What are the Spider Plant and the Parlour Palm?
The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a resilient, fast-growing houseplant with arching striped leaves, suited to most indoor environments, including low light. The Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans) is a compact tropical palm with elegant fronds, ideal for bright corners and tabletop displays. Both are beginner-friendly, widely available and priced accessibly.
This guide highlights these two widely loved indoor plants, the Spider Plant and the Parlour Palm, and explains why they are such popular choices for new plant owners. You’ll learn what makes these plants easy to grow, how they can elevate your interior space, and how to choose the right one for your home.
Which one suits you?
The Spider Plant is particularly resilient; it tolerates low light, irregular watering and most indoor environments. The Parlour Palm requires slightly more consistent care but remains straightforward as long as it has a bright spot and is not overwatered.
£5.00
The Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is one of the most resilient and widely grown houseplants available. Its arching, slender leaves, often striped with white, grow quickly and suit shelves, hanging displays and windowsills. It tolerates low light, irregular watering and most indoor conditions, making it one of the most forgiving plants for complete beginners. At £5, it is one of the most accessible houseplants available.
Chamaedorea Elegans Tiny Lizzy 22cm
£5.00
The Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans ‘Tiny Lizzy’) is a compact tropical palm suited to tabletops, shelves and smaller indoor corners. Its elegant, feathery fronds give it a distinctive tropical appearance while remaining easy to maintain. It thrives in bright, indirect light and prefers lightly moist soil. At 22cm it is a practical size for most indoor spaces and at £5 one of the most affordable tropical houseplants available.
Most popular houseplants grow best in bright, indirect light. Spider Plants tolerate lower light levels, while tropical plants like the Parlour Palm prefer gentle, filtered light. Avoid harsh midday sun, which can scorch delicate foliage.
Allow the top layer of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes beginners make, so always check soil moisture before adding more water. Spider Plants prefer consistent but moderate watering; Parlour Palms enjoy lightly moist soil but should never sit in standing water.
Use a well-draining indoor plant compost and choose pots with drainage holes to prevent root rot. Repotting every 1–2 years gives your houseplants room to grow and keeps them looking fresh and healthy.
For most beginners, the Spider Plant is the safer first choice; it tolerates a wider range of conditions and recovers quickly from care mistakes. In our experience, the Parlour Palm is a better fit for growers who have a bright spot available and want something with a more distinctive tropical aesthetic. At £5 each, both are a low-risk way to start building an indoor plant collection.
Miyagi Bonsai stocks a carefully chosen range of popular houseplants, including Spider Plants and Parlour Palms, with next working day UK delivery available on most orders. The plants and recommendations in this guide reflect what we stock, use and see working for our customers every day. We are rated 5 stars across over 100 Google reviews, and our team is on hand by email and phone if you have any questions about choosing or caring for your plants.
If you’re choosing your first indoor plant, you may have questions about care, light levels, and which species are best for beginners. These quick FAQs will help you confidently select and maintain the right houseplants for your home.
Spider Plants, Parlour Palms, Pothos and Jade Plants are among the easiest and most popular indoor plants for new growers.
Spider Plants, Parlour Palms and Pothos varieties adapt extremely well to low and moderate light conditions.
Most houseplants prefer the top inch of soil to dry before watering. Tropical plants need slightly more frequent watering than succulents.
Yes. Spider Plants and Parlour Palms are known for filtering common household pollutants and improving air freshness.
The Spider Plant is a fast-growing, trailing plant with long arching leaves that tolerates low light and irregular watering. The Parlour Palm is a compact tropical palm with upright feathery fronds that prefers bright indirect light and lightly moist soil. The Spider Plant is more forgiving of neglect and suits a wider range of indoor conditions. The Parlour Palm is better suited to growers who can offer a consistently bright spot and want a more decorative, tropical appearance.
Spider Plants are considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, though they can cause mild stomach upset if eaten in large quantities due to their mildly hallucinogenic effect on cats. Parlour Palms are also non-toxic to cats and dogs and are widely regarded as one of the safest houseplants for pet owners. Both are generally considered safe choices for homes with pets, though it is always advisable to discourage pets from chewing any houseplant.
