Give your interior design a tropical vibe with gorgeous plants that climb. Not only are these indoor climbing plants beautiful, but they make it easy for you to continue building your houseplant collection. These houseplants will climb up and across anything you put in their path, so they fill your home with lush greenery. It's a great way to maximize the growing potential of your indoor living space.
Arrowhead Vine
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum) is a tropical plant with large, broad leaves that are shaped a bit like - you guessed it - arrowheads. Arrowhead vine doesn't start climbing right away. It begins as a bushy plant that grows an upright stem that will begin to climb after a few years. Arrowhead vine requires bright to medium indirect light. To avoid over watering, let the soil get a bit dry before adding water.
Wear gloves when you come in contact with the leaves of an arrowhead plant, because its leaves produce sap that can cause an allergic skin reaction. When you're finished working with the plant, be sure to wash your hands.
Betel Leaf Plant
Betel leaf plant (Piper betle) is a tropical plant with a climbing habit. It prefers medium indirect light but can also handle bright indirect light. This plant likes a lot of moisture, so it's a good idea to water it lightly daily. If you won't remember to do that, put a bit of water in a saucer and place the container on top so the plant can pull up moisture from the bottom.
This plant is believed to have medicinal benefits. Its leaves have antiseptic properties and are sometimes used as a stimulant. It is also used to make paan in Indian cuisine.
Creeping Fig
Creeping fig (Ficus pumil) is a small-leaved climbing vine in the ficus family. It's not finicky about sunlight. It'll grow indoors in bright, medium, and low indirect light. Its biggest nemesis is over watering. Wait for the soil to get a bit dry before adding water.
Most figs are deciduous shrubs. Creeping fig is the only type of fig with a climbing or vining habit. It doesn't produce flowers or fruit when grown indoors. The fruit this plant produces outdoors isn't considered edible.
English Ivy
English ivy (Hedera helix) is a fast-growing climbing plant that grows best in medium indirect light, but it will also thrive in bright indirect light. English ivy needs consistent water, so it's best to add more water as soon as the soil feels dry on the surface. When the air is particularly dry - such as during the winter when the heater is on - mist your English ivy every week.
English ivy is believed to have some therapeutic properties, such as potentially being helpful in treating early symptoms of respiratory infections. However, don't try to eat any part of this plant (leave herbal remedies to qualified professionals), as all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and pets.
Heartleaf Philodendron
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is a popular climbing houseplant. It prefers - and does best in - bright indirect light, but it can tolerate medium or low light. The more indirect light it gets, the brighter and shinier its leaves will be. It prefers for its soil to stay moist, so you should add water as soon as the soil starts to turn dry.
If you're not meeting your heartleaf philodendron's need for water, the plant will let you know. If its leaves begin to yellow, that means you're over watering. If its leaves turn brown, that means that the plant isn't getting enough water.
Hoya Hearts
Hoya hearts (Hoya Kerrii) is a climbing succulent vine. It has small, heart-shaped leaves and a climbing habit. This plant needs several hours of bright indirect light every day in order to thrive. Wait for the first inch or two of this plant's soil to dry out before adding water. When watering this plant, give it a good soaking, then leave it alone until the soil gets dry again.
Because of its distinctive heart-shaped leaves, this plant makes a great Valentine's Day gift. It's such a popular choice for this occasion that it's sometimes referred to as a sweetheart hoya.
Kangaroo Vine
Kangaroo vine (Cissus Antarctica) is a fast-growing vine that loves to climb walls or any kind of structure. This plant does great in all kinds of indoor light conditions, including low, medium, and bright indirect light. Its roots like consistent moisture, so it's best to add water when the top half inch or so of soil is dry.
Like the animal it's named for, kangaroo vine is native to the land down under, Australia.
Philodendron Pink Princess
Pink princess philodendron (Philodendron erubescens) is a climbing philodendron that thrives indoors as long as it gets plenty of light. In order to keep its gorgeous pink and green variegation, this plant needs at least six hours of indirect bright light every day. This plant is susceptible to root rot, so it's important to wait for the top two inches of soil to dry out before watering.
Philodendron pink princess comes by its name honestly. Besides having pink leaves, this plant's stems also have a pink hue. If your plant's leaves start to lose their pink, that means it isn't getting enough light.
Pothos
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), also referred to as devil's ivy, is among the most popular houseplants. It does best in bright indirect light. Generally, this plant will also tolerate lower light conditions, but it really needs bright light in order to climb via its aerial roots. Pothos plants don't like to have soggy roots, so make sure that at least the top two inches of soil are dry before watering.
Pothos plants are often referred to as money plants, especially in the southern parts of Asia. Some people believe these plants bring good luck and good fortune (i.e., money).
Wax Ivy
Wax ivy (Senecio macroglossus) has succulent stems and leaves that sort of look like English ivy, but they're thicker and have a waxy texture. This plant flourishes in bright indirect sunlight. If it gets enough bright sun, it might even occasionally flower indoors. It can also tolerate medium indirect sun, but it won't flower. This plant likes to stay evenly moist, but not soggy. It's best to wait for the surface of the soil to get slightly dry between waterings.
Despite its name, wax ivy is not actually ivy. It is a succulent. In addition to growing this plant in a climbing fashion, you can also let its stems cascade off the side of a shelf or out of a hanging basket.
Show Off Your Indoor Climbing Plants
Climbing houseplants are a sight to behold, as long as you give them something to climb. These plants look great climbing up trellises, topiary, or poles. You can also place them near columns or banisters to climb or allow them to vine across exposed beams or rafters. However you decide to position the climbing varieties in your houseplant collection, they're sure to put on an impressive vertical show.
