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Do you hesitate bringing houseplants into your home because you think you have a black thumb? Do you have a history of your plants dying on you? The plants listed here are literally (okay, not literally … but, nearly) impossible to kill. It takes very severe neglect or – more likely – too much love expressed as watering, to kill them. All of these houseplants have beautiful green foliage that will brighten up your indoors. A few are flowering, some are exceptionally photogenic and others have air-purifying qualities. What more can you ask for?

Money plant or Epipremnum aureum

This evergreen tropical vine is also known as the devil’s vine or devil’s ivy because of its high tolerance to infrequent watering and unsuitable soil conditions. When indoors, the money plant grows best under indirect sunlight. Let this leafy plant climb over a trellis or trail down from a hanging pot in any light-filled room; water it a few times a month. But beware: the leaves of this vine can be toxic to your pet.

Lucky bamboo or Dracaena sanderiana

The lucky bamboo is not a real bamboo but a flowering plant from the Asparagaceae family. When grown indoors in water or moist soil and under indirect sunlight, lucky bamboo is unlikely to die. It is best to use only distilled water or rain water for watering and as a growing medium. If you are growing the houseplant in water, change the medium every couple of days for healthy growth.

Snake plant or Sansevieria trifasciata

The snake plant is a forgiving, easy-to-grow succulent that thrives in bright light but can survive in darker areas, too. One possible way you can kill this houseplant is by over-watering. So if you ever forget to water once in a while, it is just fine. It needs to be watered only once or twice a week. Plus, studies show that snake plant is capable of absorbing many different varieties of toxins from the air, making the indoors healthier.

Peace lily plant or Spathiphyllum wallisii

This flowering perennial does not need a lot of water or sunlight to thrive. In addition to being a beautiful design element, peace lilies are proven to effectively arrest pollutants from the air. Keep your pets away from this plant to avoid possible allergic reactions.

Aloe vera or Aloe vera

This all-rounder among succulents is not only an easy-care houseplant, but also an active ingredient in medicines, dietary supplements and many cosmetics. This spiky plant performs best in indirect sunlight and moist soil. It does not need daily watering: after all, it is a succulent.

Song of India or Dracaena reflexa

A native of India, this ornamental evergreen houseplant does not demand much of your attention to thrive. Just keep the soil gently moist and provide indirect light for best results. Over its life, it will up your decor and eliminate formaldehyde and trichlorotoluene from the indoor air. There is so much this houseplant can do!

Areca palm or Dypsis lutescens

Areca palm is a hard-wearing plant that adapts well to most climates. With its sculptural shape and low light and water needs, this plant is a great choice for making an impact in any indoor space. Moreover, it absorbs toluene and xylene from the indoor air.

Holy basil or Ocimum tenuiflorum

This aromatic perennial (also called O. sanctum) prefers partial to full sunlight to thrive indoors. Although holy basil is slightly tolerant to under-watering, moist soil works best. In addition to having medicinal properties, the holy basil or tulsi is found to counter toxic stress from heavy metals, chemicals and radiation. Plus, it helps keeps mosquitoes away, too.