The 7 Most Photogenic Plants of All Time

There are some plants that we’ll never get tired of looking at on Instagram, no matter how many times they pop up in our feeds. Big and small, these showstoppers are the eye-candy of the plant world.

With their broad, imposing leaves, staghorn ferns (Platycerium) demand attention in any space. The leaves have deep incisions, resembling a deer’s antlers, hence the plant’s name. In the wild, staghorn ferns grow on top of other plants, so mature plants need to be mounted on a board or placed in a hanging basket. They’re admittedly a bit tricky to grow, but the reward is well worth the effort.

Monstera deliciosa is a camera hog, but we’re giving the title of “most photogenic” to its cousin Monstera adansonii. Adansonii, frequently called the Swiss cheese plant, has smaller, lacy leaves and trailing vines. It’s a great pick for a hanging basket or a pot that sits up on a bookcase or high shelf.

We could look at pictures of Rex begonias all day long. Clearly a favorite of plant breeders, there are dozens of varieties to choose from, each more captivating than the last. With shades of silver, pink, purple, sea green, and yellow, the hardest part is deciding which one to buy. We challenge you not to become a collector.

This little succulent is a marvel. The leaves are perfectly round peas that dangle from long strands like an unclasped necklace. It looks best in a small hanging basket. If you’re lucky, your string of pearls will bloom with tiny white and pink flowers that smell like cinnamon and cloves.

If a maranta was in a beauty pageant with a Rex begonia, all bets are off as to who would win. Marantas, also called prayer plants, have large, vividly colored leaves with intricate patterns. They spread outward and fill a large planter nicely.

Caladiums may just win the day for exotic leaves. There are many varieties with freckled leaves featuring white, pink, and red accents, and we love every single one of them. Some of the most striking options, such as ‘Candida’ and ‘White Queen,’ are almost entirely white with deep green or pink veins.

Frizzle sizzle (Albuca spiralis) is as fun to look at as its name sounds. This whimsical succulent has very slender stems that abruptly end in tightly curled leaves. In spring it delights with a thicket of yellow-green flowers that shoot up from the center of the plant.