regret trying out these plans and bringing a little greenery inside.

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