5 Best Space Saving Plants for Small Flats UK
Table of Contents
- 1. Snake Plant: The Almost Unkillable Vertical Grower
- 2. Spider Plant: Trailing Greenery That Fits Any Shelf
- 3. ZZ Plant: Best Low Light Indoor Plants UK Buyers Love
- 4. Pothos: The Fast-Growing Climbing Favourite
- 5. Heartleaf Philodendron: Compact, Forgiving and Easy to Style
- How to Display Plants in Small Flats Without Losing Floor Space
- Small Plant Pots for Desks: Picking the Right Size and Style
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 1, 2026
1. Snake Plant: The Almost Unkillable Vertical Grower
If you want space saving plants that survive a fortnight of neglect, the snake plant is the safest bet you can make. Its stiff, upright leaves grow vertically rather than outwards, which means it takes up almost no floor space in a small flat.
Snake plants tolerate low light and infrequent watering, making them one of the best low light indoor plants UK buyers reach for again and again. A common mistake is overwatering: let the soil dry out completely between drinks and it will outlast most houseplants.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Grows upward, not outward; thrives in shade; needs watering roughly every two to three weeks; hard to kill.
- Cons: Slow to grow; mildly toxic to pets if chewed.
Where to buy: Garden centres, supermarkets, and online plant shops stock snake plants in a range of sizes.
2. Spider Plant: Trailing Greenery That Fits Any Shelf
Spider plants earn their place on this list because they work with your space, not against it. The arching, striped leaves trail beautifully from a shelf or hanging pot, so your greenery lives at eye level instead of eating into your floor.
They suit bright, indirect light and forgive the odd missed watering. A common mistake is placing them in harsh direct sun, which scorches the leaf tips. These plants also produce "babies" you can pot on and share, which makes them excellent value.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Trailing habit saves surface space; produces free plantlets; forgiving of irregular watering.
- Cons: Brown tips appear in dry air or with tap water; needs a shelf or hook to look its best.
Where to buy: Most garden centres and online houseplant retailers carry spider plants.
3. ZZ Plant: Best Low Light Indoor Plants UK Buyers Love
For gloomy corners where nothing else survives, the ZZ plant is the standout choice. Its glossy, waxy leaves cope with shade and drought, so it suits north-facing rooms and busy owners alike.
This is one of the best low light indoor plants UK shoppers can pick up, and it grows upright rather than sprawling, keeping its footprint tight. The one thing to watch is overwatering, which causes root rot far more often than underwatering.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Handles very low light; stores water in its roots; upright shape suits tight corners.
- Cons: Toxic to pets if eaten; expensive to replace if it does rot.
Where to buy: Online houseplant specialists and larger garden centres usually stock ZZ plants.
4. Pothos: The Fast-Growing Climbing Favourite
Pothos grows quickly and climbs or trails, which makes it ideal for turning a bare wall or bookshelf into a living feature. You can train it up a moss pole or let it cascade from a high shelf.
Plant Life Support | Plant Self-Water →
It tolerates low light but grows fastest in bright, indirect conditions. A common mistake is letting it dry out completely for weeks, which stalls growth and crisps the edges.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Fast grower; easy to propagate from cuttings; climbs or trails to suit your layout.
- Cons: Toxic to pets; can look straggly without occasional pruning.
Where to buy: Supermarkets, garden centres, and online plant shops sell pothos regularly.
5. Heartleaf Philodendron: Compact, Forgiving and Easy to Style
Heartleaf philodendron is the compact cousin of pothos, with softer heart-shaped leaves and a tidier growth habit. It stays manageable on a desk or shelf, which is why it suits small flats so well.
It copes with moderate light and forgives occasional missed waterings. The trade-off is that it grows more slowly than pothos, so it will not fill a wall overnight.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Compact and tidy; forgiving of light and water swings; looks good in a small pot.
- Cons: Slower growth; toxic to pets if chewed.
Where to buy: Independent plant shops and online retailers stock heartleaf philodendron.
| Plant | Light Needs | Watering | Space-Saving Habit | Pet-Safe? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snake Plant | Low to bright | Every 2-3 weeks | Upright | No |
| Spider Plant | Bright, indirect | Weekly | Trailing | Yes |
| ZZ Plant | Low | Every 3-4 weeks | Upright | No |
| Pothos | Low to bright | Weekly | Climbing/trailing | No |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Moderate | Weekly | Compact/trailing | No |
How to Display Plants in Small Flats Without Losing Floor Space
The trick to displaying space saving plants in a small flat is to use vertical surfaces and existing furniture rather than the floor. Windowsills, floating shelves, wall hooks, and the tops of bookcases all give you growing room without sacrificing a single centimetre of floor.
A few display ideas that work well:
- Group three small pots at different heights on one shelf for visual impact
- Hang trailing plants near a window to draw the eye upward
- Use a tiered plant stand in a corner to stack several plants in one footprint
- Swap a plain pot for a characterful planter that doubles as decor
That last point matters more than people expect. A quirky planter does the work of a decorative object and a plant pot at once, which is exactly what a small flat needs. At Quirky Turkey Gifts & Gadgets, our range of characterful plant pots is built for exactly this: making a small corner feel intentional rather than cluttered.
Small Plant Pots for Desks: Picking the Right Size and Style
Small plant pots for desks should be no wider than about 10-12cm so they leave room for your keyboard, mug, and actual work. Pick a pot with a drainage hole or a self-watering design, since desk plants are easy to overwater by accident.
Self-watering pots take the guesswork out of it. The Hydrating Herbert Self Watering Plant Pot, for example, uses a built-in system that regulates moisture for everything from leafy houseplants to a low-maintenance succulent.
Plant Life Support | Plant Self-Water →
Style matters too, since a desk pot is on show all day. A cheerful character planter or a bright ceramic pot lifts a workspace far more than a plain terracotta one.
Conclusion
Keeping greenery alive in a small flat comes down to picking plants that grow up rather than out, and pots that earn their space. The five plants above all do that, and each one forgives the odd missed watering.
When you are ready to give them a home, Quirky Turkey Gifts & Gadgets has characterful planters and self-watering pots designed to bring joy to any space. With over 100,000 satisfied customers and super-fast express delivery, we make it easy to find a pot that suits your plant and your personality.
Get started with Quirky Turkey Gifts & Gadgets and give your small flat the greenery it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best indoor plants for small flats with low light?
The ZZ plant and snake plant both cope well with low light and need little watering, which makes them reliable for rooms that only get a few hours of daylight. Spider plants and pothos manage in moderate light but grow faster near a window. If your flat faces north or has small windows, start with a ZZ plant and add a self-watering pot such as Hydrating Herbert (£14.99) so the soil does not stay soggy in a dim corner.
How do you display plants in a small flat without taking up floor space?
Use vertical surfaces rather than the floor. Windowsills, floating shelves, bookcase tops and the edge of a sideboard all work well, and trailing plants like spider plants and pothos look best when their leaves are allowed to hang. A planter with dangling legs, such as the Plant Mum Planter with Dangling Legs and Blue Shoes (£7.95), is designed to sit on a shelf edge and adds character while using no floor space at all.
Can I grow trailing plants in a small flat?
Yes, and they are some of the best space saving plants for a flat because they grow outwards and downwards rather than taking up surface area. Spider plants, pothos and heartleaf philodendron all trail naturally. Place them on a high shelf or windowsill so the stems can hang freely, and trim longer runners if they start to interfere with walkways. Avoid hanging them where the leaves will be brushed against constantly.
How often should I water indoor plants in a small flat?
It depends on the plant and the room. Snake plants and ZZ plants often need watering only every two to three weeks, while spider plants and pothos prefer slightly more regular moisture. Small flats tend to be warm and dry, so check the soil before watering rather than following a fixed schedule. A terracotta water sensor such as Willy the Garden Worm (£2.75) changes colour to show when the soil is dry.
Which small plant pots work best on a desk?
Look for pots under about 15cm wide so they do not crowd your workspace. Hettie the Hedgehog Planter Bowl (£7.99) measures L12 x W10 x H7 cm and suits a cactus or small succulent, while the Hello Sunshine Plant Pot with 3D Sunflower (£9.99) brightens up a plain desk. If you forget to water, a self-watering pot keeps moisture consistent without you having to think about it.
