The Best Plants for the Kitchen (and Where to Put Them)

The kitchen is one of the best spots for plants: water is right there, the light is often good, and the humidity from cooking suits many species perfectly. On top of that, having fresh herbs within reach changes the way you cook. Here's the guide to the best plants for the kitchen and where to put each one.

Herbs: the essentials

Nothing beats snipping basil or parsley right before you cook. Herbs need lots of light (a sunny sill is perfect):

• Basil, parsley, cilantro: fast and genuinely useful in the kitchen.
• Mint: grows on its own — but always keep it in its own pot, as it's invasive.
• Rosemary, thyme, oregano: Mediterranean, want sun and little water.

You'll find the step-by-step growing guide in our herbs in pots article.

Plants that love humidity

Steam from cooking creates a humid environment that tropicals enjoy:

• Pothos: climbs or trails, handles almost any light, and is very tough.
• Ferns: love the kitchen's ambient humidity.
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum): air-purifying, easy and very forgiving.
• Peace lily: flowers even in medium light and tells you when it's thirsty.

For a low-light kitchen

If your kitchen is interior or has a small window, choose shade-tolerant plants:

• Snake plant (sansevieria): practically indestructible.
• ZZ plant (Zamioculcas): copes with low light and missed waterings.
• Pothos: again, the all-rounder of houseplants.

Where to put each plant

• Sunny sill: herbs, small succulents.
• Medium-light shelf: trailing pothos, spider plant, peace lily.
• Corner with no direct sun: snake plant, ZZ.
• Near the sink: plants that appreciate humidity, but don't let them sit soggy.

What to avoid in the kitchen

The kitchen has two enemies for plants:

• Direct heat: don't place plants right by the stove, the oven, or on top of the fridge (it vents heat at the back). Leaves scorch and the soil dries out fast.
• Drafts and sudden swings: avoid putting them right in the path of a door or window you open and close often.
• Grease: greasy steam settles on the leaves; wipe them now and then with a damp cloth.

Kitchen-specific care

The kitchen has its own little microclimate worth keeping in mind:

• Watering: with water so close to hand, it's easy to overwater. Always check the soil with your finger before watering.
• Cleaning leaves: cooking steam leaves a thin greasy film that clogs the pores; wipe them with a damp cloth every few weeks so they breathe and stay glossy.
• Ventilation: open a window when you cook. Too much steam with no air exchange encourages mold on the soil surface.

A mini-garden on the windowsill

If your kitchen has a sunny window, use it to set up a small garden of herbs and quick leafy crops. A few pots of basil, parsley and chives, plus a couple of tough green plants, transform the room and put fresh ingredients within arm's reach. It's also the prettiest way to get started in the world of edible plants, and it makes you far more likely to actually use your herbs while they're fresh.

A safety note

If you have pets that roam the counter, avoid the most common toxic plants (pothos, peace lily and snake plant are all toxic to varying degrees). For a pet-friendly kitchen lean on edible herbs and check our pet-safe plants guide before you decide.

With the right plant in the right spot, your kitchen gains life, aromas and fresh herbs for cooking.

Is a kitchen plant of yours scorched or wilting? Upload a photo to our AI diagnosis and we'll tell you what's wrong. 🌿