Top 16 Terrarium Plants for Stunning Miniature Gardens
From ferns to succulents, these easy-care plants are perfect for creating a gorgeous, self-sustaining miniature garden.
Photo by qnula / Shutterstock.
There’s something magical about terrariums. These all-in-one ecosystems mimic nature on a small scale, allowing you to use different houseplants and decorative elements to dream up your own mini fantasy land.
Although you can buy terrarium kits, complete with a glass vessel and assortment of terrarium-friendly plants, it’s a lot more fun to create your own. Building a terrarium isn’t hard (see How to Make a Terrarium) and can be a very rewarding project that offers endless possibilities for personalization. Depending on your choice of plants and the type of container, you can create everything from a tiny rainforest or woodland dell to a sandy desert or rocky coastline.
TERRARIUM TYPES: OPEN VS CLOSED
Terrariums can be open (which means they don’t have a lid) or closed by a lid, cork or other cover to create a sealed environment. Each type offers pros and cons. The choice often depends on the types of plants you want to grow and the effort you want to put into maintaining them.
Closed terrariums are ideal for humidity-loving plants that are hard to grow in the dry atmosphere of a typical home, such as ferns, mosses, and tropical plants. When their leaves give off water vapor, it condenses inside the glass enclosure and runs back down to moisten the roots. Although plants grown in a closed terrarium will need minimal watering, excess moisture condensation on the glass might obscure the view and create an overly humid environment that can encourage mold and mildew growth.
Open terrariums, on the other hand, are best suited for plants that prefer lower humidity and more ventilation, like succulents, cacti, and air plants. The open design allows for easier access to your plants, but they will require more frequent watering, since there's no cover to retain moisture.
Note that both types of terrariums are easy to care for and don't require a green thumb for success. Other than occasional watering and trimming, your terrarium plantings will basically tend to themselves.
BEST TERRARIUM PLANTS FOR CLOSED CONTAINERS
Network News™ World Views™ nerve plant. Photo by Proven Winners.
NERVE PLANT (Fittonia albivenis)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: High
Size: 3 to 8 inches tall
Varieties to try: Network News™ series from Proven Winners
Known for its striking veined leaves, Fittonia is a top choice for terrariums because it’s small and tidy while adding a bold pop of color. Most nerve plants have dark-green leaves decorated with contrasting veins in pink or white, but you can also find varieties with lime-green, pink, or white leaves and veins in colors ranging from deep red to purple. Learn more about growing nerve plants.
Pictured: Network News™ World Views™ nerve plant from Proven Winners.
Hippo® Rose polka dot plant. Photo by Proven Winners.
POLKA DOT PLANT (Hypoestes phyllostachya)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: 6 to 18 inches tall
Varieties to try: Confetti Compact Rose, Hippo® series from Proven Winners
Also known as freckle face, the leaves of this charming foliage plant sport cheerful red, white, or pink speckles, making it an eye-catching accent plant in terrarium designs. Although most polka dot plants stay under 12 inches tall, taller varieties may need to be pinched back if they begin to overtake their container. Learn more about growing polka dot plants.
Pictured: Hippo® Rose polka dot plant from Proven Winners.
Living Lace® Cute as a Button™ button fern. Photo by Proven Winners.
FERNS (Various)
Exposure: Low to moderate indirect light
Humidity: High
Size: 4 to 12 inches tall (for compact varieties)
Varieties to try: Lemon button fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia), heart fern (Hemionitis arifolia), ‘Fluffy Ruffles’ (Nephrolepis exaltata), dwarf maidenhair fern (Adiantum microphyllum)
Ferns add lacy, elegant texture to terrariums and are particularly well-suited for an enclosed environment because they thrive in high humidity. In addition to the conventional feather-like fronds, you can also find ferns with unique heart-, button-, or fan-shaped leaves. See more types of indoor ferns.
Pictured: Living Lace® Cute as a Button™ button fern from Proven Winners.
Falling Arrows® Ruby Reign™ arrowhead vine. Photo by Proven Winners.
ARROWHEAD VINE (Syngonium podophyllum)
Exposure: Low to moderate indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: Up to 12 inches tall
Varieties to try: ‘Mini Pixie’, Falling Arrows® Ruby Reign™ (pictured)
Named for the distinct shape of its leaves, arrowhead vine offers a wide array of exotic foliage patterns and colors, making it ideal for giving terrariums a tropical vibe. To maintain a manageable size and encourage bushier growth, prune off any unwanted stems or leggy growth just above a leaf node. See more on how to grow arrowhead vines.
Asparagus fern. Photo by Young Swee Ming / Shutterstock.
ASPARAGUS FERN (Asparagus densiflorus)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: 2 feet tall (for dwarf types)
Varieties to try: ‘Sprengeri Compacta’, ‘Nana’
With their feathery needle-like leaves, asparagus ferns add wonderful textural interest to terrarium plantings and contrast beautifully with broad-leafed foliage plants. Although they aren’t true ferns, they have similar water and humidity needs and thrive in the greenhouse-like conditions of a closed terrarium. Just be aware that these fast growers may need regular pruning to keep them in check.
Bold Belles™ Dappled Morning™ angel wing begonia. Photo by Proven Winners.
ANGEL WING BEGONIA (Begonia maculata)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: 8 to 14 inches tall
Varieties to try: Bold Belles™ Dappled Morning™ (pictured)
Also known as polka dot begonia, this striking plant is a great choice for terrariums due to its compact size, attractive foliage, and preference for high humidity. Perched atop bamboo-like stems, the dark green wing-shaped leaves are adorned by silvery speckles and showy red undersides. To maintain a compact, lush appearance, prune regularly to remove leggy growth. Learn more on how to grow and care for begonias.
Baby tears plant. Photo by Melica / Shutterstock.
BABY TEARS (Soleirolia soleirolii)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: High
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall
A terrarium favorite, this charming ground cover densely blankets the soil to create a lush green carpet of tiny, round green leaves. Because of its creeping nature, baby tears may need occasional pruning to keep it in bounds. You can also use decorative stones or other barriers to help contain its spread.
Moss in terrarium. Photo by juangonzalez / Shutterstock.
MOSS (Various)
Exposure: Low to bright indirect light
Humidity: High
Size: 1 to 4 inches tall
Varieties to try: Feather moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis), star moss (Tortula ruralis), fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum)
Several types of moss work well in terrariums, each offering unique textures and visual appeal, ranging from soft and feathery to fern-like. Not only is moss an easy-care ground cover, it also helps maintain humidity levels and filter out toxins. See more types of moss.
Savory Delights™ Salt and Pepper™ peperomia. Photo by Proven Winners.
PEPEROMIA (Peperomia spp.)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Varieties to try: Savory Delights™ series from Proven Winners, watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia), ‘Red Ripple’ (P. caperata)
Few houseplants offer as many options in foliage color, shape, size, and texture than peperomia. Some have glossy succulent-like leaves while others have deeply crinkled heart-shaped foliage, in colors ranging from green to variegated to purple-toned. Because there are so many types of peperomia, you can create a colorful, easy-care terrarium with these plants alone, using creeping types to create a ground cover effect and upright types as focal points. Learn more about growing peperomia plants.
Pictured: Savory Delights™ Salt and Pepper™ peperomia from Proven Winners.
BEST TERRARIUM PLANTS FOR OPEN CONTAINERS
Tillandsia. Photo by Josefa Calzado / Shutterstock.
AIR PLANT (Tillandsia)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate to high
Size: 1 to 12 inches tall, depending on the species
Air plants have the unique ability to thrive without soil and instead absorb most of the moisture and nutrients they need from the air. That gives you the ability to create a soilless terrarium display using an assortment of air plants alone, along with decorative elements such as colored stones, pebbles or a bit of driftwood. To keep your air plants hydrated, simply soak them in water for about 20 minutes once a week or use a spray bottle to mist them with water. Learn more about growing air plants.
Baby jade plant. Photo by Proven Winners.
MINI JADE PLANT (Crassula ovata 'Minima')
Exposure: Prefers bright indirect light, but can tolerate some direct sun
Humidity: Low to moderate
Size: 9 to 24 inches tall
Also known as dwarf or baby jade plant, this slow-growing succulent has a dense, mounding habit and can even be pruned bonsai-style to create a lovely miniature tree for your terrarium display. When given enough light, the fleshy lime-green leaves become tinged with pretty burgundy highlights. But to keep the foliage vibrant without the risk of sunburn, avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight. Learn more about growing jade plants.
String of Pearls plant. Photo by Proven Winners.
STRING OF PEARLS (Senecio rowleyanus)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Average
Size: 2 to3 feet in length
Because open terrariums have no lid, they are the perfect vessels for a variety of trailing plants, such as string of pearls. This unique succulent’s spherical leaves resemble green peas and, like pearls, are strung on long, trailing stems that can be allowed to cascade from the terrarium opening. Other eye-catching trailing plants for open terrariums include string of hearts and burro’s tail. (See them all here.)
Cacti terrarium. Photo by Anne Bee / Shutterstock.
CACTI (Various)
Exposure: Bright light; can tolerate direct sun
Humidity: Low
Size: Varies, depending on species
Varieties to try: Rainbow pincushion (Mammillaria rhodantha), peanut cactus (Echinopsis chamaecereus), thimble cactus (Mammillaria gracilis)
Virtually maintenance-free, cacti need little more than very bright light and a bit of water every few weeks to thrive. Most species also grow very slowly, so even larger varieties are unlikely to outgrow their home quickly. Keep in mind that cacti can't tolerate a damp, humid environment so make sure your terrarium has a large opening and good airflow to keep your plants healthy. Also use a coarse, well-draining cactus or succulent mix to prevent waterlogged soil.
'Lola' echeveria. Photo by pticelov / Shutterstock.
ECHEVERIA (Echeveria spp. and hybrids)
Exposure: Bright indirect light, but can tolerate some direct sun
Humidity: Low
Size: 2 to 4 inches tall, up to 12 inches in diameter
Varieties to try: ‘Lola’ (pictured), ‘Black Prince’, ‘Doris Taylor’ (also known as woolly rose because of its unique fuzzy leaves)
Easily recognized by their symmetrical rosettes of plump, fleshy leaves, echeveria are similar in appearance to hen and chicks (Sempervivum), but come in a wider array of colors and forms, including varieties with spoon-shaped or ruffled foliage. They also thrive in hot, dry conditions, making them good companions to cacti in open terrarium arrangements. See more varieties of echeveria.
Zebra haworthia. Photo by elegeyda / Shutterstock.
ZEBRA HAWORTHIA (Haworthia attenuata)
Exposure: Bright indirect light
Humidity: Moderate
Size: 3 to 5 inches tall
Cute and compact, this slow-growing succulent forms attractive rosettes of fleshy green leaves accented by bands of pebbly white speckles. Like cacti, it needs minimal watering, but avoid placing in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to intense midday sun can scorch the leaves.
Birds nest snake plant. Photo by suvian / Shutterstock.
SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria spp.)
Exposure: Low to moderate indirect light
Humidity: Tolerates a wide range of humidity levels
Size: 4 to 12 inches tall (for compact species)
Varieties to try: 'Twisted Sister' (S. trifasciata), bird’s nest sansevieria (S. trifasciata 'Hahnii'), 'Samurai Dwarf' (S. ehrenbergii)
Tough and forgiving, snake plant seems to thrive on neglect, making it the ultimate low-maintenance terrarium plant. Although some Sansevieria can grow to be quite tall, there are several dwarf varieties that stay nice and compact, making them a perfect fit for small- to medium-sized terrariums. See more on how to grow snake plant.
WHAT IS THE BEST SIZE FOR TERRARIUM PLANTS?
When choosing a size for your terrarium plants, the goal is to create a balanced, visually appealing display by selecting smaller plants that won't outgrow the space quickly. Here are a few general guidelines:
- For small- to medium-sized terrariums, compact or dwarf plants that remain under 12 inches in height are ideal, such as nerve plant, dwarf ferns, or mini succulents. For larger terrariums, you can include slightly taller plants, like asparagus fern and arrowhead vine.
- In addition to plant size, also consider the growth rate. Slow-growing plants will minimize the need for pruning and help maintain the aesthetics and balance of your terrarium over time.
- To prevent overcrowding and allow for better airflow and light penetration, trim or pinch back any plants that threaten to grow beyond their limited boundaries. Even small, slow-growing plants may need occasional trimming and pruning to maintain their size and shape.
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