7 Best Climbing Houseplants for Your Home Interior
By Robert Chen|Published on September 27, 2022|Updated on January 23, 2025
Trailing houseplants are total game-changers for your home decor, looking just as stunning draped over a bookshelf as they do hanging in a chic macramé planter. If you’re looking to add some vertical greenery to your space, here are some of the most popular varieties and how to pick the perfect one for your room.
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++Mistletoe Cactus (Rhipsalis pilocarpa)
Originally hailing from the rainforests of Brazil, the Mistletoe Cactus is a real showstopper. With its thin, delicate, segmented branches, it almost looks like a wild head of hair! You can let the stems cascade beautifully over the sides of a pot or train them to climb up a trellis. The best part? It’s incredibly low-maintenance and hardly needs any watering. Just find a warm spot for it that stays out of direct, harsh sunlight. Standard cactus soil works perfectly as a potting medium.
++Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus)
The Lipstick Plant offers lush, dense green foliage, but it’s really famous for its spectacular blooms. When it flowers, you’ll see stunning tubular blossoms in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Since it’s a Southeast Asian rainforest native, it loves warm temperatures. Pro tip: To encourage those beautiful flowers, move the plant to a slightly cooler room for about a month during the winter.
++Wax Plant (Hoya carnosa)
The Hoya carnosa, often called the Wax Plant or Porcelain Flower, features gorgeous, thick leaves with a unique texture. Some varieties even have beautiful white variegation along the edges. These pointed leaves grow on long vines that look amazing trailing down a shelf. If you find the perfect spot for it, the vines can grow several feet long, making it a great choice if you want a plant that really makes a statement.
++English Ivy “Chicago” (Hedera helix “Chicago”)
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English Ivy is an absolute classic. While you’ll often see it as a groundcover or climbing brick walls outdoors, it’s also a fantastic indoor companion. The “Chicago” variety is particularly lovely for indoor spaces because of its smaller, dainty leaves. It’s a hardy, evergreen plant that stays vibrant all year round, making it a “fail-proof” choice for beginners.
++Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
The Heartleaf Philodendron is a staple in the plant world for a reason. It’s incredibly easy to care for and features elegant, heart-shaped leaves on long, trailing stems. It’s a shelf-styling favorite worldwide! While it loves to hang, it’s also a natural climber—if you give it a moss pole or let it grab onto a bookshelf frame, it will happily grow upward. Bonus: it’s an air-purifying powerhouse, meaning it helps filter toxins out of your home’s atmosphere.
++Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
The Pothos is the ultimate timeless classic. Whether in a living room or a cubicle, this plant thrives on neglect and still looks great. Like the Philodendron, it’s on the list of top air-purifying plants, pumping out oxygen and cleaning the air while it grows. If you want a plant that works hard and looks good doing it, this is the one for you.
++Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera adansonii)
Thanks to its iconic holey leaves, the Monstera adansonii is super trendy right now—you’ll even see its leaf pattern on wallpaper and textiles! The real plant is even more impressive, with large, fenestrated leaves growing along long vines. It doesn’t like to sit in soggy soil, so make sure you use a well-draining mix. Some enthusiasts even have great success growing these in hydroculture (water only).
++Grape Ivy (Cissus alata)
Looking for something a little more unique that you won’t see in every single house? Grape Ivy (also known as Oakleaf Ivy) is a fantastic “insider tip.” Its matte green leaves are instantly eye-catching. This plant uses tiny tendrils to grab onto trellises or railings, allowing it to climb upwards just as easily as it trails down.
