Houseplants are an excellent way to bring some life into a room, improve its air quality and add a splash of color. However, if you live in a mid-century home or one that was built even earlier, there are certain kinds of plants that will better suit the home’s period. The same is true if you are a fan of picking up antique hardware for doors and cabinets, vintage furniture and similar décor to give your home a distinctive feel, where you will want your indoor vegetation to match the vibe.

That said, here are eight houseplants that go great with vintage décor.

1. Monstera Deliciosa

Known to many as “Swiss cheese plants,” monstera deliciosa is an incredibly common houseplant to be seen in homes in the 1970s.

Part of the reason that this is such a popular and beloved plant is because its leaves are extremely distinct, thus helping to make it the iconic plant that it is today.

Keep this plant in bright, indirect sunlight and well-watered and this plant will happily sprawl out and become a wonderful addition to your home.

2. Begonias

Another popular choice among home restoration experts and vintage interior design fanatics is begonias. Begonias originally came into fashion in the 1960s and still evoke a sense of the era today.

However, make sure you know which variety of begonia you have on your hands. Of the three types of begonias – tuberous, fibrous and rhizomatous – tuberous begonias can have a hard time surviving indoors.

3. Succulents

Today, succulents are a pretty popular indoor plant. However, they only came into favor in (roughly) the past 30 years.

If you do choose to integrate this plant into your vintage décor, be sure that you understand how to care for succulents. Since they hail from hot, dry, desert locations, they require relatively little water (compared to some of the other plants on this list) and demand quite a bit of sunlight.

4. Boston Fern

The Victorians were incredibly fond of ferns. In fact, there is even a word that exists to describe these people’s borderline obsession with the plant: pteridomania.

Boston ferns are a wonderful houseplant to integrate in your vintage indoor design. Additionally, since Boston ferns demand a good amount of moisture, these will do well in most guest bathrooms (as they are not fond of the heat showers can create).

5. Snake Plants

One plant that works perfectly in retro habitats but has maintained its popularity over the decades is the snake plant. Part of the reason for this is that it is notoriously easy to take care of and is quite resilient, proving itself capable of surviving in lowlight environments.

Additionally, much like the monstera deliciosa, snake plants have distinctive leaves, making them incredibly easy for even the layman to recognize, which makes them a great little conversation starter.

6. Spider Plants

For those who were around in the 1970s, they can tell you that spider plants were ubiquitous. Part of the reason why this makes such a great houseplant is that, similar to some of the other plants on this list, it is quite difficult to kill.

A big reason why spider plants caught on in the ’70s was that there was a considerable amount of cane and stripped-back furniture around (both of which have made a comeback), which made soft plants such as this a great contrast.

7. Rubber Plants

Another omnipresent houseplant of the disco era was the rubber plant. Distinctive in appearance, the rubber plant features big, wide, waxy-looking leaves that help the sizable plant have a considerable presence in any room.

Moreover, the rubber plant is shade-tolerant, which means that it can live in rooms that don’t get tons of sunlight. Just make sure that if you have one of these in your home, your pot has room for new shoots to sprout.

8. Pothos Plants

Pothos plants are another big houseplant hit from bygone eras that will integrate perfectly with your vintage décor. Additionally, pothos plants come in a slew of different varieties, which means that you can select one that best matches your room.

Golden pothos plants feature golden, yellow-green leaves. Meanwhile, “Marble Queen” features wonderful white and green foliage. Satin pothos plants are known for their dark green and silver appearance. The “Lime” variety has (as you would expect) yellow-green leaves, while “Neon” pothos plants are purely yellow.

While this plant is also quite easy to care for, do be aware that it is poisonous, thus earning it the nickname “Devil’s Ivy.” That said, while the plant is toxic, it is very rarely fatal and, if ingested, will likely just end up causing vomiting and irritation.

Picking the Right Plants for Your Vintage Vibe

Houseplants are a wonderful addition to any home. However, if you are more into the rustic, antique or vintage look, the plants listed above will pair with your surroundings better than those found in more modern abodes.

Consider which of these plants will work best with your home and get to work cultivating your green thumb!